The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-07-01


"PeriIess Night"
1t has often been asked how the "Star Spangled
Banner came to be written. The following ar
tcle on the subject, from the pen of Mr.. j. Fair
fax Mclaughlin, is published in the Journal Of
the Fair, and contains many facts bearing on the
question that are new to the general reader:
When the British army and marines, under
Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn debarked from
their ships ut Benedict, in August, lSl4, to at
tack the Capital of the United States, they march,
ed inland through Prince Georges County, Mary
land. On the route to Bladensburg, the enemy
passed through the villages of Nottingham and
Upper Marlboro, resting for some time at the lat
ter place.
DR.. Beanes was the leading physician in Upper
Marlboro, and an accomplished scholar and gen.
tleman. He was highly respected by all who
knew him, was the family physician Of Dr. West,
and the intimate friend of Mr.. Key. He occupied
one of the best houses in West Marlboro, and
lived very handsomely and his house was select
ed for the quarters of Admiral COckburn and
some of the principal officers of the army, when
the British troops eneamped at Marlboro, on their
march to Washington.
The British forces, after leaving Marlboro, as
is well known, engaged the American troops at
Bladensburg, only three or four miles out from
Washington, and after a sharp battle, routed the
Americans, and put them TO precipitate flight.
The flight became a panic, in which the people
of Washington partook with the army, everybody
going off belter-skelter as if the ouIy object in
life was TO put the greatest possible distance be-
tween himself and herself and the Red Coats.
c,,;.o, ,,o p,.s;a.,t. h,,,so
the public buildings and other property, and
committing other barbarous acts, the Vandals
P;,..r ri ,'; " sI. as NJ I,,;.h r, LaJ
| passed through Upper Marlboro, on their way
| hacL 10 Nottinybam when the inbabitants Of
the former plaee we're subjected TO an irruptiou
| Inv stropolrrs who had Inrked in the rear for
| pnrnoses of pIunder Tbese freebooters commit
ed 40 many exeesses. that DIR. Beanes placed
| himself AT the head of a small body of the citi-
zens of the neigborhood. and going ont i'm MIR
| suit of m. stragylers overtook thcm and made
| them prisoners When the news of this affair
| reached the British comm,nders they decided
| 10 ret.Iiate ON Dr Reanes and sent hack stroI,g
| body of soldiers to Inner Marlboro. A detach,
ment entered the Doctors house about midnight,
| and hurried him ont of heJ hardly .IIowing him
| tima ~, dress bimsaIf
4.
| ,..,
rIahcis SCOUT he!, man Oh rare accoinP !n'l.
neh's, anu VI much Po,.ieai genus, "a' ~ .n =:
| time practicihS Ia" III Mary iand, anu res,aoo III
Georgetown; Between himself ana VI beanes
theTe eAis'ea WARM personal Iienusiiip, anu nc
aPPhsa 70 IIesIielt siheisoh i1i Iea,o W ~ o
| Doaru Adlrai Oockpurn naS-snip, uhuer a nag
truce, 70 procure, possible 'ng reiease ~ us
Iriehd pelore the nee, saiiea. me rpesuen.
| promptly saic,ioned ,ne hiss stn MI. hes vas
accoihPaeH y MI. yohh Q. shinhei, 'ne I'M, M
lcal agent NJ 10, tne eH s VI Piisous "
Ieacheu aie plsh =. .ne nlou.n VI . f IL
toihaG, ana iouho tne enemy preparing ior the
eApeditlon against DaitIhiore- Inc! WsIe re-
SeNeu IN ISspeS, ~, niahneI " Au "a, 80.
o,H pu' Mheh I. M! ,iue hiioM VI. IN
VI MS isSon, NE a. ie' viii
ness, anu ne almost lost nope Oh fts success.
| General Ross Mt length said that he was sensi-
bly, moved at the kindness.of the Americans to his
wounded officers and soldiers in their hands, and,
on that account, while he thought DIR. Beanes'
conduct deserved greater punishment than he
had received, he would consent to his release.
Mr.. Key was informed, however, that neither
himself nor any one else would be allowed to de
part for several days, until after the impending
attack on Baltimore had taken place. The nag
ship was crowded with officers of the army, and
Admiral Cockburn transferred Mr.. Key and Mr..
Skinner TO the f4gate Surprise, commanded by
his son, Sir Thomas Cockburn Here they re-
manned until the hostile tect had entered the
Patapsco, and the troops were landed TO march
on Baltimore, while the fleet moved up toward
the city. The Admiral now transferred his nag
to the frigate, IN order that he might move fnr-
ther up the river, and superintend III person the
attack on Fort MeHenry. Mr.. Key and Mr. SKIN
ner were put on board OF their own vessel, To-
gether with DIR. Beanes, who thus far had been
treated like enlprit, subjected to many indignl'
ties, and not allowed a change OF ciothhg iron
marines was placed in their vessel, to prevent
the escape OF the Americans during the CONNECT
The vessel occupied a position from when hr
Key could see the American nag, as u noateo
proudly over Fort McHenry: AT length, wheI
the night had set in, and the land forces mad al
ready been engaged Tor some hours win tn'
4Tl me aeieat on b nt;h arg. anu .ne :, ~.
maS, 'ne eS .a ' Snnl.'a,I ~ ,. .a'
i;i u i IN. ii mi '"' "''
iiiane isilu Win sno. anu ,ia ., .h.u . !;
oui A,'ei "a" a. L u' 49," -. - ;s ~
Was ne fniiomad AZ ths homi,rlment con
eAPiosion lolipM .t Y 'ho ,.a,n.a5 en-.
t,nued through inc nignI MIN ~, uha a. iu,
,ney Were q. ieas, tha' .ns En- III. no
Deen sun i AZ ntfnt s -
theiI uech, anu Wers hIleu WIN 'ne alul IN,
enolos Oh iear anu hoPe. a. h,sa, SUM Is sni'
oelors the aamn ine Do ,ns nndn.sJ or ~.
our friends had no communication with thu
enemys vessels, and II was YET 100 daIk 10 se'
: the fort, and TO discern whether ,he stars ant
stripes or the EhShsh nag noated ABOVE i's ram