This delay gives the American defenders in Baltimore time to bolster their defenses. Gen.John Stricker to delay the advance by provoking an engagement. 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. It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812. Regulations of the War Department: Each morning began with a round from a six-pounder and musical accompaniment as the flag was lifted aloft. Started in 1996, the Star-Spangled Banner preservation projectwhich includes the flag's conservation and the creation of its new display in the renovated museumwas planned with the help of historians, conservators, curators, engineers and organic scientists. Again, this is an imaginary conversation. Georgiana found herself on the wrong side of the battle lines when the Civil War broke out. 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. When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to their daughter Georgiana Armistead Appleton over the legal objections of their son. This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss. Still, the decision for ground troops to either advance or retreat fell to Colonel Arthur Brooke, who had assumed command following the death of the much-esteemed General Robert Ross at North Point the previous day. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 MD Joining them is the rocket ship HMSErebus, which launches the newly invented Congreve rockets. A storm still raged around Baltimore as the most tremendous cannonade of the battle took place. The Defenders - Fort McHenry National Monument - National Park Service The 1,000 Americans at Fort McHenry are commanded by Maj.George Armistead. 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. It is unclear if that was done during this battle, but the fact that it was raining made it more likely that a smaller storm flag would have flown during much of the bombardment. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! In the early morning ofSeptember 13, British warships begin their bombardment. The ship carried Colonel John S. Skinner, U.S. State Department prisoner exchange agent, and 35-year-old Georgetown attorney Francis Scott Key. And Key could not "scan the horizon of the sea" since he was on the river, miles from the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. 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. Each star, by the way, is made of cotton and was created by reverse applicqu method. He was elated and relieved, certain that God had intervened. [28], In 1877, the flag was exhibited at the Old South Church in Boston for the nation's first Flag Day celebration. How long did the star-spangled banner wave? During the War of 1812, the people of Baltimore believed that the British would attack the city. Prepared to take . [1] The U.S. Navy term is "holiday colors". 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. According to the Smithsonian Archives, this October 1944 photograph shows: "The headquarters area of the United States National Museum storage facilityin Luray, Virginia, near Shenandoah National Park." The Star-Spangled Garrison Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner resonates with people in different ways, for different reasons," says Kathleen Kendrick, curator for the Star-Spangled Banner preservation project. 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.". March 1, 2007 A conservator works on the Star-Spangled Banner in 1914. The restoration was completed in 2008 at a total cost in excess of $21 million. [23], In 1873, Appleton lent the flag to George Henry Preble, a naval officer who had written a popular history of the American flag. Francis Scott Key - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Francis Scott Key pens "The Star-Spangled Banner" Initially, the British strategy during the War of 1812 had been defensive. Recognizing its need for repair, the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler, an embroidery teacher and well-known flag preserver, in 1914 to replace the canvas backing that had been added in 1873. The Star-Spangled Banner has a sibling, and we have no idea where it is. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 2. After landing unopposed, they advance toward Baltimore. The British forces did not place "an ultimatum upon the colonies." The bombardment began at sunrise, not sunset, and continued for 27 hours. 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. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort McHenry? Francis Scott Key said what held that flag at that unusual angle were patriots' bodies. The colonies were engaged in vicious conflict with the mother country, Britain. A large flag, but one not unusual for the time. 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. It is on exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Also, there were no large groups of American prisoners held in the cargo hold of boats. Using a storm flag in those conditions would have been standard practice. But the inspiring banner he glimpsed may only have been raised at daylight. 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. The bombardment turned to Fort McHenry on the morning of September 13, and continuous shelling occurred for 25 hours under heavy rain. The attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore's harbor was a pivotal moment in the War of 1812 as it successfully thwarted the Chesapeake Bay campaign the Royal Navy had been waging against the United States. 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. And he said 'Men, I've got news for you tonight. Lead Stories is a U.S. based fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or 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. Although this flag has been around for 200 years now, there is more to this story that begs to be told. 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. They carried with them. It may not have weathered the perilous fight as many believe. 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. Francis Scott Key said what held that flag at that unusual angle were patriots' bodies. This is made up. War of 1812: Big Night in Baltimore The British were intent on removing any threat from Fort McHenry ahead of an assault to capture Baltimore. 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. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort Mchenry? 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?' It will be here within striking distance in a matter of about two-and-a-half hours.' 7 things you didn't know about the Star-Spangled Banner 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 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. 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. He said 'Well, Mr. Key,' he said, 'tonight we have laid an ultimatum upon the colonies. He said 'What's the matter with them?' "It's exciting to realize that you're looking at the very same flag that Francis Scott Key saw on that September morning in 1814. 