September 13. "Our goal was to extend [the flag's] usable lifetime," says Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss, the conservator for the project. Military personnel and residents of Baltimore were well aware that they were a target of enemy wrath and started shoring up their defenses. Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Lead Stories LLC: You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. Fort McHenry, a large star fortress built in 1800, guards Baltimores inner harbor at a bend in the Patapsco River. However, the citizens and militia of Baltimore had been preparing for such an assault for more than a year. The Great Garrison Flag - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic The flag's design was last approved by Congress in 1794, providing for 15 stripes and 15 stars. ", In this 1993 photo from Smithsonian Archives, the flag is shown inside the museum's center hall. The star-spangled banner may not have been run up the flagpole until first light on September 14. Each of the eight stars represented a Confederate state in March 1861 when the flag was adopted. 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.' Battle of Baltimore | Summary [38][39], During World War II, from 1942 to 1944, the flag, along with many other objects in the Smithsonian's collection, was kept for safekeeping at a warehouse at Shenandoah National Park. After the Battle of 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. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. You are free.' 15-star flag above Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md. They allowed the Americans to return to their own vessel but continued guarding them. [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. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Close-up of Fort McHenry's preserved "Great Garrison Flag" shows the incredible detail and stitching. "We're aware of at least a dozen more that exist in other museums and private collections," says Kendrick. This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss. Star-Spangled Banner Back on Display 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. By noon it started to rain. The flags were finished on August 19, 1813. Despite their feelings about disunion, the Armistead family made a specific effort to protect the flag that symbolized a preserved and united nation. The restoration was completed in 2008 at a total cost in excess of $21 million. The Defenders - Fort McHenry National Monument - National Park Service We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. It is baffling why anyone would fabricate historical facts that would then be assumed to be authentic. 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. 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. If you want to know the true and remarkable history of the origins of the American national anthem, we suggest you click here for the Smithsonian magazine account or here for another account of the battle of Fort McHenry. It may not have weathered the perilous fight as many believe. Several feet of fabric have been lost from the flag's fly end, from cuttings that were given away as souvenirs and gifts, as well as from deterioration from continued use. Several of these cuttings from the Star-Spangled Banner have been located over the years, including about a dozen that are owned by the American History Museum. When he saw the garrison flag flying in the morning, he composed a poem he originally titled "Defence of Fort McHenry". [42], A conservation effort was undertaken in 1982 to protect the flag from damage due to dust and light. Militarily, Baltimore was a far more important city than Washington because of its thriving port and strategic location. Fake History: "Our National Anthem" Video By Robert Surgernor Is NOT Francis Scott Key - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine While there are some details that differ from the Surgernor video, it is the same story. 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. The Surgernor post includes the message "Here is a video I produced several years ago that tells the true story of our National Anthem. These ships fire exploding mortar shellsat high angles into the fort. From the harbor below Fort McHenry, these events were witnessed without understanding that they were standard practice by those aboard a Baltimore packet vessel, President, now serving as the U.S. flag-of-truce vessel. But the inspiring banner he glimpsed may only have been raised at daylight. Still, only a handful could navigate the shallow waters of the Patapsco River, where Fort McHenry was located. The government, therefore, turned to the many merchants and private sailors inhabiting its ports, issuing licenses to those who wished to gain financially from capturing enemy vessels. 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.". 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. Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. Courtesy of Christopher Hughes Morton. Coming in at 17 x 25 feet, this storm flag was much smaller and was designed to withstand tough weather, such as the raging winds and pouring rain that occurred during the Battle of Baltimore. 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 was this storm flagnot the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Bannerwhich actually flew during the battle. 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. Tensions were high in the British command infrastructure. Naval support will be required to dislodge the American forces, and Fort McHenry will have to be eliminated. You can also view this Smithsonian Channel video. The ammunition used by these ships later inspire Francis Scott Keys famous lines and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air.. But just what did that flag, that for and those defenders endure?. Date of Birth - Death April 10, 1780 - April 25, 1818. a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. 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. Because of the shallow water, Admiral Cochrane is unable to use his heavy warships, and instead attacks with the bomb vessels HMSTerror,Volcano,Meteor,Devastation, andAetna. He said 'Don't they understand this is an impossible situation?' No, Mary Pickersgill did not make a mathematical error. 