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A replica 17'x25' storm flag flying over Fort McHenry . However, the citizens and militia of Baltimore had been preparing for such an assault for more than a year. Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Lead Stories LLC: You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. These troops were able to draw fire from the fort, but did not draw troops away from Baltimore. In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost. Gen.John Stricker to delay the advance by provoking an engagement. More than two hundred years since the perilous fight" over Baltimore, the legacies of the Old Defenders of Baltimore of 1814 are remembered annually on Defenders' Day.And the American flag now with 50 stars rather than 15 flies, by presidential proclamation, over Fort McHenry day and night. The prayer 'God, keep that flag flying where we last saw it.'. He began his military career during the Quasi War with France in 1799 as an Ensign in the Seventh Infantry Regiment, rising quickly to Second and then First Lieutenant by May 1800. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry. March 1, 2007 A conservator works on the Star-Spangled Banner in 1914. The Star-Spangled Banner remained in Flag Hall from 1964 until 1999, when it was moved to the conservation lab. To the best of our knowledge, the British did not specifically target the flag. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. 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. The British attack on Baltimore had began in earnest. 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. [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. 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. ", The Star-Spangled Banner's history starts not with Francis Scott Key, but a year earlier with Maj. George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry. 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. He wanted to be sure the British could see the United States colors from their distant warships. Coming in at 17 x 25 feet, this storm flag was much smaller and was designed to withstand tough weather, such as the raging winds and pouring rain that occurred during the Battle of Baltimore. But just what did that flag, that for and those defenders endure?. [49][50][51], The National Museum of American History produced an online exhibition in conjunction with the reopening of Flag Hall in 2008. With the construction of the conservation lab completed in 1999, conservators began their work. which was built in 1798. Although states seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America, the U.S. flag remained unchanged. It is for Colonel Brooke to consider under such circumstances whether he has Force sufficient to defeat so large a number as it [is] saidthe Enemy has collected; say 20,000 strong. This delay gives the American defenders in Baltimore time to bolster their defenses. The ship carried Colonel John S. Skinner, U.S. State Department prisoner exchange agent, and 35-year-old Georgetown attorney Francis Scott Key. The Surgernor post includes the message "Here is a video I produced several years ago that tells the true story of our National Anthem. Then, in that hour of deliverance and joyful triumph, my heart spoke, and Does not such a country and such defenders of their country deserve a song?' 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. The Confederate States of America chose a pattern for their national flag that is strikingly similar to the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag of the Union. 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. Each star was stitched into place on one side of the flag and the cloth on the reverse side was then cut away to reveal it. [8] The smaller of the two flags would be the Storm Flag, to be more durable and less prone to fouling in inclement weather. As part of her work on the upcoming Smithsonian Channel filmA Star-Spangled As part of our blog series about the Star-Spangled Banner leading up toRaise It Up! Today, it's in a special low-light chamber where you can see it 364 days per year. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. During the night, Cochrane orders a landing party to slip past the fort and attempt to draw troops from the force opposing Brooke, but other than diverting some fire from the fort, this proves unsuccessful. (Man's voice) There was a lawyer once, his name was Francis Scott Key. Museums often lend objects and artifacts to each other in order to tell more complete stories. 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. When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to their daughter Georgiana Armistead Appleton over the legal objections of their son. There were more than 15 states when the flag was made, but there are only 15 stars on the flag. [53] The framed remnant came with a faded, hand-written note attesting it was "A piece of the Flag which floated over Fort McHenry at the time of the bombardment when Key's (sic) composed the Song of the Star Spangled Banner, presented by Sam Beth Cohen. But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifactit's also a national symbol. Because of the flag's size and the dimensions of the glass case it was displayed in, the public never saw the entire flag while it was housed in this location. 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. "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). And he said 'Men, I've got news for you tonight. Let me tell you a story. Advertising Notice The British were more concerned with defeating Napoleon in Europe than fighting a minor war with the United States. South Carolina's confederate flag hasn't been flying since the Civil War. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag. Their bodies were removed and others took their place. a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. Let us know!. Over the next several years, they clipped 1.7 million stitches from the flag to remove a linen backing that had been added in 1914, lifted debris from the flag using dry cosmetic sponges and brushed it with an acetone-water mixture to remove soils embedded in fibers. At 30 by 42. 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. It's in most hymnals throughout our churches. 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. The British hoped the loss of both Washington and Baltimore would cripple the American war effort and force peace. She once noted, "[H]ad we given all that we have been importuned for little would be left to show." 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. While the home where he lived in 1814 is no longer standing, there is a monument at its former site of 34th and M Street. 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. He said 'The war is over, these men will be free anyway.'. Her son George was even arrested in 1861 for trying to sneak into Virginia to join the Confederate Army. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. American Lawyer Francis Scott Key, held on a British warshipfor a prisoner negotiation during the frightening siege, feared that the fort had succumbed to the bombardment. Messages Author Time Story of National Anthem TADOW 7/3/16 1:10pm Thanks for sharing this. Support Outdoor Classrooms at Seven Key Battlefields. 