[27] It was then kept in the Society's vault until 1876, when it was taken to the vault of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Cochrane sent hisnote around nightfall, without any expectationhe would receive a response before the plan hehad in hand would require him to act. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Visitor Center. Francis Scott Key went aboard and immediately went into Fort Henry to see what had happened. [23], The Armisteads' daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton, inherited the flag upon her mother's death in 1861. Over the years, more than 12 million people peered into the museum's glass conservation lab, watching the progress. On Flag Day, Remember Fort McHenry's Lost Storm Flag - The Federalist Militarily, Baltimore was a far more important city than Washington because of its thriving port and strategic location. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Armistead's report after the battle mentions four killed, 24 wounded, and "superficial" damage done to the public buildings. Brooke collects the main body of the British troops and presses forward. The birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner, Fort McHenry still stands as it did when "the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. We're launching interpretation of African American history at 7 key battlefields, located in 5 states, spanning 3 wars. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. 15-star flag above Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md. But a missing 15th star has never been found. However, the citizens and militia of Baltimore had been preparing for such an assault for more than a year. "Was," because this object at hand, the original Star-Spangled Banner, is no. As for those "hundreds of little dots," the British naval forces in the area numbered about 50 vessels. [31], Eben Appleton was highly protective of the flag and disliked the attention it brought him. 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. And Francis Scott Key said 'What do you mean?' 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. They allowed the Americans to return to their own vessel but continued guarding them. Everything was made ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore. 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. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. The narrator is apparently minister David C. Gibbs Jr. The bombardment turned to Fort McHenry on the morning of September 13, and continuous shelling occurred for 25 hours under heavy rain. At 9:00 a.m., Fort McHenrys massive garrison flag measuring an imposing 30'x 42' was raised over the ramparts, as four young fifers and drummers played the national tune Yankee Doodle. Aboard the frigate HMS Hebrus, a young midshipman remembered: And as the last vessel spread her canvas to the wind, the Americans hoisted a most superb and splendid ensign on theirbattery, and fired at the same time a gun of defiance.The great ensign, receiving the sun's early light, could be seen plainly for miles. Every purchase supports the mission. "The Star-Spangled Banner resonates with people in different ways, for different reasons," says Kathleen Kendrick, curator for the Star-Spangled Banner preservation project. "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. They appeared over time as the iron particles corroded. No, Mary Pickersgill did not make a mathematical error. 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. A national subscription magazinepublishedlocally,NilesWeeklyRegister,recorded that thehouses in the city were shakentotheir foundations for never,perhapsfromthe timeof invention of cannonto thepresent day, were the same number ofpiecesfired with so rapid a succession.The vivid display of early 19th-century shock and awe could be heard 100 miles awayinPhiladelphia. 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. It may not have weathered the perilous fight as many believe. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. 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. September 14. Using a storm flag in those conditions would have been standard practice. Its message was clear: The British threat had passed, and Baltimore was saved. 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. Verified signatory of the IFCN Code of Principles, Facebook Third-Party Fact-Checking Partner. "But no real evidence has surfaced to support these stories, and the true fate of the star remains one of the Smithsonian's great unsolved mysteries." "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.". Cookie Settings, Courtesy of the National Museum of American History, Photo by Thomas Arledge, courtesy of the National Museum of American History, Courtesy of the Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum, Courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, MD, Courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts, Five Places Where You Can Still Find Gold in the United States, Scientists Taught Pet Parrots to Video Call Each Otherand the Birds Loved It, The True Story of the Koh-i-Noor Diamondand Why the British Won't Give It Back. Let us know!. 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. [49][50][51], The National Museum of American History produced an online exhibition in conjunction with the reopening of Flag Hall in 2008. On the appointed day in a row boat, he (Key) went out to this boat and he negotiated with the British officials and they reached a conclusion that men could be exchanged on a one-for-one basis. 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". 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. according to scholars at Washington's presidential library. This delay gives the American defenders in Baltimore time to bolster their defenses. Star-Spangled Banner (flag) - Wikipedia The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most recognizable icons of the United States. Her son George was even arrested in 1861 for trying to sneak into Virginia to join the Confederate Army. Privacy Statement Duke closely covered domestic terrorism cases for CNN, including the Oklahoma City federal building bombing, the UNABOMBER and search for Southeast bomber Eric Robert Rudolph. Now, here are the most obvious ways this video is filled with fake history: Francis Scott Key was a lawyer in Baltimore. Courtesy of Christopher Hughes Morton. Each of the eight stars represented a Confederate state in March 1861 when the flag was adopted. 