The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-01-08

nice sense Of honor, ind incapableof doing
anything that could have justified such
treatment. Mr.. Key imputed the ill-asagc
he had received to Admiral Cockburn,
who. il is still remembered, while he com.
manded in the Chesapeake. carried on hos
tilties in vindictiye temper, assailing and
plundcring defenceless villages. or coan,en.
ancing such procsSslings by ,hose under his
command
Mr. Key and MIR. Skinner continued on
board the Surprise where they were very
kindly treatsl by Sir Thomas Cockbarn
until the fleet reached the ratapsco, and
preparations were making for landing the
troops. Admiral Cockburn then shifted his
flag To the frigate, in orsler that he might b.
able 10 move turther up the river, and s',.
perintend In person the attack by water on
the fort And Mr.. ley and Mr.. skinner
were then sent on board their own vessel
with q guard Of sailors or marines, to prc-
vent them from from landing. They were
permitted to take Dr. Beanes with them
and they thought themselves fortunate in
being anchored Ia n position which enabled
them TO see distinctly the flag Of Fort Nc.
Henry. from the deck OF the vessel liz
proeseae+l .ss.s. with 'nasa- sniwstioss .a
describe the sccnc on the night OF the BON
barimcnt He and Mr.. skinner remained
on deck during the night. watching every
she'll from the moment il was fired until II
fell. listening with breathless interest to hear
il an explosion followed
While the bombardmcnt continued, it
was sufficient proof that the fort had not
surrendered But II suddenly ceased, some
time before day. and as they had no com
munication with any one Of the cneiny's
ships. they did not know whether the for,
had surrendered or the attack upon it been
abandoned They paced the deck for the
residue Of the night in painful suspense
watching with anxiety for the return Of day
and looking every few minutes at their
watches to sec how long they must wai, for
il and as soon az il dawned. and before il
was light enough 10 see objects AT dis
tance. their elancss were turned to the fort
uncertain whether they should $50 there the
stars and strips. or the flag of the enemy.
AT length the light came and they say that
"our flag was still there" And rs the day
advanced, they discovered, from the move
n,cnts of the boats between the sl,ore and
flats, that the troops had been roughly han
died. and that many wounded men had been
carried To the ships. At length be was IN
formed that the attack on Baltimore had
failed, and that the British army was re-
embarking. and that he and Mr.. Skinner
aud DIR. Beanes, would be permitted to
leave them and 10 where they pleased as
the troops were on board and the feet rca
dy to sail
Tie told me that under the excitement o
the time, be had written song. and handed
me printed copy Of The Star Spanglel
Banner" When read Il and expressed my
admiration, | asked how he had found time
in the scenes be had been passing through
to compoe such song. lie said he com.
mcnced il on the deck Of their vessel, in the
fervor OF the moment, when he saw the enc
my hastily rctrcating 10 their ships, and
looking at the flag he had watched for 81
anxiously as the morning opened; that bt
had written some lines or brief notes thai
would aid him in calling them To mind. upon
the back Of letter, which be had happenet
TO have in his pocket; and for some of tn,
lines, M he proceeded. he Was Obliged To re
ly altogether on his memory; and that h
had finished il in the boat. on his way tf
the shore, and wrote Il out as II now stands
at the hotel, on the night he rcachsi Baltl
more. and immediately after h. arrived. lIf
said that on the next morning he took II te
Judge Nicholson. 10 ask him what hc
thought Of il; that he sent II 10 a printer
and directed copies Ia ne struck oil In hand
bill! form: and that he tMr. Key believed i
10 have been hvorably rcceivsi BY the bal
timore pnblic
Judge Nichol.on- anil Mrs. key WERE
nearly competed by marriage. Mrs Key anc
Mrs, Nicholson being sisters. The Judgt
was man Of cultivated taste, and hal a
one time been distinguished among the lead
ing men in Congress. and was, ai the Ierios
af ~hieh~l am slfaklng- tlri Ju-ticc q
Baltimore. and o~ of the Judges of th'
Court Of Appeals. Il Maryland. Notwiib
standing his Judicial character, which ~
sInpud him from military aryice, be acccpt
e,i the command Of a volunteer company O
artillery. And when the enemy approached
and an attack on ths fort was expected b.
and hIs company of.nsd their ~'rvic's 20 ih'
government, To assist in IL defpee Tho
were accepted aDi formed a part of tho gar
rl-on during the bou,hardnent The judy
n"' ~ 'O''''" ""'" wv! "'"' W."
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