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. Key's tactics were successful, but because he and his companions had gained knowledge of the impending attack on Baltimore, the British did not let them go. 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 narrator refers to Fort Henry, which did not exist. 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. [47] Planning and executing a cleaning treatment for the flag following scientific analysis was the third phase. was its question.. "There's a legend that the star was buried with one of the soldiers from Fort McHenry; another says that it was given to Abraham Lincoln," says Kendrick. The job went out to a 37-year-old widow. There is conflicting evidence as to which flag, the larger garrison flag or the smaller storm flag, flew over the fort during the battle. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. 1. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. He served as a co-historian for the Smithsonian Institutions Saving the Star-Spangled Banner Project, and for the National Park Services The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail study. 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. The 1,000 Americans at Fort McHenry are commanded by Maj.George Armistead. [2], With fifteen stripes, the Star-Spangled Banner remains the only official American flag to bear more than thirteen stripes.[3]. On the night of Saturday the 10th inst. 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. 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. 21230, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. 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. When markings on the flag were investigated and analyzed, they were found to be from iron corrosion. [27] It was intended to be exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, but was not displayed because of fears it would be damaged. 2. 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. Each star, by the way, is made of cotton and was created by reverse applicqu method. And Francis Scott Key said 'What do you mean?' 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.'. Seeing the flag flying over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814, after the battle ended, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry". In January of 1862, Brig. [22] It was displayed outside Armistead's son's home for the 1844 Whig National Convention. Knowing that his fort was a likely British target, Armistead told the commander of Baltimore defenses in July 1813 that he needed a flaga big one. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenry forced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. No, Mary Pickersgill did not make a mathematical error. Wayne Boyd, the park's Acting Maintenance Chief, discovered hidden rot in the existing flagpole, prompting the need for a replacement. 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.' How it ended United States victory. Terms of Use Key was not sent by the American government to negotiate a prisoner exchange. The commander in chief had no way of knowing that in response to his latest note, Brooke had, in fact, ordered the infantry retreat from Baltimore to begin by dawn. That night, Key finalized the four stanzas of the Defense of Fort McHenry., Three days later, the poem was printed on a broadside alongside the melody to a popular English tavern 1780 tune, To Anacreon in Heaven.A thousand copies were distributed to the garrison of Fort McHenry: A young militia soldier wrote his family We have a Song composed by Mr. Key of G[eorge] Town which was presented to every individual in the fort.By mid-autumn, further pnntmgs contained musical notations and a new title: The Star-Spangled Banner.. Georgiana, herself, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. The two additional stars and stripes, approved by the United States Congress's Flag Act of 1794, represent Vermont and Kentucky's entrance into the Union. Francis Scott Key said what held that flag at that unusual angle were patriots' bodies. the British fleet, consisting of ships of the line, heavy frigates, and After landing unopposed, they advance toward Baltimore. 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. 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. At 4:30 a.m., the American batteries fell silent, followed at 7:30 a.m. by the last British bomb to arc over the Patapsco River toward Fort McHenry. Since there were no groups of American soldiers in the cargo hold, there was no such conversation between Key and the prisoners. 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. Bonus fact in response to a question from the comments: The Star-Spangled Banner flag does not have burn marks on it. Everything was made ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore. In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction. Each of the eight stars represented a Confederate state in March 1861 when the flag was adopted. United States victory. By 10:00 a.m. that morning, both the cloud cover and the threat of rain increased over the area. This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss. 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. He has published several books and numerous articles. He said 'The thing that sets the American Christian apart from all other people in the world is he will die on his feet before he will live on his knees.'. Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. To the best of our knowledge, the British did not specifically target the flag. 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. 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. The garrison flag is raised every morning at reveille, but on this daySeptember 14, 1814its presence has special significance. The Confederate States of Americas first national flag was also known as the "Stars & Bars." 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. It's called the 'National Anthem.' To the best of our knowledge, the British did not specifically target the flag. 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. Is Fort McHenry free? "It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone," Key wrote later. Your Privacy Rights The Smithsonian has created a permanent exhibition to document the flag's history and significance, called "The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem". ", Three of the 15 stars on the Star-Spangled Banner. He traveled to Baltimore only to seek freedom for a friend, Dr. William Beanes, a civilian taken prisoner after he argued with British troops who had tried to plunder his Upper Marlboro, Maryland, home, according to Smithsonian magazine. 