For three hours, the bombardment proceeded through lashing rain, thunder and lightning. Every purchase supports the mission. Everything was made ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore. The privateers were armed, and their work was legally sanctioned. 15-star flag above Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md. Francis Scott Key said what held that flag at that unusual angle were patriots' bodies. Get the latest History stories in your inbox? Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. President Abraham Lincoln maintained that those states never really left the nation but were merely in rebellion. The flag was sewn by prominent Baltimorean flagmaker Mary Young Pickersgill under a government commission in 1813 at a cost of $405.90 (equivalent to $5,699 in 2021). "We didn't want to change any of the history written on the artifact by stains and soil. And they said 'We want to send a man by the name of Francis Scott Key. Key took quarters for the night at the Indian Queen Hotel, bringing with him the rough draft of a poem he had composed during his ordeal. The British naval arc stretched across the Patapsco two miles below Fort McHenry, keeping distance from the forts powerful 36-pounder French naval shore batteries. Chafingat the need to coordinate with an officer so junior to his rank, all Cochrane could do was reiterate his assessment and make his disapproval known, hoping that it would sway Brooke. So the old flag survives, bathed in dim light, floating out of the darkness, just as it did on that uncertain morning at Fort McHenry. 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. He said 'All of the gun power, all of the armament is being called upon to demolish that fort. Although states seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America, the U.S. flag remained unchanged. Among the preparations were upgrades of Fort McHenry, a 32-pound cannon battery along the waters edge, fortifications at Lazaretto Point, and additional batteries arrayed along the banks of the Patapsco. Museums often lend objects and artifacts to each other in order to tell more complete stories. Eben immediately wrote to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,Charles D. Walcott. Verified signatory of the IFCN Code of Principles, Facebook Third-Party Fact-Checking Partner. They made the stars, each measuring two feet in diameter, from cottona luxury item at the time. Cochrane dispatched the assessmentto his colleagues ashore: It is impossible for the Ships to render you any assistance the Town [of Baltimore] is so far retired within the Forts. This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss. The flag that flew during that episode in history became a significant artifact. Current size: 30 feet by 34 feet. 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. Ross, hearing the skirmishing, rides forward to assess the situation. 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. 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. Let us know!. Major Armistead commissioned Baltimore flag maker Mary Pickersgill to craft this dramatic emblem for his garrison as he was making preparations for Fort McHenrys defense. The exploding shells and rocket fire from British warships inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the lyrics to the Star-Spangled Banner.Seeing no way to penetrate American defenses, the British withdrew their troops and gave up their Chesapeake Campaign. 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. Armistead soon hired a 29-year-old widow and professional flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill of Baltimore, Maryland, to make a garrison flag measuring 30 by 42 feet with 15 stars and 15 stripes (each star and stripe representing a state). He said 'Do you see that flag way up on the rampart?' Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Georgiana found herself on the wrong side of the battle lines when the Civil War broke out. On the night of Saturday the 10th inst. Lead Stories is a U.S. based fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or Commissioned by Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry. He convinced the British to release Beanes. In 1814, the United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. ", In this 1993 photo from Smithsonian Archives, the flag is shown inside the museum's center hall. Although other East Coast ports were used by privateers, Baltimore was an especially busy haven for these sailors, who were paid generously for their work. In fact, the number of stars on the flag actually grew during the war from 34 to 36. Please read this story before you angrily message this writer with accusations he is anti-American. The origins of the story appear to be a sermon delivered by minister David C. Gibbs Jr. One of the soldiers who was in the fort during the 25-hour bombardment wrote, "We were like pigeons tied by the legs to be shot at. Initially, the British strategy during the War of 1812 had been defensive. United States victory. This included scientific studies with infrared spectrometry, electron microscopy, mechanical testing, and determination of amino acid content by a New Zealand scientist, and infrared imaging by a NASA scientist. American forces resistedthe dramaticBritish bombardmentof Fort McHenry and proved they could stand up to a great world power. Keeping their stars on the national flag signified that continued solidarity. 