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. George Armistead was born April 10, 1780, in Newmarket, Virginia. Close-up of Fort McHenry's preserved "Great Garrison Flag" shows the incredible detail and stitching. Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. 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. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifactit's also a national symbol. 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 flag that flew during that episode in history became a significant artifact. Rewriting history is a dangerous thing, although the consequences of digesting this particular mythology may not lead to destruction. At Lead Stories, we are pro-fact. He said 'If you will, scan the horizon of the sea,' and as he looked he could see hundreds of little dots and he said 'That's the entire British war fleet.' But just what did that flag, that for and those defenders endure?. For the next 50 years, with the exception of a brief move during World War II, the Star-Spangled Banner was displayed in what is now the Arts and Industries Building. Battle of Fort McHenry | American Battlefield Trust He said 'Hundreds." From Baltimore's Federal Hill the fleet of more than 40 British vessels was visible at anchor off North Point. 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. Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. Mary Young Pickersgill The U.S. Navy's first ship, the Constellation, was launched in Baltimore in 1797, and its namesake, the last all-sail warship built (1854) for the navy, has been moored in the city's harbour since 1955; in the late 1990s the ship underwent extensive restoration. A large flag, but one not unusual for the time. 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. "Our goal was to extend [the flag's] usable lifetime," says Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss, the conservator for the project. 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. March 1, 2007 A conservator works on the Star-Spangled Banner in 1914. Spotted something? The colonies were engaged in vicious conflict with the mother country, Britain. (Man's voice) There was a lawyer once, his name was Francis Scott Key. which was built in 1798. When the flag arrived at the Smithsonian it was smaller (30 by 34 feet), damaged from years of use at the fort and from pieces being removed as souvenirs. But not everyone was a fan. The relief and awe he feels inspire him to write a poem, "Defense of Fort McHenry," which is later be set to the tune To Anacreon in Heaven. Renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner," the song officially becomes the national anthem of the United States in 1931. 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. He wanted to be sure the British could see the United States colors from their distant warships. President Abraham Lincoln maintained that those states never really left the nation but were merely in rebellion. Francis Scott Key - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Accordingly, he launched a late evening diversionary barge attack on the western shore, the backdoor of the American land defenses. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 The fort suffered only light damage from the 1,500 cannonballs, rockets and shells fired upon it. While the conservators worked, the public looked on. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. [14][15] When the British ships were unable to pass the fort and penetrate the harbor, the attack was ended. Join us online July 24-26! It can cause a student to incorrectly answer an American history test question and might make you look foolish when discussing history with better-informed friends. The garrison flag is raised every morning at reveille, but on this daySeptember 14, 1814its presence has special significance. Volunteers dug huge entrenchments east of town, and the city militia drilled regularly. It is on exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Command of the land forces passes to Col.Arthur Brooke. When California Became Its Own Nation - History "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). We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. 1. Although she lived in Maryland, a Union state, her sympathies lay with the Confederate cause. On the morning of September 14, the American defenders lowered their battered storm flag and raised the large, thirty by forty-two foot, garrison flag. "Georgiana was the only child born at the fort, and she was named for her father," says Thomassen-Krauss. He was on an American truce ship at the time. On August 19, 1813, the flag was delivered to Fort McHenry. [25][26] He then put the flag on display at the headquarters of the New England Historic Genealogical Society for several weeks. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. What if it gets dirty? Georgiana, herself, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. It will be here within striking distance in a matter of about two-and-a-half hours.' [34][35] In 1912, Appleton formally donated it to the Smithsonian. Their bodies were removed and others took their place. Fake History: "Our National Anthem" Video By Robert Surgernor Is NOT ", 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. And Key could not "scan the horizon of the sea" since he was on the river, miles from the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. How and when this occurred is unclear. 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. When markings on the flag were investigated and analyzed, they were found to be from iron corrosion. [46], Due to environmental and light damage, a four-phase restoration project began in May 1999. The job went out to a 37-year-old widow. There is so much wrong with this segment of the narration. In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost.
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