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. Without this can be done it will only bethrowing the Men's lives away:. War of 1812: Big Night in Baltimore This revelation was famously captured in poetry by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet. Fort McHenry Gets a New Flagpole for Its Star and Stripes 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. He will come out and negotiate to see if we can make a mutual exchange.'. We have Francis Scott Key to thank for the mix-up. 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. 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. 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. The bombardment began at sunrise, not sunset, and continued for 27 hours. By early morning of September 14, it was over. The death toll suffered at the fort was four, with 25 wounded. 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. 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. Armistead's report after the battle mentions four killed, 24 wounded, and "superficial" damage done to the public buildings. Also, there were no "hundreds" of ships in the river attacking the fort. But when darkness arrived, Key saw only red erupting in the night sky. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenryforces Brooke to abandon the land assault on Baltimore. On September 12, 1814, 5,000 British soldiers and a fleet of 19 ships attacked Baltimore. 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. George Washington never said that. 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. It is on exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. On September 7, 1814, Key, accompanied by American prisoner-of-exchange officer John Skinner, boarded the Tonnant, flagship of the British fleet, where Beanes was being held. [18] Upon his death in 1818, the flag passed to his widow, Louisa Hughes Armistead. 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. 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. 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.' How long did the star-spangled banner wave? 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, of course, the huge American flag that flew over Baltimore's Fort McHenry on a hot summer night in 1814. [25] Preble had the flag quilted to a canvas sail, and unfurled it at the Boston Navy Yard to take the first known photograph of it. [46], Due to environmental and light damage, a four-phase restoration project began in May 1999. [29][30], Georgiana Appleton died in 1878 and left the flag to her son, Eben Appleton. Georgiana found herself on the wrong side of the battle lines when the Civil War broke out. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew Foote were commissioned to lead a joint expedition to seize the twin forts. On Flag Day, Remember Fort McHenry's Lost Storm Flag - The Federalist [23], The Armisteads' daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton, inherited the flag upon her mother's death in 1861. On the night of Saturday the 10th inst. More than 1,500 cannonballs, shells, and rockets are fired, but only inflict light damage thanks to fortification efforts completed before the battle. The same family that kept the Star-Spangled Banner safe during the Civil War also sympathized with the Confederacy. O Say Can You See: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry [31], Eben Appleton was highly protective of the flag and disliked the attention it brought him. Perhaps most important is this: The massive relic on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is NOT the flag that . They said 'We've left them a way out,' and he said 'What's that?' This delay gives the American defenders in Baltimore time to bolster their defenses. [40][41], In 1964, the flag was moved across the National Mall to the newly opened Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History). Terms of Use Museum collections stored in building having dormer windows. Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. 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 1,000 Americans at Fort McHenry are commanded by Maj.George Armistead. inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet. 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. When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to their daughter Georgiana Armistead Appleton over the legal objections of their son. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! [2], With fifteen stripes, the Star-Spangled Banner remains the only official American flag to bear more than thirteen stripes.[3]. 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." another account of the battle of Fort McHenry. 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. The larger of the two flags would be the Great Garrison Flag, the largest battle flag ever flown at the time. [42][43] It was hung in Flag Hall, a three-story central atrium designed for this purpose. 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. Brooke collects the main body of the British troops and presses forward. The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry, she says. Huge, vibrant, and rich in history, most Americans are familiar with the story of this particular flag: It's the one that flew overFort McHenrythe morning after the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would one day become our national anthem. was its question.. : Editor-in-Chief Alan Duke co-founded Lead Stories after ending a 26-year career with CNN, where he mainly covered entertainment, current affairs and politics. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction. And history records no "way out" offered by signalling surrender with the lowering of the flag. 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. 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. 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. Although states seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America, the U.S. flag remained unchanged. He said 'Do you see that flag way up on the rampart?' [16] Historians suggest that the storm flag flew through the night, and the garrison flag was hoisted in the morning, after the British retreated.[17]. 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. The stars are arranged in vertical rows, with five horizontal rows of stars, offset, each containing three stars. The British set sail for New Orleans. 