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. Volunteers dug huge entrenchments east of town, and the city militia drilled regularly. Often lost in the near-mythic symbolism attached to this moment in the American consciousness is the fact that Fort McHenrys commander, Major George Armistead, did not order the flag hoisted in a special act of triumph or defiance. Only Mississippi now flies the Confederate battle flag in an official capacity - the state has incorporated a blue cross with 13 stars over a red background since 1894. Most people assume that this grand banner flew through the rockets red glare.. The British were more concerned with defeating Napoleon in Europe than fighting a minor war with the United States. "STAR-SPANGLED BANNER" "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States, was inspired by the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in the harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore, came only weeks after the British had attacked Washington, D.C., burning the Capitol, the Treasury and the President's house. He withdrew without firing a shot, but outlined a proposalfor two flanking night assaults on the vulnerable American right flank, while a third column would make a feint on the American left after midnight on September 14. The bodies holding up the flag pole story is about as ridiculous as it is insulting to the four killed, and twenty four wounded (of which several would later die) as a result of the battle. By early morning of September 14, it was over. 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. [6] It now measures 30 by 34 feet (9.1 by 10.4m). ", Three of the 15 stars on the Star-Spangled Banner. He said 'What's the matter with them?' Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. As twilight began to fall and as the haze hung over the ocean as it does at sunset, suddenly, the British war fleet unleashed. 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 . The flags were finished on August 19, 1813. Constitution Avenue, NW [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. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Made in Baltimore, Maryland, in July-August 1813 by flagmaker Mary Pickersgill. Not knowing for sure when an attack would occur, they spent months preparing for it. [21] It reportedly decorated the hall of the Baltimore Athenaeum during a memorial service for Lafayette in 1834. Key, a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet was detained on the British ship Tonnant off the cost of Baltimore when the bombardment began. While ordering his men to drive off the American riflemen, Ross is shot in the chest and dies a few hours later. It was populated by 1,000 American troops who were armed with dozens of cannons and thousands of pounds of gunpowder. "I gave the flag to the National Museum with the firm and settled intention of having it remain there forever," he wrote, "and regarded the acceptance of the gift by the Authorities of the Museum as evidence of their willingness to comply with this condition", Eben asked Walcott to ensure that any "citizen who visits the museum with the expectation of seeing the flag be sure of finding it in its accustomed place.". [23], The Armisteads' daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton, inherited the flag upon her mother's death in 1861. At that time, it was the practice to add one star and stripe for each new state joining the Union. And they said 'How many ships?' I GUARANTEE you, if you watch this video, you will never think of our National Anthem in the same way again. On September 12, 1814, 5,000 British soldiers and a fleet of 19 ships attacked Baltimore. Again, this is an imaginary conversation. "Georgiana was the only child born at the fort, and she was named for her father," says Thomassen-Krauss. In 1912, Georgiana Armistead Appleton'sson Eben Appleton decided to give the Star-Spangled Banner to the Smithsonian as a permanent gift. Over the years, more than 12 million people peered into the museum's glass conservation lab, watching the progress. At dawn on June 14, 1846, a ragtag group of about 30 gun-toting Americans entered Sonoma, a small town in the Mexican territory of Alta California. Initially the British fleet exchanges fire with the forts cannon, but soon withdraw out of range. While the conservators worked, the public looked on. [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). Close-up of Fort McHenry's preserved "Great Garrison Flag" shows the incredible detail and stitching. By noon, Brooke had come within two miles east of the American lines, surveying any opportunities for an infantry breakthrough, but found none. Their bodies were removed and others took their place. 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. Undoing her work required unbelievable precision. Around midday, while the British halt for a meal, Stricker orders 250 riflemen and cannon to draw the British toward his forces. The poem would be put to the music of a common tune, retitled "The Star-Spangled Banner", and a portion of it would later be adopted as the national anthem of the United States. The situation was complicated by the long lag time in communications. At 30 by 42. The Star-Spangled Banner, or the Great Garrison Flag, was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. The harbors 122 American privateering vessels would ultimately cause some 16 million dollars of damage to the enemy. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort McHenry? Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away. 1. Perhaps most important is this: The massive relic on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is NOT the flag that . March 1, 2007 A conservator works on the Star-Spangled Banner in 1914. Since there were no groups of American soldiers in the cargo hold, there was no such conversation between Key and the prisoners. Militarily, Baltimore was a far more important city than Washington because of its thriving port and strategic location. Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. 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 'Hundreds." Join us online July 24-26! Key only negotiated for the release of Dr. Beanes, using letters from British soldiers affirming that the Maryland physician had treated wounded British soldiers after a battle. As World War II began, plans were made to protect a number of the Smithsonian's most precious objects. That same year, Preble had the first known photograph of it taken at the Boston Navy Yard and exhibited it at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where he stored it until 1876. TheBritish army broke camp andbegan its retreat; the last of thefailed naval barges returned to thefleet. Georgiana, herself, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. It was with huge surprise and joy that as dawn broke, he saw, not the Union Jack flying above the fort, but the American flag. There were about 28 American casualties. Interestingly enough several African Americans found themselves fighting under the very same flag of the country that sought to enslave them. George Washington never said that. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! It is likely that they kept the flag hidden in their home in Baltimore for the duration of the war, but Margaret Appleton Baker, Georgiana's daughter, told theNew York Heraldin 1895 that the flag had actually been sent to England. A large flag, but one not unusual for the time. Those marks tell the flag's story.". Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet. Your Privacy Rights After the Battle of Baltimore. Wayne Boyd, the park's Acting Maintenance Chief, discovered hidden rot in the existing flagpole, prompting the need for a replacement. The prayer 'God, keep that flag flying where we last saw it.'. 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. Rewriting history is a dangerous thing, although the consequences of digesting this particular mythology may not lead to destruction. Recognizing its need for repair, the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler, an embroidery teacher and well-known flag preserver, in 1914 to replace the canvas backing that had been added in 1873. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort Mchenry? The 1,000 Americans at Fort McHenry are commanded by Maj.George Armistead. War & Affiliation War of 1812 / American. However, the citizens and militia of Baltimore had been preparing for such an assault for more than a year. In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost. Military personnel and residents of Baltimore were well aware that they were a target of enemy wrath and started shoring up their defenses. This is made up. Being held by the British on a truce ship in the Patapsco River, Key observed the battle from afar. Although this flag has been around for 200 years now, there is more to this story that begs to be told. They said 'We want to send a man out to discuss this with you.' The Battle of Fort Henry, Tennessee occurred as part of a Union plan to open a water route into the Confederate heartland by capturing Forts Henry and Donelson. The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry, she says. Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words of the "Star-Spangled Banner": "And the rocket's red . Major General Robert Ross was sent to command all British forces on the East Coast of the United States, with Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane leading a fleet of warships. "Our goal was to extend [the flag's] usable lifetime," says Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss, the conservator for the project. They appeared over time as the iron particles corroded. When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to their daughter Georgiana Armistead Appleton over the legal objections of their son. Privacy Statement Prepared to take . It's in most hymnals throughout our churches. 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. Spotted something? inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet. Armistead's report after the battle mentions four killed, 24 wounded, and "superficial" damage done to the public buildings. The larger of the two flags had stripes two feet wide, and stars 24 inches from point to point. Is Northern capitalized? Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use), The Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem, A View of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry. Let us know!. 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. No, Key was a lawyer in Washington, D.C. From the harbor below Fort McHenry, these events were witnessed without understanding that they were standard practice by those aboard a Baltimore packet vessel, President, now serving as the U.S. flag-of-truce vessel. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. The stars are arranged in vertical rows, with five horizontal rows of stars, offset, each containing three stars. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry. Every purchase supports the mission. An interactive component allows site visitors to closely explore features of the flag in detail, download an audio-descriptive tour of the exhibition for the visually-impaired, and hear the song performed on original instruments from the National Museum of American History's collection. Fort McHenry was a military post, not a shelter for 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. Because of this conflict and the protractedness of it, they had accumulated prisoners on both sides. There were about 25 American casualties. Brooke collects the main body of the British troops and presses forward. 