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. The star-spangled banner may not have been run up the flagpole until first light on September 14. NPS. There were 15 American states. The flag currently has only fourteen starsthe fifteenth star was similarly given as a gift, but its recipient and current whereabouts are unknown.[7]. PDF Official Account of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry And he said 'Men, I've got news for you tonight. 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. After the battle, the flag came into the possession of Major Armistead. It is our song as an American. She once noted, "[H]ad we given all that we have been importuned for little would be left to show." To the best of our knowledge, the British did not specifically target the flag. We're launching interpretation of African American history at 7 key battlefields, located in 5 states, spanning 3 wars. There were more than 15 states when the flag was made, but there are only 15 stars on the flag. He sent sent amessage, via Admiral Cockburn, to Cochrane regarding how the two could act in concert together, one by land, one by sea. Perhaps most important is this: The massive relic on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is NOT the flag that . 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. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort McHenry? Francis Scott Key - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Spotted something? They said 'We want to send a man out to discuss this with you.' Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. [47] Planning and executing a cleaning treatment for the flag following scientific analysis was the third phase. After the death ofCol. George Armistead, who was commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, the flag passed to his daughter Georgiana Armistead Appleton. September 13. "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. It evokes powerful emotions and ideas about what it means to be an American. 7 things you didn't know about the Star-Spangled Banner At that time, it was the practice to add one star and stripe for each new state joining the Union. It is baffling why anyone would fabricate historical facts that would then be assumed to be authentic. A severe indisposition, the effect of great fatigue and exposure, has prevented me heretofore from presenting you with an account of the attack on this post. https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2019/04/fake-news-our-national-anthem-video-not-true-story-of-star-spangled-banner.html, Fake News: Nancy Pelosi Did NOT Have 150-Year-Old Sign Removed From House Chamber Entrance, Fake News: Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar DID NOT Praise the Destruction of Notre Dame. Gen.John Stricker to delay the advance by provoking an engagement. The final poem, called The Defense of Fort MHenry, was printed and later set to the tune of a popular song. [48], Following the reopening of the museum on November 21, 2008, the flag is now on display in a two-story display chamber that allows it to lie at a 10-degree angle in dim light. [6] It now measures 30 by 34 feet (9.1 by 10.4m). The flag that flew during that episode in history became a significant artifact. Is the "Our National Anthem" video produced by Robert Surgernor the true story of "The Star Spangled Banner"? Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort Mchenry? And history records no "way out" offered by signalling surrender with the lowering of the flag. "We, sir, are ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore against invading by the enemyexcept 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.". Despite a stalwart initial defense, the Americans begin to give way to the British regulars. Each star, by the way, is made of cotton and was created by reverse applicqu method. 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 . Their goal was to push through the narrow passage, past Fort McHenry and through to the city itself, in concert with the planned infantry assault from the northwest. Join us online July 24-26! George Washington never said that. Most people assume that this grand banner flew through the rockets red glare.. a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. And Francis Scott Key said 'What do you mean?' 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. The flag pole itself was at a crazy angle, but the flag was still at the top. ", In this 1993 photo from Smithsonian Archives, the flag is shown inside the museum's center hall. 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. This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss. [32][33], The Armistead family occasionally gave away pieces of the flag as souvenirs and gifts.[6]. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenryforced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. The larger of the two flags would be the Great Garrison Flag, the largest battle flag ever flown at the time. 1. Our Flag Was Still There | History| Smithsonian Magazine 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. The 1,000 Americans at Fort McHenry are commanded by Maj.George Armistead. 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. There was no group of prisoners held in the cargo hold of the ship from where Key watched the battle. Eben immediately wrote to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,Charles D. Walcott. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag. 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. The British Attack on Fort McHenry (Spar-Spangled Banner) - ThoughtCo Robert M. Poole is the magazine's contributing editor. 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. CNN moved Duke to Los Angeles in 2009 to cover the entertainment beat. We go, however, to a ball game, we stand in our church services, and we sing the words of that song and they float over our minds and our lips and we don't even realize what we're singing. The newest bomb ships of the Vesuvius class were three-masted vessels carrying a massive central weight of 325 tons, with a length of 102 feet, ideal for heavy weather and shore bombardment. He was elated and relieved, certain that God had intervened. "We didn't want to change any of the history written on the artifact by stains and soil. 