War of 1812
American's Second War for Independence
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Defense of Fort McHenry
September 13-14, 1814
The Battle of Baltimore
and the
Defense of Fort McHenry
Fresh off their victory of capturing and burning Washington, DC, the British looked to make quick work of shutting down the strategic port of Baltimore, the center of American ship building and privateer activity. Although the battle involved both land and sea forces, it was the naval bombardment of Fort McHenry that became the most famous, all because of a poem written by a lawyer.
For over 20 years, the British war effort was focused on the Napoleonic Wars and felt the "American War" a distraction. With Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig (Oct 16, 1813) and his abdication (April 6, 1814), Britain refocused its military toward America. Washington, DC and Baltimore were to bring the conflict to an end.
Washington fell, but Baltimore was prepared and set the scene for New Orleans.
Eight Miles Off Shore
Francis Scott Key, lawyer, author, and armature poet, was aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant to negotiate the release of American prisoners. Because he overhead the British plans for attacking Baltimore, he was not allowed to leave. His poem, "The Defense of Fort McHenry", tells his story of watching the bombardment, the emotions he experienced that night, and his relief at seeing the American flag still flying the next morning.
Maj. George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry, knowing that his fort was a likely British target, spent a year readying the fortification. He stockpiled supplies and munitions, reinforced structures, scuttled wrecks in the channels, trained his troops, and commissioned a new garrison flag.
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"We, sir, are ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore against invading by the enemy…except that we have no suitable ensign to display over the Star Fort, and it is my desire to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance."
Baltimore flag maker, Mary Pickersgill, along with her daughter, two nieces, and a servant worked six weeks to create The Great Garrison Flag. She was paid $574 to create the 30' x 42' flag and the smaller 17' x 25' storm flag.
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This massive undertaking used 300 yards of English wool bunting. Each star, made of cotton, measured two feet in diameter.
Within a week, the Defense of Fort Henry was published in the Baltimore paper. It quickly spread along the Coast and was renamed the Star Spangled Banner. Key set his poem to music using the popular English drinking song “To Anacreon in Heaven.”
In 1916, Pres. Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order declaring it the National Anthem. In 1931, finally Congress passed legislation to making the Star Spangled Banner the official National Anthem.
In God We Trust
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Our National Motto was adopted from the sixth line of the fourth stanza of Frances Scott Key's poem. In 1864 "In God is our trust" was shortened to "In God We Trust" and appeared on US coins for the first time.
In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law making"In God We Trust" our official motto.
Who won the War of 1812?
That depends upon whose history books you read; British or American.
Both sides claimed victory