A squadron of the British Royal Navy under Rear Admiral George Cockburn attacked the town of Havre de Grace, Maryland, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River.

[2]: 25–27  After a successful raid on Frenchtown on the Elk River on 29 April, Cockburn attempted to venture further upriver until forces at Fort Defiance stopped him.

[1][2]: 27, 29 Cockburn's fleet was anchored off Turkey Point, separated from Havre de Grace by an area of shoal water too shallow for large ships to navigate.

[2]: 29  Cockburn therefore sent Commander John Lawrence at the head of a flotilla of sixteen[2]: 29  or nineteen[3] boats to row across the shoals, beginning at midnight on 3 May.

[4][5] James Jones Wilmer was living in Havre de Grace at the time and published an account of the incident soon after it happened.

The etching, Admiral Cockburn Burning & Plundering Havre de Grace, is now held by the Maryland Historical Society.