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. Join us online July 24-26! Spotted something? He said 'What's the matter with them?' Fort McHenry Gets a New Flagpole for Its Star and Stripes A large flag, but one not unusual for the time. In February 1815, the storm flag was lost to history after being replaced by a new one from the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. That morning the American defenders lower their battered storm flag and raise the large, 30 by 42-foot garrison flag that Major Armistead ordered a year earlier from local flag maker Mary Pickersgill. The Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner - Smithsonian Magazine Separating fact from fiction about 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Alanstudt.com A t 6:30 a.m., on September 13, 1814, the first of an estimated 1,800 cast-iron bomb shells were hurled at the masonry walls of Fort McHenry. May God bless America on our Independence Day!" All that he (Key) could hear was the men down below praying. 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. Through the clouds of the war the stars of that banner still shone in my view, and I saw the discomforted host of its assailants driven back in ignominy to theirships. The British hated the privateers and so despised the Baltimore that they called it a nest of pirates. They vowed to take revenge. [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. It is on exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. ", Three of the 15 stars on the Star-Spangled Banner. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine 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. "Was," because this object at hand, the original Star-Spangled Banner, is no. 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! A replica 17'x25' storm flag flying over Fort McHenry . As for those "hundreds of little dots," the British naval forces in the area numbered about 50 vessels. Privacy Statement In Baltimore's preparation for an expected attack on the city, Fort McHenry was made ready to defend the city's harbor. Most of us have memorized it as a child, but we've never really thought about what it means. Everything was made ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore. It was this storm flagnot the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Bannerwhich actually flew during the battle. 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 hissing rockets and the fiery shells glittered in the air, threatening destruction as they fell,later recalled a young British sailor, in a description that sounds straight out of a poem, Whilst to add solemnity to this scene of devastation, the rain fell in torrents the thunder broke inmighty peals after each successive flash of lightening, that for a moment illuminated the surrounding darkness.But with no coordinated infantry assaults, Cochrane began to draw down his thrust. 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. These ships fire exploding mortar shellsat high angles into the fort. 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. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. But the inspiring banner he glimpsed may only have been raised at daylight. Major George Armistead, the Forts commanding officer, desired "to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance. Terms of Use No, Mary Pickersgill did not make a mathematical error. But a missing 15th star has never been found. 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. But when darkness arrived, Key saw only red erupting in the night sky. The flag's design was last approved by Congress in 1794, providing for 15 stripes and 15 stars. 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. How long does it take water taxi from aquarium to fort mchenry 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. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry During the Battle of Baltimore on September 13 and 14, 1814, heavy thunderstorms over Fort McHenry prevented the flying of the flag we know today as the Star Spangled Banner. When markings on the flag were investigated and analyzed, they were found to be from iron corrosion. But not everyone was a fan. There were more than 15 states when the flag was made, but there are only 15 stars on the flag. 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. Rewriting history is a dangerous thing, although the consequences of digesting this particular mythology may not lead to destruction. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away. Published: September 9, 2020. "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 prayer 'God, keep that flag flying where we last saw it.'. according to scholars at Washington's presidential library. [44] Years of accumulated dust were carefully vacuumed from the front and back of the flag. 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. 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. He said 'The war is over, these men will be free anyway.'. 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 . There is so much wrong with this segment of the narration. The narrator refers to Fort Henry, which did not exist. 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.' What did the flag at Fort McHenry symbolize? And they said 'How many ships?' [9][10] Armistead specified "a flag so large that the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance". Let us know!. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry. On August 19, 1813, the flag was delivered to Fort McHenry. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. 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. 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. As internationally intriguing as her story is, there is no evidence to support Margaret's recollections and historians agree the flag probably remained in Baltimore. The death toll suffered at the fort was four, with 25 wounded. Ross, hearing the skirmishing, rides forward to assess the situation. Visitors are allowed a clear view of the flag, while it remains protected in a controlled environment. 15-star flag above Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md. 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. It is she who is thought to have sewed the red upside-down "V" on the flag, beginning the stitches for the letter "A." 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. [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. At 30 by 42. There were about 28 American casualties. 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. Let us know!. The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most recognizable icons of the United States. He (Key) said 'You can't shell that fort.' Lead Stories is a U.S. based fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or He said 'Well, Mr. Key,' he said, 'tonight we have laid an ultimatum upon the colonies. 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. 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. 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.
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