Bonus fact in response to a question from the comments: The Star-Spangled Banner flag does not have burn marks on it. Published: September 9, 2020. At that time, it was the practice to add one star and stripe for each new state joining the Union. Whether or not Francis Scott Key actually visited Fort McHenry that day, he would have not seen a stack of "patriots' bodies" holding the flag pole upright. Although she lived in Maryland, a Union state, her sympathies lay with the Confederate cause. How and when this occurred is unclear. And it's never leaving. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. Regulations of the War Department: Each morning began with a round from a six-pounder and musical accompaniment as the flag was lifted aloft. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The Americans withdraw to Baltimore and Brooke halts for the rest of the day to consolidate his forces. [8] The smaller of the two flags would be the Storm Flag, to be more durable and less prone to fouling in inclement weather. Again, this is an imaginary conversation. Thanks to these early and exhaustive plans, the British were repulsed at Fort McHenry in 1814 and abandoned their Chesapeake Campaign. There were about 28 American casualties. The flag and many other treasures were crated up and sent to Luray, Virginia, for safekeeping. Brooke collects the main body of the British troops and presses forward. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenryforced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. This is what it looks like on social media: The true story of the Star Spangled Banner is inspiring, as it was written after a key battle near the end of the War of 1812. Spotted something? Is the "Our National Anthem" video produced by Robert Surgernor the true story of "The Star Spangled Banner"? He had successfully negotiated with the British for the release of an American prisoner but was held onboard because an assault was imminent. Naval support will be required to dislodge the American forces, and Fort McHenry will have to be eliminated. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! Privacy Statement In January of 1862, Brig. United States victory. The short video below introduces a method used by Amelia Fowler, who was hired in 1914 to help preserve the flag. Cochrane sent hisnote around nightfall, without any expectationhe would receive a response before the plan hehad in hand would require him to act. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry. Despite attempts to fire back, the British ships were just out of range of the Fort's cannons, and so by 11:00 a.m., General Armistead gave orders to slow things down to save ammunition. [48], Following the reopening of the museum on November 21, 2008, the flag is now on display in a two-story display chamber that allows it to lie at a 10-degree angle in dim light. When Major George Armistead, the fort's commander, expressed the desire for a very large flag to fly over the fort, General John S. Stricker and Commodore Joshua Barney placed an order for two oversized American flags. The Americansassemble 10,000 men and 100 cannon astride the Philadelphia Road, blocking the British advance toward Baltimore. These troops were able to draw fire from the fort, but did not draw troops away from Baltimore. He says 'It's predominantly not a military fort.' Join us online July 24-26! Two days later, having reembarked the land forces, the fleet sailed down the Chesapeake, soon to receive new Admiralty orders to attack the port of New Orleans, an engagement that took place before word could arrive that peace had been secured through a conference in Ghent, Belgium. This is made up. Robert M. Poole is the magazine's contributing editor. Corbis On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in. Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. If you want to know the true and remarkable history of the origins of the American national anthem, we suggest you click here for the Smithsonian magazine account or here for another account of the battle of Fort McHenry. After coming to the Smithsonian, the Star-Spangled Banner has only left the National Mall once. Two eyewitnessesa British midshipman out in the harbor and an American private inside the fortrecounted seeing a flag being raised above the fort in the morning, so the logical conclusion is that the garrison flag seen that morning was not flying during the battle itself. Why were the citizens of Baltimore so well prepared for a British attack? This changed on April 6, 1814, with the defeat and abdication of Napoleon, which freed up veteran troops for a more aggressive strategy. It was populated by 1,000 American troops who were armed with dozens of cannons and thousands of pounds of gunpowder. On the back of photograph it states: "Nat. He wanted to be sure the British could see the United States colors from their distant warships. There is conflicting evidence as to which flag, the larger garrison flag or the smaller storm flag, flew over the fort during the battle. On September 7, 1814, Key, accompanied by American prisoner-of-exchange officer John Skinner, boarded the Tonnant, flagship of the British fleet, where Beanes was being held. Fort McHenry Gets a New Flagpole for Its Star and Stripes Their bodies were removed and others took their place. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. [23], The Armisteads' daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton, inherited the flag upon her mother's death in 1861. Star-Spangled Banner (flag) - Wikipedia George Armistead | American Battlefield Trust The British land a combined force of soldiers, sailors, and Royal Marines at North Point, a peninsula at the fork of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, on September 12, 1814. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry It was Englands most powerful naval armament, floating siege ships capable of inflicting severe damage and further supported by the rocket ship HMS Erebus with her 32-pounder Congreve rockets, and several light draft frigates and brigs. Command of the land forces passes to Col.Arthur Brooke. How long does it take water taxi from aquarium to fort mchenry Victoria "Tory" Altman is an Education Specialist in the Office of Education Outreach. Military personnel and residents of Baltimore were well aware that they were a target of enemy wrath and started shoring up their defenses. Let us know!. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Join us online July 24-26! However, scholars continue to debate whether the storm flag flew during 25-hour bombardment. This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss. All that he (Key) could hear was the men down below praying. The newest bomb ships of the Vesuvius class were three-masted vessels carrying a massive central weight of 325 tons, with a length of 102 feet, ideal for heavy weather and shore bombardment. On the night of Saturday the 10th inst. The imposing Fort McHenry, at the mouth of the inner harbor, provided the linchpin for the American defenses. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. To the best of our knowledge, the British did not specifically target the flag. Says Glass, "The survival of this flag for nearly 200 years is a visible testimony to the strength and perseverance of this nation, and we hope that it will inspire many more generations to come.". [31], Eben Appleton was highly protective of the flag and disliked the attention it brought him. He convinced the British to release Beanes. There were 15 American states. In the early morning ofSeptember 13, British warships begin their bombardment. Francis Scott Key pens "The Star-Spangled Banner" The British hated the privateers and so despised the Baltimore that they called it a nest of pirates. They vowed to take revenge. A spokesperson for Speaker Pelosi confirmed via phone that the claim the flag gifted to Floyd's family is exclusively reserved for military personnel is false. Alanstudt.com A t 6:30 a.m., on September 13, 1814, the first of an estimated 1,800 cast-iron bomb shells were hurled at the masonry walls of Fort McHenry. In 1931 the song became the national anthem of the United States. TheBritish army broke camp andbegan its retreat; the last of thefailed naval barges returned to thefleet. Yet Key rose on the morning of September 14, 1814 and through the lens of his spyglass saw his nation's 15-star, 15-stripe flag waving defiantly over the fort. The final poem, called The Defense of Fort MHenry, was printed and later set to the tune of a popular song. The narrator refers to Fort Henry, which did not exist. During that conflict, the British conducted frequent raids on American towns and harbors along the Atlantic coast, including forays into Chesapeake Bay. The flag originally measured 30 by 42 feet (9.1 by 12.8m) and weighed about 50 pounds (23kg). Star-Spangled Banner | Smithsonian Institution We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. The star-spangled banner may not have been run up the flagpole until first light on September 14. [40][41], In 1964, the flag was moved across the National Mall to the newly opened Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History). Georgiana, herself, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. "It's exciting to realize that you're looking at the very same flag that Francis Scott Key saw on that September morning in 1814. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away. Eben immediately wrote to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,Charles D. Walcott. He said 'Well, Mr. Key,' he said, 'tonight we have laid an ultimatum upon the colonies. Terms of Use The ships got closer, Francis Scott Key went back up top and he said 'Men, I will shout down to you what's going on as we watch.'. Each of the eight stars represented a Confederate state in March 1861 when the flag was adopted. War of 1812: Big Night in Baltimore Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. Francis Scott Key, jubilant with the fact that he had been successful, went down below in the boats and what he found was a cargo hold full of humanity, men. He said 'We have told them that if they will lower that flag, the shelling will stop immediately and we'll know that they've surrendered and you'll now be under British rule.'. More than 1,500 cannonballs, shells, and rockets are fired, but only inflict light damage thanks to fortification efforts completed before the battle. What if it gets dirty? On the morning of September 14, when the flag was seen flying above the ramparts, it was clear that Fort McHenry remained in American hands. By 10:00 a.m. that morning, both the cloud cover and the threat of rain increased over the area. He (the British admiral) said 'Don't worry about it.' The Battle of Fort McHenry Baltimore, They allowed the Americans to return to their own vessel but continued guarding them. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. "The Star-Spangled Banner is a symbol of American history that ranks with the Statue of Liberty and the Charters of Freedom," says Brent D. Glass, the museum's director. Georgiana found herself on the wrong side of the battle lines when the Civil War broke out. [23], In 1873, Appleton lent the flag to George Henry Preble, a naval officer who had written a popular history of the American flag. Why Is The Fort McHenry Flag Significant? (Man's voice) There was a lawyer once, his name was Francis Scott Key. Accordingly, he launched a late evening diversionary barge attack on the western shore, the backdoor of the American land defenses. What is the melody of God Save the Queen? 