The true Democrat., 1856-12-16

ana strong representations from Mir. Rev as to the character and standing of Dr. Boanes and ot the deep interest which the community in which he lived took in his fate, General Ross sad that Dr. Beanes deserved much more pun-
 shment than he had received; but that he felt himself bound to make a return for the kind ness which had been shown to his wounded of. fcers whom he had been compelled to leave at bladensburg; and upon that ground, and that only, he would release him. But Mr. Key was at the same time informed that neither he. or any one else, would be permitted to leave the neeI Tor some days; and must be detained un- t,i the attack on Baltimore, which was then aoou. 'o pc made, was over. But he was as s.,ieu @ that they would make him and Mr. Sh'nnor as comfortable as possible while they uetaiueu them Admiral Cochrane with whom they dned on the day of their arrival anolo. glzed for not accommodating them with bis own ship, saying that it was crowded already with officers of the army; but they would he well taken care of in the frigate Surprise. com. manded by his son, Thomas Cochrane. And to thls trlgate they were accordingly transfer red.
 MT. Key had an interview with Dr. Beanes, before Genera Ross consented to release him. do not recollect whether he was on board the AdmlraPs ship or the Surprise but I believe it l '''>' 'HS ioiihSt' AiC iouHu UiIn ID the IOfWdrU part of the ship, among the sailors and soldiers: he had not change of clothes from the time he was seized; was constantly treated with in- dlgnatlon by those around him, and no officer would speak to him. He was treated as a. chiprlt, and not as a prisoner of war. And this harsh and humiating treatment con- tlhned until he was placed on board the Ca,tel
 Something must have passed when the off Gers were quartered at his house. on the march to Washington, which, in the judgment of Ge- neral Ross, bound him not to take up arms against the English forces until the troops had fe-embarked. It IS impossible on any other ground, to account for the manner in which he was spoken of and treated But whatever Oeneral Ross and the other officers may have thought, am quite sure that Dr. Beanes did not think he was in any way pledged to abstain | rom active hostilities against the public enc. my. And when he made prisoners of the strag- Sers, he did not think himself prisoner on parole, nor suppose himself to be violating any obligation he had incurred. For he was a gen l tlcman of untamed character, and nice sense of honor, and incapable of doing anything that 1 could have justified such treatment Mir Key imputed the ill usage he had received. 10 Admiral Cochranc, who, it is still remembered while he commanded in the Chesapeake car red on hostlities in vndictive temper, assail- lhg ahd plundering deielseless villages, or conn tenancIng such proceedings by those under his command
 | Mr. Key and Mir. Skinner continued on board or the o@lPf1se, where they were very kindly treated by Sir Thomas Cochrane, until the fleet reached the Patapsco, and preparations were | making forlandng the troons Admiral Cocb ] ra p tbpu shifted b;C Hor c.: that he might be able to move further up the river, and superntend in person the attack by water, on the fort. And Mir. Key and Mr. Skinner were then sent on board their own ves- "e, with guard of sailors or marines, to pre- vent them from landing. They were permitted l to take Dr. BeaneS with them, and they | thought themselves fortunate in being anchor et Ill position which enabled them t. see dis tnc;!y the flag of Fort McEIenry from the deck Of the vessel. lie proceeded then, with much animation to describe the scene on the night of the 6omhardment. He and Nr. Skinner re- malneI on deck during the night watching every shell, rom the moment 1t was fired, un- III IL ieil, and listening with breathless interest to hear if an explosion followed
 While the bombardment continued it was sufficient proof that the fort had not surrender ed. But II suddenly ceased, some time before day-and as they had uo communication with l any ot the enemv's ships, they did not know wheih tie fort had surrendered or the attack upon 1t ha'! been abandoned. They paced the decN Tor the residue of the night in painful suspense, watching with intense anxiety for the return oi day, and looking every few minutes at their watches to see how long they must wait i for II; and as soon as it dawned and before it was light enough to see the objects at dis ! tlDcp. tneIT rl3SSpS wa certain whether they should see the stars and stripes or the flag of tbe enemy At length the light came, and they saw that tour flag i was still there." And as the day advanced they discovered, from the movements of the boats between the shore and the flats, that the troops had been roughly handled, and that many wounded men had been c,rried to the Shlps At length he was informed that the at tack on Baltimore had failed that the British army was re- embarking, and that he and MT. Skinner and Dr. BeaDcs would be permitted to leave them and go where they pleased, as soon as the troops were on board and the fleet ready to sail
 lie told me that, under the excitement of the tune, he had written song and handed ne d printed copy of "The Star -Spangled Banner" When read 1t and expressed my admiration. asked him how he found time, 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 fervor of the moment when he saw the enemy hastily retreating to their shpS, and looked at the flag he had watched for So anXiously as the morning opened; that he T had written some lines or brief notes that would ald hlm Tn calling them to mind, upon the back oi letter which he happened to have in his pocket; and for some of the lines, as he pro- tad ho1 Dl>l
 memory; and that he finished it in the boat on his way to the shore, and wrote 1t out as it now stands at the hotel, on the night he reached
 Baltimore, and immediately after he arrved-
 He said that on the next morning he took it to Judge Nicholson, to ask him what he thought of It; that he was so much pleased with it that he lmmedlately " sent it 10 printer, aud direct ed copies to be struck off in hand bill form: and that he (Mr key) believed it to have been iavorably received by the Baltimore pub lie.
 Judge Nicholson and Mrs. Key were nearly , connected by marriage, Mrs. Key and Mrs.
 Nicholson being sisters. The Judge was a man Of cultivated taste had at one time been distinguished among the leading men in Con- ) gress, and was at the period of which I am speaking Chief Justice of Baltimore and one ot the Judges of the Court of Appeals of Ma ryland. Notwithstanding his judicial character,
 which exempted him from military service, he accepted the command of a volunteer company } of artillery. And when the enemy approach ed, and an attack on the fort was expected, he : and his company offered their services to the government to assist in its defense. They were accepted, and formed part of the garri- ] son during the bombardment. The Judge had been relieved from duty, and returned to his
 family only the night before MT. Key showed
 him his song. And you may easily imagine the
 feelings with which, at such a moment. he read , it, and gave it to the public was no doubt, as Mr. Key modestly expressed it, favorably received. In less than an hour after he had } left in the hands of the printer, it was all over , town, and hailed with enthusiasm and took its :. place at once as Rational song.
 !, l have made! this account of "The Star.