Skinner and Key were allowed to watch the attack on Fort McHenry from their ship, still under guard. On the morning of September 13 at 7 am the British bombardment of Baltimore began. The city was defended by Fort McHenry in the harbor. Skinner, Key, and Beanes watched the attack and saw a huge American flag made by Mary Pickersgill flying above Fort McHenry as a representation of the American resolve to defend Baltimore. The bombardment went into the night with Skinner and his companions not knowing how the battle was going. When the smoke cleared on the morning of September 14, the American spectators were able to see the American flag still waving—Fort McHenry had not been taken by the British. On their way back to Baltimore, Key was inspired to write a poem, "Defence of Fort M'Henry", that he showed Skinner who passed it on to Samuel Sands, a printer's assistant. Sands had the poem printed up in handbills and the words became the lyrics of the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".