Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-11-18
rHE AurnoR or rnE srARsrANaLEp nASNrR

THE AUTHOR OF TIE STAR.SrANGLED HAMMER
lrrss raos cHiss Jusrier rASkr.
Robert Carter Brothess. Of Ne~ York have iust rub
ishcd nea, edition OF the poems al F.nci. 8 Key E.q
the gifted author OF the Star Spangsd Banner Most
the pieces In manuscript and the eoymeut
has hitherto been confined the circle OF hi. fam
lily and surviving personal friends They preceded b,
letter from Chief Jus,cc fancy. Who Is btoth.r-iua.
OF Mr.. Key, detailing the originating ant
attending the composition OF the OF his piece
the Starspanged Banner The letter give at length
rhi- collection Is edited by Henry " d. Johos, Of ,h
city:
Nv Dear Sir: promised ago to CIV, yoa Al,
recount Of the incidents la the lie OF Mr. s. Rev which
led him to write the star SPsngled Banner" OF
circumstances under which L. written The song Ia.
become nntonal one aud WE'LL think rom its grea,
merit continue 90 be So especially in Maryland aud
cryhing that its author be matter Of in
,ercst To his children and descendants Aud proceed
iuhli PROMISE with the pleasure because while
the song shows his genius aud poet the
connected with and the circumstances under which IL
written. will show his character and worth ms a man.
The scene he describes and the spirit patriotism
which beathes IN the song, the offspring mere
isucy poetic imagiuauon lie describes actu
ally And he tells that he ict while ~itnessn,
the conflict and what he ielt when the battle was over
a"d the victory won by his countrynicn. Every word
came warm from his heart, and for that eason
than iron il poctcal merit it fails find rc
spouse III the hearts OF tho-e who listen 10 it,
You will remember that in 1874, whrn the song was
written, resided in Frederick aud Mr. Kew in George
town. You will also recoect. that alter the BRUSH
troops retired om Washington a squadron OF the enc
my, ship made their way up the Potomac, and appeared
before Alexandria, which compelled capulae ana
the squadron remained there days. punderiny the
town at tobacco, and whatever else they wanted
ruio ed and, believed in Frederick, that at
tack oi the character would be made on Washing
ton and Georgetown before the ships lett the river Mr.
Keys family were It'll Ia Grorgeto~n He would not
sr indeed could NOT With honor leave tbs. place while
II VAS threatened by the enemy; Tor he volunteer
IN th" light Artillery commanded by Major Peter, which
was composed oi citixens OF the District OF Columbia
who had uniformed themselves and offered their services
Ia the government aud who had been rInpoyed in sc
tive service irom the time the British fleet appeared Ia
The faHAent, preparatory to the upon wash
ington. Aud Mrs. Key refused To leave home whe Mr.
Key WIS thus daily exposed to danger
Believing, did, that attack would probably he
made ON Gcorg,Iosn- became very anxious about the
situation Ot ms iatny FOR II the attack made, Mr.
hey would be with the troops engaged in the defence,
and impossible 10 iorescc would he the l..
sue oil the conflict his family, by resning Ceogetown
might be placed Va great aud useless peril When 4
speak OF ~, mean Mr.. Keys father and mother and
hrs fancy aud myself. But Il agreed among Us thai
should so To trorgcto, and try persuade Mrs Key to
come a"ay with their childeu and me or with
Mr.. Keys father until the danger VAS over When 4
reached Gcorgetown, found the English Sims still M AL
exandra, and body Of militia eucamped Washington
which had been assembled defend the cty But IL VA.
teu believed, from Information received that no attack
would be made 10y the enemy Washington or George
town; aud preparations were making part anno,
tcui 10y batteries on SHORE when they descended the
The kno~ledgc of these preparations probably hast
eued their departure, and the second third iav after
my arrival the ships we're moving down the Pvo-
Un the evening Of the day that the enemy disapp.a,ed
NJ. Richard West arrived Mr. KEYS and told INN lhnt
aitcr the British army passed through Upper MaIbo,o'
ut their return 10 their ships, and had eucamp.d som,
mile below the toSn detachment sent back which
catered d.. Bcane>' LouSS about midnight comp.lled him
10 rise from uis bed, aud hurried him the British cau,
hardly allowing Tim time To put his clothes Oh; tlat Ice
treated nth harshue- aud closely guarded aud that
his ifiynds appTsed Of his situation they
FASTENED To the head quarters of the Eug- army to so
c hls release tut IL pertmptory refused aud thcy
were not permitted him. and that lac had been
carried PRISONER board the fleet Aud ,ing their
own safety uuavailng, and alarmed his salry Ia.
friends IN aud about Marlboro thought IL advisable TIN.