15-star flag above Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md. On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. By noon, Brooke had come within two miles east of the American lines, surveying any opportunities for an infantry breakthrough, but found none. The situation was complicated by the long lag time in communications. Today it is permanently housed in the National Museum of American History, one of the Smithsonian Institution museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. F or as famous as it is, the so-called Star-Spangled Banner is shrouded in plenty of misconceptions. Messages Author Time Story of National Anthem TADOW 7/3/16 1:10pm Thanks for sharing this. He said 'Hundreds." Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History, The Battle of Caulks Field: Forgotten Fight of the Chesapeake Campaign, Let it Rain Militia: The Critical Battle for the Chesapeake, Short History of The Star Spangled Banner. Today, it's in a special low-light chamber where you can see it 364 days per year. While the Star-Spangled Banner was in Preble's care, Georgiana allowed him to give away pieces of the flag as he saw fit. a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. In fact, the number of stars on the flag actually grew during the war from 34 to 36. More broadly, a garrison flag is a U.S. Army term for an extra-large national flag that is flown on Sundays, holidays, and special occasions. Ross, hearing the skirmishing, rides forward to assess the situation. The government, therefore, turned to the many merchants and private sailors inhabiting its ports, issuing licenses to those who wished to gain financially from capturing enemy vessels. Key started composing a verse about his experience while still onboard the Tonnant, and once he was safely rowed ashore, he edited the work into four stanzas. [45] An opaque curtain was installed in front of it, allowing visitors to view the flag only for one minute, twice an hour, when the curtain was lowered. This flag flew from 1861 to 1863. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. With the construction of the conservation lab completed in 1999, conservators began their work. Click here to see it. Fifteen stars and fifteen stripes (one star has been cut out) Raised over Fort . The British hoped the loss of both Washington and Baltimore would cripple the American war effort and force peace. A large flag, but one not unusual for the time. CNN moved Duke to Los Angeles in 2009 to cover the entertainment beat. South Carolina's confederate flag hasn't been flying since the Civil War. Gen.John Stricker to delay the advance by provoking an engagement. Right or left hand? [14][15] When the British ships were unable to pass the fort and penetrate the harbor, the attack was ended. They appeared over time as the iron particles corroded. As the sloop tossed in violent waves, Key could only see the red glare of the enemys rockets and the sound of bombs bursting in air. He thought it unlikely that the Americans could hold out against such a volley of gunfire. The most-viewed version of the video is a post (archived here) published on July 4, 2014, under the title "Our National Anthem." These words were written by Key and set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven" by John Stafford Smith, a popular song at the time. Their vessel had been held in security by Cochranes flagship HMS Surprise out of range of the American guns. Is Fort McHenry free? It may not have weathered the perilous fight as many believe. The video opened: (Written text on screen) We guarantee that you will NEVER feel the same way again when you sing this song at a sporting event after you hear this story! For the next 27 hours, in driving rain, the warships hammer the fort. [25] Preble had the flag quilted to a canvas sail, and unfurled it at the Boston Navy Yard to take the first known photograph of it. Each of its 15 stars measures about two feet across and each of its 15 stripes are about two feet wide. MD While ordering his men to drive off the American riflemen, Ross is shot in the chest and dies a few hours later. [32][33], The Armistead family occasionally gave away pieces of the flag as souvenirs and gifts.[6]. [19][20] Some years, it was flown at Baltimore's celebration of Defenders Day, the anniversary of the battle. It evokes powerful emotions and ideas about what it means to be an American. Bodies of the dead were not used to hold up the flag pole- a 42 by 30 foot flag has to be on a well-anchored pole, not held up by a few dead bodies stacked around it. As he (Key) went back up on board to arrange for their passage to the shore, the admiral came and he said 'We have a slight problem.' West Virginia and Nevada joined the Union in 1863 and 1864 respectively. The colonies were engaged in vicious conflict with the mother country, Britain. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. Date of Birth - Death April 10, 1780 - April 25, 1818. In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction. In Baltimore's preparation for an expected attack on the city, Fort McHenry was made ready to defend the city's harbor. This revelation was famously captured in poetry by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet. Courtesy of Christopher Hughes Morton. By noon it started to rain. In addition to the gigantic 42 x 30 foot garrison flag (now the Star-Spangled Banner), Pickersgill and the young women who helped her also sewed a smaller "storm flag." The British plan to land troops on the eastern side of the city while the navy reduces the fort, allowing for naval support of the ground troops when they attack the citys defenders. They made the stars, each measuring two feet in diameter, from cottona luxury item at the time. Mary Pickersgill (born Mary Young; February 12, 1776 - October 4, 1857) was the maker, along with thirteen-year-old Grace Wisher, her African American enslaved servant, of the Star-Spangled Banner hoisted over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.The daughter of another noted flag maker, Rebecca Young, Pickersgill learned her craft from her mother, and, in 1813, was . This could have resulted from metal buckles or straps or tacks on belts used to hold the flag. [18] Upon his death in 1818, the flag passed to his widow, Louisa Hughes Armistead. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website. In 1834, Key spoke at a public gathering in Frederick, Maryland where he was born and now rests in peace offering his only personal remarks about those three days in September 1814. [38][39], During World War II, from 1942 to 1944, the flag, along with many other objects in the Smithsonian's collection, was kept for safekeeping at a warehouse at Shenandoah National Park. [21] It reportedly decorated the hall of the Baltimore Athenaeum during a memorial service for Lafayette in 1834. American forces resistedthe dramaticBritish bombardmentof Fort McHenry and proved they could stand up to a great world power. Is Fort McHenry open Covid? Your people will either capitulate and lay down the colors of that flag that you think so much of, or you see that fort right over there, Fort Henry?' Armistead remained in command of Fort McHenry for the rest of his life. You'll also see Duke in many news documentaries, including on the Reelz channel, CNN and HLN. When Confederate soldiers carried their national flag into battle, its stars and stripes led to confusionespecially when the smoke and wind of battle wrapped the flag around its staff. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of "the dawn's early light" on September 14, he saw the American flagnot the British Union Jackflying over the fort, announcing an American victory. There was no group of prisoners held in the cargo hold of the ship from where Key watched the battle. In 1907, Eben Appleton lent the flag to the Smithsonian, and it was put on display at the National Museum (now the Arts and Industries Building). Lead Stories is a U.S. based fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or Not knowing for sure when an attack would occur, they spent months preparing for it. "We didn't want to change any of the history written on the artifact by stains and soil. [28], In 1877, the flag was exhibited at the Old South Church in Boston for the nation's first Flag Day celebration. The flag wasn't prominently displayed in the South until southern politicians began using it in their campaigns; and . That changed after architects designed the new National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, with space to allow the flag to hang. It was, of course, the huge American flag that flew over Baltimore's Fort McHenry on a hot summer night in 1814. 21230, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. To preserve this American icon, experts at the National Museum of American History recently completed an eight-year conservation treatment with funds from Polo Ralph Lauren, The Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Congress. And they said 'How many ships?' And Francis Scott Key said 'What do you mean?' Rewriting history is a dangerous thing, although the consequences of digesting this particular mythology may not lead to destruction. 12. Over the next six weeks, Mary, her daughter, three of Mary's nieces, a 13-year-old indentured servant and possibly Mary's mother Rebecca Young worked 10-hour days sewing the flag, using 300 yards of English wool bunting. He said 'It's full of women and children.' The video implies this was during the American Revolution, which began in 1775 (although some argue the first battle was fought in October 1774) and officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. The British were more concerned with defeating Napoleon in Europe than fighting a minor war with the United States. At the time, the practice of adding stripes (in addition to stars) with the induction of a new state had not yet been discontinued. Several of these cuttings from the Star-Spangled Banner have been located over the years, including about a dozen that are owned by the American History Museum. But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifactit's also a national symbol. The United States declared war on Britain in June 1812 to protect free trade and sailors rights. Heading into a conflict against a country with such superior naval power was a daunting prospect for the young nation. The admiral came and he said 'Your people are insane.' He had witnessed Britain's twenty-five hour bombardment of the Fort, and for Key, the raising of the American flag was a triumphant symbol of bravery and perseverance. (Image:93-13286-2 and SIA2008-2449.). Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 PDF Official Account of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry War & Affiliation War of 1812 / American. The New York Herald Tribune wrote that the song had words that nobody can remember to a tune nobody can sing.. Being held by the British on a truce ship in the Patapsco River, Key observed the battle from afar. The Star-Spangled Banner flag is on display at the National Museum of American History. The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon printed it, and within weeks, Key's poem, now called "The Star-Spangled Banner," appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his wordsand forever naming the flag it celebrated. The origins of the story appear to be a sermon delivered by minister David C. Gibbs Jr. The ship carried Colonel John S. Skinner, U.S. State Department prisoner exchange agent, and 35-year-old Georgetown attorney Francis Scott Key. Now, here are the most obvious ways this video is filled with fake history: Francis Scott Key was a lawyer in Baltimore. 100 Years at the Smithsonian, After Georgiana's death, the flag passed to Eben Appleton, Armistead's grandson, who loaned it to the city of Baltimore for the 1880 sesquicentennial celebration.