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. There was no group of prisoners held in the cargo hold of the ship from where Key watched the battle. They were holding the American prisoners in boats about a thousand yards offshore. It was populated by 1,000 American troops who were armed with dozens of cannons and thousands of pounds of gunpowder. Privacy Statement 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. These are some typical questions people have about customs and rules surrounding African American History Curatorial Collective, the flag's most recent conservation check-up, why the national anthem is so hard to sing, a nationwide sing of the national anthem on Flag Day (June 14, 2014), When lightning strikes: The making and meaning of a patriotic symbol, Rene Fleming's Super Bowl gown: A curatorial jackpot, Pointers from the Flag Code, just in time for Flag Day. "The Star-Spangled Banner" song turns 200 this year. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Despite a stalwart initial defense, the Americans begin to give way to the British regulars. In spite of their different motivations for serving, all of the men had one thing in common the protection of Baltimore from destruction. Spotted something? Initially they worked from Mary's home (now a private museum known as the Flag House), but as their work progressed they needed more room and had to move to Claggett's brewery across the street. Their bodies were removed and others took their place. George Armistead was born April 10, 1780, in Newmarket, Virginia. In 1931 the song became the national anthem of the United States. In Baltimore's preparation for an expected attack on the city, Fort McHenry was made ready to defend the city's harbor. It is a made-up quote, according to scholars at Washington's presidential library. The admiral came and he said 'Your people are insane.' They said 'We want to send a man out to discuss this with you.' May God bless America on our Independence Day!" They were infamous bomb ships, with names that hawked of their ominous purpose HMS Devastation, Meteor, Aetna, Volcano and Terror capable of hurtling a 200-pound shell one mile high before it plunged in its downward arc over the Patapsco River to its target. But by 9:30 a.m., Admiral Cochrane knew his fleet would be mired for the foreseeable future those shore batteries, coupled with a chain-mast boom, sunken vessels, U.S. gun boats and the Lazaretto Battery, presented a formidable harbor defensive line and any infantry assault would lack naval support. 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. Is Fort McHenry open Covid? Some historians believe that a smaller, 17 by 25-foot storm flag may have flown over Fort McHenry during the rainy evening of the bombardment. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! The Star-Spangled Banner flag is on display at the National Museum of American History. 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. By noon it started to rain. 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). Fort McHenry, Sept. 24th, 1814. Because of this conflict and the protractedness of it, they had accumulated prisoners on both sides. Initially the British fleet exchanges fire with the forts cannon, but soon withdraw out of range. In this photo from the Smithsonian Archives, Smithsonian collections are crated and covered with a tarp to be transferred to a storage facility in Luray, Virgina, for safekeeping during World War II. Armistead ordered the large wool flag taken down and Pickersgill's smaller 17' x 25' foot storm flag hoisted. Accordingly, he launched a late evening diversionary barge attack on the western shore, the backdoor of the American land defenses. West Virginia and Nevada joined the Union in 1863 and 1864 respectively. ", In this 1993 photo from Smithsonian Archives, the flag is shown inside the museum's center hall. Although this flag has been around for 200 years now, there is more to this story that begs to be told. Barges were stretched across the watery approaches creating choke points, and channels were left open to lure the British ships into kill zones. [44] Years of accumulated dust were carefully vacuumed from the front and back of the flag. But not everyone was a fan. For making the Star-Spangled Banner, Mary was paid $405.90. ", 2400 East Fort Avenue 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. Five years later, he made the gift permanent, saying he wanted it to belong "to the Institution in the country where it could be conveniently seen by the public and where it would be well cared for.". He said 'Tonight, I have negotiated successfully your return to the colonies.' Still, only a handful could navigate the shallow waters of the Patapsco River, where Fort McHenry was located. For the next 27 hours, in driving rain, the warships hammer the fort. 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. 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. He said 'We will still honor our commitment to release these men, but it will be merely academic after tonight, it won't matter.' 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. You are free.' But the inspiring banner he glimpsed may only have been raised at daylight. [6] It now measures 30 by 34 feet (9.1 by 10.4m). 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. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Fort McHenry, a large star fortress built in 1800, guards Baltimores inner harbor at a bend in the Patapsco River. Not knowing for sure when an attack would occur, they spent months preparing for it. Georgiana Armistead Appleton,George Armistead's daughter, inherited the flag upon her mother's death in 1861. No, that's not true: The video posted and shared many times on social platforms is filled with major historical inaccuracies and is about as fictional as a "Game of Thrones" episode. Again, this is an imaginary conversation. "Was," because this object at hand, the original Star-Spangled Banner, is no. In 1912, Georgiana Armistead Appleton'sson Eben Appleton decided to give the Star-Spangled Banner to the Smithsonian as a permanent gift. Because of the shallow water, Admiral Cochrane is unable to use his heavy warships, and instead attacks with the bomb vessels HMSTerror,Volcano,Meteor,Devastation, andAetna. It may not have weathered the perilous fight as many believe. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort McHenry? I've often been fighting back tears during the National Be Y's 7/3/16 7:55pm Without this can be done it will only bethrowing the Men's lives away:. Anthem for Americaon Flag Day 2014, curator Hat on or off? 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. The British forces did not place "an ultimatum upon the colonies." 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. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 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. (Image:93-13286-2 and SIA2008-2449.). After coming to the Smithsonian, the Star-Spangled Banner has only left the National Mall once. In February 1815, the storm flag was lost to history after being replaced by a new one from the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. 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. 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. As for those "hundreds of little dots," the British naval forces in the area numbered about 50 vessels. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away. 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.