two o'clock in the morning
Their fleet anchored off that point , two miles from the shore . It was a beautiful night , a full moon shining in a cloudless sky , and the air balmy . `` Ross intended to take Baltimore by surprise , and had boasted that he would eat his Sunday dinner there . At two o'clock in the morning the boats were lowered from his ships , and seamen and land troops went on shore , protected by several gun brigs anchored very near . The men were armed , of course , and each boat had a carronade ready for action . Admiral Cockburn and General Ross were on shore by about seven o'clock with 5000 land troops , 2000 seamen , and 2000 marines . `` Their intention was to march rapidly upon Baltimore and take it by surprise , therefore they carried as little baggage as possible , and only eighty rounds apiece of ammunition .