Des Arc citizen., 1859-10-05
Origin of the tar-Spangled Banner.

The author of the following ballad was Francis Key. As this ballad has become a national air in America, and as the cir cumstances which induced it's composition are rather romantic, we give below the origin of the ballad, and the ballad itself:
 In the year lSl5-after the departure of Ross from Washington, and before the attack on Baltimore by the British fleet pr. Bean, a respectable physician of Marlborough, having been captured by the British, was placed on board one of their vessels to be transported to Bermuda. Sergeant Hutchinson grateful for the kind- ness which he and other British prisoners had received from Dr. Bean, despatched MT. Francis Key with flag of truce and letters to the British vessel to solicit Dr. Beans release, strongly representing the humane treatment which he and his wounded companions had received at the hands of the Doctor. General Ross, with characteristic generosity, released Dr. Bean at MT. Keys solicitation; but as the fleet was about proceeding to attack Balti- more, MT. Key was detained till after that event. Taken by the British to the mouth of the Patapsco, shis little vessel was kept under the guns of the frigate du- ring the bombardment- and he was watch- ing the shells and listening to the cannon ade, which the admiral boasted would soon reduce the fort and city to ashes or compel them to surrender. All day MT. Key watched the American flag on the fort; and when the wet. gloomy and terrible night rendered the Star-Spangled Banner invisible, the bombshels were MT. Key's signs, till daylight once more revealed the flag of his country proudly waving defiance to the discomftted enemy. Under these circumstances he composed the stanzas which have become national anthem. His reputation as poet rests upon this one anthem. Yet this shows a mind far above mediocrity, and breathes the fervid spirit of patriotism, which burned in his breast.'
 o! say can you see, by the dawns early light, What so proudly We hailed at the twilight's
 last gleaming, e Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through
 the perilons fight,
 Der the ramparts we watched, were so gall
 lantly streaming; And the rockets red glare and the bombs
 bursting in air, R a Give proof through the night that our flag
 was still there. Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet
 wave
 Der the land of the free and the home of the
 brave?
 On the shore dimly seen, through the mist of
 the deep,
 Where the foe's naughty host in silence
 reposes,
 What is that which in the breeze, o'er the
 towering steep,
 As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half dis
 closes? Now it catches the gleam of the mornings's
 @ first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines in the
 stream. Iris the star-spangled banner, oh long may
 it wave Der the land of the free and the home of the
 brave. 14 And where is that band who so vauntingly
 sWore. Mid the havoc of war and the battles con-
 fusion, home and country they'd leave us no more Their blood has washed out their foul foot
 steps pollution, No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the
 grave; And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth Der the land of the free and the home of the
 brave. Oh thus be it ever, when freedom shall stand Between their loved home and the wars
 desolation, Blest with victory and peace, may the Heav'n
 rescued land
 Praise the power that hath made and pre-
 served us a nation, Then conquer We must, when our cause it is
 just,
 And this be our motto Gin God is our trustl'' And the star-spapgled banner In triumph shall
 wave
 Der the land of the free and the home of the
 brave. rs