The Story behind the Star Spangled Banner at the Battle of Baltimore
Photograph of flag flying above Fort McHenry, taken by Questy, September 2001.
Francis Scott Key, was a son of an established Maryland family, had established a law practice
in Georgetown, Maryland, and, by 1814, had appeared many times before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In August 1814, a friend of Key, Dr. William Beanes was taken prisoner by the British. The British
had left behind many injured troops from land battles fought in the Maryland countryside. Beanes,
a medical doctor had treated many of the injured British troops. Beanes was arrested for allegedly
violating a pledge of good conduct. Key had hoped to obtain the release of his friend based
on his humanitarian efforts. Key left for Baltimore to obtain the services of Colonel John Skinner,
the government's prisoner of war exchange agent. Together they sailed down the bay on a truce
ship and met the British fleet. Key and Skinner successfully negotiated the doctor's release.
But because the group had learned about the planned attack on Baltimore, they were detained
for fear they would alert the city of the attack.
Key was detained with Skinner and Beanes by the British on a U.S. truce ship. Key's vessel was
8 miles below the fort during the bombardment, under the watchful care of a British warship.
It was from this site that he witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry, after which he was
inspired to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner." First titled "Defense of Fort McHenry"
the poem was published the next day.
The Story behind the Battle of Baltimore
It was common practice in the early 1800's as England and France fought each other, to confiscate
American merchant ships, along with their cargo and crew. On June 18, 1812 in order to preserve
"Free Trade and Sailors' Rights" the declaration of war against England was announced.
With the British fighting the French, they had little time to devote to America. After the defeat
of Napoleon in April 1814, the British now had the time to answer America's challenge.
In August of 1814, a British force of some 5000 troops sailed up the Chesapeake Bay. After capturing
Washington, D.C., and burning some of its public buildings, the British headed for Baltimore.
British troops first attacked Baltimore, the United States' third largest city, by land. Badly
outnumbered by American militiamen, they withdrew. British ships bombarded Fort McHenry, which
guarded Baltimore's harbor, for 25 hours. Major. George Armistead, the fort's commander, refused
to haul down the American flag and surrender. Baltimore was spared, and the British, daunted
on land and sea, sailed away. The young republic rejoiced in its victory.
In the aftermath of the terrorism of September 2001, I felt the need to do something positive, and patriotic. Living in the Mid-Atlantic region along the east coast, I have been to Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. many times, and have visited many of the symbols of America. With all the flag waving going on, I realized it was time I visited somewhere not all that far from where I lived, that I have never been, Fort McHenry. So the family and I visited the fort that was the birthplace of our National Anthem.