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. Is Northern capitalized? Directives from London were clear that once troops went ashore, combat decisions belonged with the army rather than the navy, but such guidance had not anticipated that those soldiers might be under the command of a mere colonel. In the summer of 1813, Armistead ordered a large garrison flag (30 feet by 42 feet) as well as with a smaller storm flag (17 feet by 25 feet) for the Fort. He said 'How are you going to do that?' The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. He had successfully negotiated with the British for the release of an American prisoner but was held onboard because an assault was imminent. And it's never leaving. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away. Whether or not Francis Scott Key actually visited Fort McHenry that day, he would have not seen a stack of "patriots' bodies" holding the flag pole upright. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. "[54], Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Click here to see it. Fort McHenry Gets a New Flagpole for Its Star and Stripes To the best of our knowledge, the British did not specifically target the flag. [11][12], Pickersgill made the flag with assistance from her daughter, two nieces, and an African American indentured servant, Grace Wisher.[13]. There were more than 15 states when the flag was made, but there are only 15 stars on the flag. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. I've often been fighting back tears during the National Be Y's 7/3/16 7:55pm Their bodies were removed and others took their place. 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. Support Outdoor Classrooms at Seven Key Battlefields. Having worked on historic flags for the United States Naval Academy, Fowler had patented a method of supporting fragile flags with a linen backing that required a honeycomb pattern of stitches. 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 Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). The British attack on Baltimore had began in earnest. No, Key was a lawyer in Washington, D.C. The fort suffered only light damage from the 1,500 cannonballs, rockets and shells fired upon it. Interestingly enough several African Americans found themselves fighting under the very same flag of the country that sought to enslave them. He has published several books and numerous articles. All that he (Key) could hear was the men down below praying. Date of Birth - Death April 10, 1780 - April 25, 1818. Between 12th and 14th Streets [49][50][51], The National Museum of American History produced an online exhibition in conjunction with the reopening of Flag Hall in 2008. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. The ammunition used by these ships later inspire Francis Scott Keys famous lines and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air.. He said 'Do you see that flag way up on the rampart?' Armistead's report after the battle mentions four killed, 24 wounded, and "superficial" damage done to the public buildings. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine 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. [22] It was displayed outside Armistead's son's home for the 1844 Whig National Convention. Most of us have memorized it as a child, but we've never really thought about what it means. He convinced the British to release Beanes. 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. The Maryland militia commander, Maj. Gen. Samuel Smith, orders Brig. 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.'. It was with huge surprise and joy that as dawn broke, he saw, not the Union Jack flying above the fort, but the American flag. [21] It reportedly decorated the hall of the Baltimore Athenaeum during a memorial service for Lafayette in 1834. The flag we all know as the star-spangled banner is a massive 30 by 42 feet in size and sewn of wool bunting. We have Francis Scott Key to thank for the mix-up. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. Armistead soon hired a 29-year-old widow and professional flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill of Baltimore, Maryland, to make a garrison flag measuring 30 by 42 feet with 15 stars and 15 stripes (each star and stripe representing a state). 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. [32] For the next 29 years, he allowed it to be displayed only once, in 1880, when it was paraded through the streets of Baltimore for the city's sesquicentennial celebration. [2], With fifteen stripes, the Star-Spangled Banner remains the only official American flag to bear more than thirteen stripes.[3]. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. 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. The death toll suffered at the fort was four, with 25 wounded. Terms of Use Keeping their stars on the national flag signified that continued solidarity. 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. The flag was stitched from a combination of cotton and dyed English wool bunting. There were about 25 American casualties. Courtesy of Christopher Hughes Morton. a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. After the battle, the flag came into the possession of Major Armistead. The American defenders hold initially, inflicting heavy casualties and resorting to firing scrap metal from their cannon because of a lack of canister. Since there were no groups of American soldiers in the cargo hold, there was no such conversation between Key and the prisoners. First, there were no "colonies" in 1814. Key was not sent by the American government to negotiate a prisoner exchange. Francis Scott Key stood aboard the deck of an American truce ship on September 14, 1814 and watched the raising of Fort McHenry's large garrison flag over the ramparts. [42], A conservation effort was undertaken in 1982 to protect the flag from damage due to dust and light. The flag's design was last approved by Congress in 1794, providing for 15 stripes and 15 stars. Spotted something? In the case of the Star-Spangled Banner, however, that will likely never happen. His brother-in-law, commander of a militia at Fort McHenry, read Key's work and had it distributed under the name "Defence of Fort M'Henry." It is baffling why anyone would fabricate historical facts that would then be assumed to be authentic. It is a made-up quote, according to scholars at Washington's presidential library. Join us online July 24-26! 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. The flags were finished on August 19, 1813. By noon it started to rain. Still, only a handful could navigate the shallow waters of the Patapsco River, where Fort McHenry was located. Get the latest History stories in your inbox? Right or left hand? The Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner - Smithsonian Magazine NPS. Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. [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. There is conflicting evidence as to which flag, the larger garrison flag or the smaller storm flag, flew over the fort during the battle. The flag and many other treasures were crated up and sent to Luray, Virginia, for safekeeping. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! 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. ", In this 1993 photo from Smithsonian Archives, the flag is shown inside the museum's center hall. [6] It now measures 30 by 34 feet (9.1 by 10.4m). While ordering his men to drive off the American riflemen, Ross is shot in the chest and dies a few hours later. Duke also co-hosted a daily podcast with former HLN host Nancy Grace, "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" and hosted the podcast series "Stan Lee's World: His Real Life Battle with Heroes & Villains." In fact, military posts traditionally lower the American flag at night. 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. The job went out to a 37-year-old widow. Why the Confederate Flag Made a 20th Century Comeback - National Geographic Visitors are allowed a clear view of the flag, while it remains protected in a controlled environment. It was simply raised according to the 1808 U.S. However, the citizens and militia of Baltimore had been preparing for such an assault for more than a year. It is likely that they kept the flag hidden in their home in Baltimore for the duration of the war, but Margaret Appleton Baker, Georgiana's daughter, told theNew York Heraldin 1895 that the flag had actually been sent to England. Rewriting history is a dangerous thing, although the consequences of digesting this particular mythology may not lead to destruction. Robert M. Poole is the magazine's contributing editor. (Image:93-13286-2 and SIA2008-2449.). As World War II began, plans were made to protect a number of the Smithsonian's most precious objects. 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. 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. It was populated by 1,000 American troops who were armed with dozens of cannons and thousands of pounds of gunpowder. South Carolina's confederate flag hasn't been flying since the Civil War. [47] Planning and executing a cleaning treatment for the flag following scientific analysis was the third phase. The Confederate Army eventually adopted the Confederate battle flag in order to avoid potentially lethal confusion. The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry, she says. The garrison flag is raised every morning at reveille, but on this daySeptember 14, 1814its presence has special significance. "Was," because this object at hand, the original Star-Spangled Banner, is no. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry. Around 3:00 p.m., he attacks the American positions. 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. The British set sail for New Orleans. The Battle of Fort McHenry With the construction of the conservation lab completed in 1999, conservators began their work. Encouraged by their victory at Bladensburgon August 24, 1814, and the subsequent burning of Washington, D.C., the British turned north, intent on capturing the major port city of Baltimore, Maryland. Armistead remained in command of Fort McHenry for the rest of his life. Please read this story before you angrily message this writer with accusations he is anti-American. 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. Museums often lend objects and artifacts to each other in order to tell more complete stories. [42][43] It was hung in Flag Hall, a three-story central atrium designed for this purpose. 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. Not knowing for sure when an attack would occur, they spent months preparing for it. On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. [19][20] Some years, it was flown at Baltimore's celebration of Defenders Day, the anniversary of the battle. "Louisa wanted Georgiana to have it.". Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world [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. Naval support will be required to dislodge the American forces, and Fort McHenry will have to be eliminated. Also, there were no "hundreds" of ships in the river attacking the fort. "The Star-Spangled Banner" song turns 200 this year. Entrance Fees The entrance fee to the historic area of the park is $15.00 for adults 16 years of age and older; children 15 and younger are free. Undoing her work required unbelievable precision. Star-Spangled Banner (flag) - Wikipedia What happened to Fort McHenry? - Estatisticasgratis.com To preserve this American icon, experts at the National Museum of American History recently completed an eight-year conservation treatment with funds from Polo Ralph Lauren, The Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Congress. When he saw the garrison flag flying in the morning, he composed a poem he originally titled "Defence of Fort McHenry". Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. She received another $168.54 for sewing a smaller (17 by 25 feet) storm flag, likely using the same design. [31], Eben Appleton was highly protective of the flag and disliked the attention it brought him. Historians are not sure how the Armistead family came into possession of the flag, but upon Armistead's death in 1818, his wife Louisa inherited it. In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost. 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. [18] Upon his death in 1818, the flag passed to his widow, Louisa Hughes Armistead. 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. She recommends you brush up on more flag facts by learning about the flag's most recent conservation check-up and finding out why the national anthem is so hard to singbefore joining us in a nationwide sing of the national anthem on Flag Day (June 14, 2014) in honor of its 200th birthday. In 1907, Eben Appleton lent the flag to the Smithsonian, and it was put on display at the National Museum (now the Arts and Industries Building). 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 hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of "the dawn's early light" on September 14, he saw the American flagnot the British Union Jackflying over the fort, announcing an American victory. He said 'Hundreds." 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. Commissioned by Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry. In 1814, the United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. On Flag Day, Remember Fort McHenry's Lost Storm Flag - The Federalist