New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-01

| to Admiral Cockburn, who, it is still remembered
| while he commanded in the Chesapeake, carried Oh
hostiites in vjndctivc temper assailng and plum
dering detenceless villages, or countenancug such
proceedings by those under his command.
Mr.. Key and Mr.. Skinner continued on board of the
Surprise where they were very kindly treated by Sir
Thos Cochmne, until the fleet reached the Patapsco
and preparations making for landing the troops
Admiral Cochrane then shifted his flag to the trigate
in order that he might be able to move further up the
river, and superinend in person the attack by water
on the fort. And Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner were then
sent on board their own vessel with guard of sailors
or marines. to prevent them from landing. They were
permitted to take DR.. Beanes with them, and they
thought themselves fortunate in being anchored in
position which enabled them to see distinctly the flag
of Fort McEenry from the deck of the vessel. He
proceeded then with much animation to describe the
scene on the night of the bomhardment. He and Mr.
Skinner remained on deck during the night watching
every shell from the moment it was fired until it fell
listening with breaess interest to hear if an eNpo-
sion followed.
While the bombardment continued, it was sufficient
proc! that the fort had not surrendered But it sud
denly ceased some time before day-and as they had
no communication with any one OF the enemy's ships,
they did not know whether the fort had surrendered,
or the attack upon it had beeu abandoned. They
paced the deck for the residue of the night in painful
suspense watching with intense anxiety for the return
of day and looking eveyfcw minutes ut their watches
to see how long they must wait for it and soon as
it dawned and before it was light enough to see OBJ
jects at distance, their glasses were turned to the
fort uncertain whether they should see there hes stars
and stripes, Or the flag of the enemy At length light
came and they that our flag was still there"
And as the day advanced they discovered from the
movements ofthe boats between the shore and the
flats that the troops had been roughly handled, and
that many wounded men had been carried to the
ships At length he was informed that the attack on
Baltimore had failed and that the British army was
re-embarking, and that he and Mr.. Skinner and Dr.
Beanes would be permitted to leave them and 90
where they pleased, as soon as the troops were on
board and the fleet ready to sail.
He told me that under the excitement of the time
he had written song, and handad me printed copy
Of The Star Spangled Banner" When | read It
and expressed my admiration, / asked him how he
found tme in the scenes he had been passing through
to compose such song. He said he commenced it
on the deck Of their vessel, in the tervor of the mo-
ment when he saw the enemy hastily retreating to
their ships and looked at the flag he had watched for
so anxiollsly as the morning opened that he had
written some brief lines or notes that would aid him
i'll calling them to mind, upon the back Of a letter
which he happened to have in his pocket: and for
Of the lines he proceeded, he was obliged to
rely altogether on his memory; and that he finished
it i'll the boat his way to the Shore and wrote it
ont as it now stands at the hotel, OH the night he
reached Baltimore, and Immediately after he arrived
He said that on the next morning he took it to Judge
Nicholson, to ask him what he thought Of it that
he was much pleased with it that he Immediately
sent it to printer and directed it to be struck off in
handbll form, and that he (Alr. Key} believed it to
Judge Nicholas and Mrs. Key were nearly connect.
ed by marriage, Mrs. Key and Mrs. Nicholson being
sisters The Judge was a man Of cultivated taste,
and had at one time been distinguished among the
leading men in Congress- and was at the period of
which am speaking Chief Justice of Baltimore, and
one Of the Judges Of the Court of Appeals of Mary
land Notwithstanding his judicial character which
exempted him from military service. he accented the
command OF a volunteer company OF artillery And
when the enemy approached, and an attack on the
fort was expected, be and his company offered their
services to the government, to assist in its defence
They were accepted, and formed part of the salri-
son during the commandment. The Judge had been
relieved from duty. and returned to his family ONLY
the night before Mr.. Key had showed him his song
And you may easily imagine the feelings with which
at such moment, he read it, and gave it to the pub
lie. 1t was no doubt, as Mr.. Key modesty EXPRESSED
it, favoraby received. In less than an hour after he
had left it III the hands Of the printer it was all over
town, and hailed with enthusiasm and took its place
at once as a national song
have made this account of the . Star Spanrled
Banner longer than intended and find that | have
Incidents and persons outside OF the subject
had originally contemplated. But have felt me-
lanchO pleasure i'll recalling events connected III any
degree with the life Of one with whom was 50 long
and so closely united in friendship and affection aud
whom ! so much admired loI his brilliant genius. and
or his many virtues. ! am sure. however, that nei-
her you any of his children OF descendants will
link the account have given them too long With
great regard, sir, Your friend, truly.
Il. 8. fancy.