By Nicholas Loveless
Two hundred years ago, on Sept. 14, 1814, our national anthem was born. From the deck of the H.M.S. Tonnant, Francis Scott Key saw the American flag still flying above the embattled Fort McHenry. The sight inspired him to write what would become our national anthem — "The Star Spangled Banner."
The United States declared war against Great Britain, the greatest power on earth, on June 18, 1812. It was often called "The Second War of Independence." Battles were fought between the two nations, from the American frontier to the Great Lakes, Canada, Maine, the Atlantic Seaboard and down to the Gulf of Mexico.
With the defeat of Napoleon in Europe, Britain was able to launch a more aggressive campaign in America in 1814. In August, English ships sailed up the Potomac River, landed troops and prepared for an assault on Washington, D.C.
At the Battle of Bladensburg, American forces were defeated and the enemy invaded the city on Aug. 24. Public buildings were burned, including the Capitol and the White House. President James Madison had evacuated the city, and First Lady Dolly Madison saved the portrait of George Washington.
The British now concentrated on capturing the thriving seaport of Baltimore. The Royal Navy sailed 19 ships up the Chesapeake Bay and into the Patapsco River, which was more an arm of the bay than a river. Troops were landed for an assault on Baltimore by land, and the Navy would clear the way into the city by water.
But Fort McHenry stook firmly in the way, guarding Baltimore Harbor.
On Sept. 7, Francis Scott Key and British Exchange Agent Col. John Stuart Skinner were sent to negotiate the release of Dr. William Beanes, a local physician, and other prisoners of war held by the British. The mission was approved by President Madision.
Under a flag of truce, the two men sailed out to the H.M.S. Tonnant, the flagship of the invading fleet, to begin negotiations.
At 6 a.m. Sept. 13, the warships commenced a bombardment of Fort McHenry in an attempt to clear the waterway into Baltimore Harbor. The cannon and rocket fire continued all day and by nightfall, a storm moved in and rain fell during the night.
At Fort McHenry, a smaller "storm flag" had been raised over the fort. The bombardment continued through the night. Because Mr. Key had knowledge of the detailed plans to invade Baltimore, he was detained aboard the Tonnant and had full view of the action. Throughout the night, he watched the relentless cannonading and rocket fire of the fort, fearing it would not survive.
At dawn on Sept. 14, the weather was clearing and the men at the fort lowered the storm flag and raised the 30-foot by 42-foot garrison flag that was used each day at reveille. Francis Scott Key had been gazing intently at the fort, and was thrilled to see the American flag still proudly waving, indicating that the fort still held out. After 25 hours of bombardment, the British abandoned the fight.
Mr. Key, an amateur poet, was so impressed with the experience that he composed a poem describing it. On the back of an envelope he was carrying, the words seemed to flow automatically. He titled the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry," and in it, he described the bombardment during the night and the sight of the American flag still flying in the morning.
Mr. Key was released by the British, along with Dr. William Beanes, the following day. They returned to Baltimore.
"The Defense of Fort McHenry" was published in the Baltimore Patriot on Sept. 20. It was also set to the music of John Stafford Smith, entitled "To Anacreon in Heaven," which was the official song of an 18th-century gentlemen’s club in London. The song became popular immediately, and eventually became known as "The Star Spangled Banner."
After the defeat at the Battle of Baltimore, the British abandoned the campaign and sailed off to the Gulf of Mexico to invade New Orleans. Once there, they suffered another defeat by the troops of Andrew Jackson, aided by pirates under the buccaneer Jean Lafitte. Ironically, unknown to both sides, a peace treaty had already been signed.
The very large American flag bearing 15 stars and 15 stripes that flew over Fort McHenry was preserved over the years and is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
It was not until 1914 that President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating "The Star Spangled Banner" as the nation’s national anthem. Then, in 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution reaffirming it.
Thank you, Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith for enriching the lives with your lyrics and music. You have given us one of the most patriotic and uplifting songs ever written. We are deeply grateful. Thank you, too, you star spangled flag, for watching over our country and people for 238 years.
May you forever wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Nicholas Loveless is a former chief of police of the Lawrence Township Police Department.
