Preparations Near Fort McHenry

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The British invasion of Maryland, (1812-1815):

"On the 16th of April the fleet threatened the City of Baltimore, and while it lay off the city, preparations for defense were carried forward with great activity...".

"The militia, under the command of General Samuel Smith, erected a water-battery mounted with 42-pounders, and built furnaces for heating shot. Signal boats were established down the Patapsco, while cavalry, infantry and artillery were stationed along the shores of the river and bay with a code of signals. Fort McHenry was strengthened under the direction of Colonel Wadsworth of the United States Engineers, and a number of old hulks were stationed in the river for the purpose of being sunk in the channel if necessary. The works known as the six gun battery were thrown up by brickmakers without charge."

Map Of Baltimore And Vicinity

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Bombardment Of Fort McHenry

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Citizen Soldiers In Maryland

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The Citizen Soldiers at North Point and Fort McHenry, September 12 and 13, 1814.

Battle Of Baltimore

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See the Wikipedia take on the Battle of Baltimore here.  

Also see Attack Upon Fort McHenry, Rodger's Bastion, Baltimore and Defender's Day In Baltimore.

Exterior Of Fort McHenry

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The Entrance At Fort McHenry

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Fort McHenry is part of the National Park Service.

See Friends of Fort McHenry on Facebook here.

Attack Upon Fort McHenry

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Fort McHenry

The approach to Baltimore by water was guarded by Fort McHenry by obstructions sunk in the channel of the river and by two heavily constructed batteries between Fort McHenry and the city.

Here however the British met with an unexpected repulse. The bombardment of Fort McHenry began at sunrise, on the 13th [September], and continued throughout that day and the succeeding night, though without reducing the fortress. Under cover of the darkness, several rocket vessels and barges ascended past Fort McHenry, but being detected were received with a heavy cannonade. [Source]

Rodger's Bastion, Baltimore

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From the Friends Of Patterson Park website:

On Hampstead Hill, the ridge where the Pagoda now stands, Baltimoreans rallied on September 12, 1814 to protect the city from the threat of a British invasion. By water, British troops entered the Patapsco River and bombarded Fort McHenry. By land, they amassed forces at North Point. As they marched on to Baltimore and looked up to Hampstead Hill they saw Rodger’s Bastion – including 100 cannons and 20,000 troops. This sight led the British to return to their ships and leave the Port of Baltimore.

This blog has a nice map on the post entitled "The British Route from Washington to Baltimore in 1814," including Hampstead Hill.

Post-War Star Spangled Banner At Fort McHenry

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Read about the untold story of the Star Spangled Banner.

A Summary Of The War In 1814

Excerpts from a sign at the Cumberland Island NPS Museum:

CRISIS, CLIMAX, AND PEACE - 1814

As Britain and her allies ended their war against Napoleon, thousands of battle-hardened British regulars boarded ships for America.  In July, they captured 100 miles of coastline in Maine.  In late July they turned back the last American attempt to invade Canada.  In August, British forces marched on Washington, the American capital.

In mid-September, on Lake Champlain, at Plattsburgh Bay, New York, Lieutenant Thomas McDonough's under gunned American squadron defeated a superior British fleet.  The tide of war changed and peace talks began in Ghent, Belgium.

Not knowing the war had ended, the Battle of New Orleans saw troops under General Andrew Jackson first slow then defeat a British advance on January 8th, 1815.

Note: The Battle of the Ice Mound, Battle at Point Peter and the Battle of Bowyer occurred after the Battle of New Orleans.

Defenders Day In Maryland

September 12th is Defenders Day which is celebrated in Maryland.  It commemorates the Battle of Northpoint (and encompasses the Battle of Baltimore and the events at Fort McHenry).

According to the National Park Service site:

On September 12, 1914, the 100th anniversary of the British attack against Fort McHenry, 6500 local school children cloaked in red, white and blue, formed a giant replica of the Flag, which was appropriately named, “The Wonderful Human Flag.”

Here was the itinerary for Defenders Day 2012.

A YouTube video of the Defenders Day celebration in 2001 here and 2011 here.

The Coin Of The Realm - Star-Spangled Banner Edition

From the U.S. Mint's website:

Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act

The Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act...requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 100,000 gold $5 coins and 500,000 silver $1 coins in commemoration of the bicentennial of the writing of our national anthem.  According to the law, the designs shall be emblematic of the War of 1812, particularly the Battle of Baltimore that formed the basis for the lyrics of "The Star—Spangled Banner."

The Untold Story Of The Star-Spangled Banner

 According to a Fox News article, there are 5 facts that might surprise you. 

1. It was written with its current melody in mind.

 Another interesting fact: Key's original title was called the "Defence of Fort McHenry."

See the article for the rest of the story!

Portrait Of Francis Scott Key

 From Leading Events of Maryland History:

Francis Scott Key Wrote A Song About It

Star-Spangled Banner from this website.

An interactive version found here!  It's fascinating.

Dr. Beanes And Francis Scott Key

From Relatively Fiction, Francis Scott Key was in position to see our "Star-Spangled Banner" because he was negotiating with the British on behalf of  Dr. William Beanes.  Dr. Beanes was accused by the British of being a spy and was being held on the HMS Tonnant of the coast of Maryland.  The good news was that Attorney Key and his fellow negotiator, Col. John Skinner, secured the release of Dr. Beanes.  The bad news was that the British were planning a military action and Key's party knew too much about British plans to be released before the British attack. 

There was a 1955 TV show in the "Cavalcade of America" series entitled "The Rescue of Dr. Beanes."