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?' Key was not sent by the American government to negotiate a prisoner exchange. The Battle of Fort McHenry This could have resulted from metal buckles or straps or tacks on belts used to hold the flag. "There's a legend that the star was buried with one of the soldiers from Fort McHenry; another says that it was given to Abraham Lincoln," says Kendrick. Fact check: The folded flag is not reserved exclusively for veterans After coming to the Smithsonian, the Star-Spangled Banner has only left the National Mall once. [52], A 2-inch by 5-inch fragment of the flagwhite and red, with a seam down the middlewas sold at auction in Dallas, Texas on November 30, 2011, for $38,837: the snippet was, presumably, cut from the famous flag as a souvenir in the mid-19th century. And he said 'Men, I've got news for you tonight. "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." Around midday, while the British halt for a meal, Stricker orders 250 riflemen and cannon to draw the British toward his forces. Because of this conflict and the protractedness of it, they had accumulated prisoners on both sides. Lead Stories is a U.S. based fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or [49][50][51], The National Museum of American History produced an online exhibition in conjunction with the reopening of Flag Hall in 2008. Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas; catalog "Political & Americana Auction, November 30, 2011; New England Historic Genealogical Society, Dictionary definition of "garrison flag" at www.merriam-webster.com, Naval Telecommunications Procedures: Flags, Pennants, and Customs, August 1986, section 304, p. 3-1 at www.ushistory.org, "The Star-Spangled Banner: Making the Flag", "The Star-Spangled Banner: Family Keepsake", "The Star-Spangled Banner: Congratulations", "The African American Girl Who Helped Make the Star-Spangled Banner", "A hundred years ago: The centennial of the Star-Spangled Banner", "Star-Spangled Banner becomes permanent part of USNM collection", "The 'Star-Spangled Banner' goes on view in grand style", Science News "Old Glory, New Glory: The Star-Spangled Banner gets some tender loving care", "Smithsonian Seeks $300,000 to Save Dorothy's Ruby Slippers", Washington POST "Reopening, in All Its Old Glory", "Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas: Brady Camera and Kennedy Rocker Take Top Bids in Americana Auction", Interactive image of original flag which includes a zoom to view detail, Research project to preserve the flag's fabric using LED technology, The original flag at the National Museum of American History, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Star-Spangled_Banner_(flag)&oldid=1148360196, This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 18:21. The flag was sewn by prominent Baltimorean flagmaker Mary Young Pickersgill under a government commission in 1813 at a cost of $405.90 (equivalent to $5,699 in 2021). inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet. 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. He said 'All of the gun power, all of the armament is being called upon to demolish that fort. 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. Victoria "Tory" Altman is an Education Specialist in the Office of Education Outreach. Fort McHenry, Sept. 24th, 1814. 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 . Often lost in the near-mythic symbolism attached to this moment in the American consciousness is the fact that Fort McHenrys commander, Major George Armistead, did not order the flag hoisted in a special act of triumph or defiance. This is a far stronger defense than the British expect; they are outnumbered two to one. After the battle, the flag came into the possession of Major Armistead. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Is Fort McHenry open Covid? In this photo from the Smithsonian Archives, Smithsonian collections are crated and covered with a tarp to be transferred to a storage facility in Luray, Virgina, for safekeeping during World War II. Each star, by the way, is made of cotton and was created by reverse applicqu method. "Georgiana was the only child born at the fort, and she was named for her father," says Thomassen-Krauss. In 1814, the United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. The flag pole itself was at a crazy angle, but the flag was still at the top. Joining them is the rocket ship HMSErebus, which launches the newly invented Congreve rockets. 7 things you didn't know about the Star-Spangled Banner As for those "hundreds of little dots," the British naval forces in the area numbered about 50 vessels. 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. By 10:00 a.m. that morning, both the cloud cover and the threat of rain increased over the area. What is the melody of God Save the Queen? CNN moved Duke to Los Angeles in 2009 to cover the entertainment beat. But a missing 15th star has never been found. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag. The United States declared war on Britain in June 1812 to protect free trade and sailors rights. Heading into a conflict against a country with such superior naval power was a daunting prospect for the young nation. Their bodies were removed and others took their place. 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. In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost. "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 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. according to scholars at Washington's presidential library. No, Mary Pickersgill did not make a mathematical error. From Baltimore's Federal Hill the fleet of more than 40 British vessels was visible at anchor off North Point. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Get the latest History stories in your inbox? The colonies were engaged in vicious conflict with the mother country, Britain. In spite of their different motivations for serving, all of the men had one thing in common the protection of Baltimore from destruction. At 30 by 42. Around 3:00 p.m., he attacks the American positions. 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. Which US states still fly the Confederate flag? - Diario AS The British were more concerned with defeating Napoleon in Europe than fighting a minor war with the United States. 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.

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