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. A replica 17'x25' storm flag flying over Fort McHenry . In 1814, the United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. 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. Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History, O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry, Short History of The Star Spangled Banner, Let it Rain Militia: The Critical Battle for the Chesapeake, Bombardment of Fort McHenry | Sep 13-14, 1814, Chesapeake Campaign | Apr 23, 1813 - Sep 14, 1814. Capitalize these words when they designate regions. "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. We have Francis Scott Key to thank for the mix-up. In February 1815, the storm flag was lost to history after being replaced by a new one from the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. How it ended United States victory. The flag originally measured 30 by 42 feet (9.1 by 12.8m) and weighed about 50 pounds (23kg). But the inspiring banner he glimpsed may only have been raised at daylight. The bombardment turned to Fort McHenry on the morning of September 13, and continuous shelling occurred for 25 hours under heavy rain. [4][5] Each of the fifteen stripes is 2 feet (0.61m) wide, and each of the stars measures about 2 feet (0.61m) in diameter. He wanted to be sure the British could see the United States colors from their distant warships. At that time, it was the practice to add one star and stripe for each new state joining the Union. But when he sees the large flag flying over the fort on the morning of September 14, he knows the fort held. September 13. 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. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenry forced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. Part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, the Battle of Fort McHenry saw the fort's garrison defeat a British fleet that had been advancing on the city. "I was taking part in a special National Park Service maintenance training program," says Boyd. 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. During the War of 1812, the people of Baltimore believed that the British would attack the city. The British set sail for New Orleans. Is the "Our National Anthem" video produced by Robert Surgernor the true story of "The Star Spangled Banner"? After coming to the Smithsonian, the Star-Spangled Banner has only left the National Mall once. Fifteen stars and fifteen stripes (one star has been cut out) Raised over Fort . Regulations of the War Department: Each morning began with a round from a six-pounder and musical accompaniment as the flag was lifted aloft. Duke also co-hosted a daily podcast with former HLN host Nancy Grace, "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" and hosted the podcast series "Stan Lee's World: His Real Life Battle with Heroes & Villains." 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.". Naval support will be required to dislodge the American forces, and Fort McHenry will have to be eliminated. At the time, the practice of adding stripes (in addition to stars) with the induction of a new state had not yet been discontinued. For the next 27 hours, in driving rain, the warships hammer the fort. [46], Due to environmental and light damage, a four-phase restoration project began in May 1999. The narrator is apparently minister David C. Gibbs Jr. Now, as preparations for a British attack proceeded, the three-story-tall flag waved atop the 90-foot flagpole at Fort McHenry, its bold red, white and blue geometry unmistakable. [52], A 2-inch by 5-inch fragment of the flagwhite and red, with a seam down the middlewas sold at auction in Dallas, Texas on November 30, 2011, for $38,837: the snippet was, presumably, cut from the famous flag as a souvenir in the mid-19th century. "The Star-Spangled Banner" song turns 200 this year. 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. The Confederate States of Americas first national flag was also known as the "Stars & Bars." He said 'You'll be taken out of this boat, out of this filth, out of your chains.'. It is on exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. He said 'Tonight, I have negotiated successfully your return to the colonies.' And what he found had happened was that flag pole and that flag had suffered repetitious direct hits, and when hit had fallen, but men, fathers, who knew what it meant for that flag to be on the ground, although knowing that all of the British guns were trained on it, walked over and held it up humanly until they died. It was Fort McHenry, a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. [27] It was intended to be exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, but was not displayed because of fears it would be damaged. In February 1815, the storm flag was lost to history after being replaced by a new one from the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. The fort suffered only light damage from the 1,500 cannonballs, rockets and shells fired upon it. 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. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield. 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. This response would not reach ColonelBrooke until noon, when he had advanced within two miles east of the American lines while he and Cockburn surveyed the American lines. Huge, vibrant, and rich in history, most Americans are familiar with the story of this particular flag: It's the one that flew overFort McHenrythe morning after the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would one day become our national anthem.
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