Mr. West should hasten To GeorgeIo~n aud request Mr.
Key 10 Obtain the sanction ol the government t his going
on board the Admirals ship, under tig truce and
endeavung to procure the release oi Dr.. Beanes before
the hcct sailed IL then living at the nuutb of tn
Potomac nni It's destination not At that time kuo~n
With cr-IaiHty.
De heanes, perhaps you know the leading phy.
F'eil l" Upper Marlboro, and accomplished scholar
aud gentleman. lie highly respected by all who
knew hiu the family phy OF Mr.. West and the
ultimate friend OF NJ. Key. lie occupied OF e bs
houses Upper Marlboro and lived very Handsomely and
his hou.e selected for the u. Admiral Cockiu
and some at the principal officers VI the army when the
British troops cueamped at Marlboro their march To
Washington These officers were. OF course furnished
with everything that the could ofl, and they in
return treated him with much courtesy placed guards
around his grounds and OuthOuse
by their uo"Is
but the of the army to the ships, after the
man body had passed through the town. st,aggcrs who
had left tin ranks u pu9der. other n"tives
mad, tl,eis app at""cc FROM time time, sngly ia
aH -quai, and Dr.. Byane- put himself at the head OF
small bod OF citizens pursue aud make prisoners OF
them lniOrmsion OF tins proceeding Nas 10y mean,
or other, conveyed Ia tie En- gi,h camp aud drthc-
n"nt 81" which have spoken back To release the
prisoner DR.. Bcarcs. They ,liu not seem Ia
gard him, aud tainy did him prisoner
p war, bat who lad deceived and broken H.. faith
slth item.
NJ. Key readily agreed undertake the mssio ia In.
i'or' ad the President promptly gave his to IT,
or Ter "rre Immediately issued 10 tie usually IN.
ied cartel III the communications With the fleet IN
the Chesapeake, he made ady without drlay and Mr.
Jonu SNinnrr, ~ho agent for the government t,.
flag OF Truce and exchange al prisoner who was ell
kro"u such D. the officers &c the hret vas directed To-
accompany Mr. Key. Aud ~ 80" a. the arrangement,
''te made he hasteiri To Baltimore where the vessel
~ls tn embark, aud Mrs. Key aud the children went
A''h me 10 Frederick, and thence to his fathers Pipe
cr'ck, where she remained until he returned.
We heard nothing from him until the enemy retrra,ed
IRON Baltimore, which well a. recollect Nas
week or en days after he left ~; aud uneasy
about hiu whe TO Gus gr, joy he made his appearance
at my house, On his way to join hi family
lie told that he found the British feet at the lnon,
OF the Potomac preparing for the expedition against Bal
umore He Was courteOu-S received by Admiral Cocl-
rine and the officers OF the army well the navy
But when lac made known his business his application
received cUldy that he ya. ed il would fail General
Ross and Admiral Cockbuu, WHO accompanied the exp,
iiun Ia Washington particularly the later-spuke OF
DR. Beanes III very harsh terms aud seemed az f,L not
disposed to release hun. It hONeyet happened fortunate
y that Me- Skinner carried letters from the sounded B
tsh officers left at Bldcnsburg and these letters to
their friends b1ad the fleet, ihry all spoke Of the hu
mainly and kindness Nith Which they had been treated
after they had ialleu into hands Aud alter good
deal OF conversation, aud strong FROM Nj
Key, NJ the character aud standing OF Dr. Beas aud
OF the deep interest Inch the community ia Which he
lived topk ia hi- fate Conceal Rs- aid that Dr. E-a.-
detrved much punishment than had eceiyed but
that he TEL himself bOuud To make Tor the kind
ness which had been showed t. his wounded officer.
whom hr had been compelled TO leave NJ Blalrn-Jutg
and upon that ground, and that Only, he wnuiI
release him But Mr. Key vas at the s,,u,.
time Informed that neither he sny one else
would he permitted TO leave the heot Tor some
days; and be detained until tie attack o ,ltmO
which then about TO ice made over But he Wa-
assured that they would make him and Mr. Skrner a.
comfortable possible while they detained them Al.
mira COchrane With whom they dincd the DAY u their
arrival, apOogzed Tor not accommodating them hi
ship, saying that II crowded already sh ucsfs
Of the army but they would be we'll takcu Of ~ ~.
ingtte Surprise, commanded by bis sOn Thomas COch
tane. Aud 70 this gle they accordingly transfer
red NJ. Key had interview With d.. Bcnncr before
Gen. Ross consented release him 1 do not recuect