The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-07-07
OUR WAR BALLAD.
How Francis Scott Key Wrote
"The Star-Spangled Banner"

"The Star-Spangled Banner.
The tragic death of Mrs. George H.
Pendleton, wife of the American Minis
ter at Berlin, and daughter of Francis
Scott Key, author of 1.-The Star-Spangled
Banner" adds to the story of thatfamous
national war song, and to movement
to erect a monument to its author, a
FRESH and vivid, if menacholy interest.
The origin of the song, though partially
related in a family letter of Chief JUS
tice fancy, Mrs. Pendleton's distinguish
ed uncle, and in apaper read several
years ago before the Pennsylvania His
torial Society by Colonel John L.
Warner, has not heretofore been fully
told. Forty years ago and more, the
writer lived in the historic house from
which Key was captured just before he
wrote the ballad that has immortalized
his name. This and other circumstances
give me peculiar advantages for learn
ing much of the author and his work.
yile house was the residence of DR..
William Beanes. an opulent planter at
Upper Marlboro, Md, about sixteen
miles from Washington. Here Madison
and fancy, Hopkinson and Key, Mar
shall and Webster often enjoyed the
princely hospitality of the doctor, find
ing relief from the work and worry of
State affairs in this rural retreat. The
immediate inspiration of the
"Star-Spangled Banner was the
high-strung feelings produced all
over the country by the war of 1872.
Strangely enough, Key was an ardent
Federalist and the war was strenuously
opposed by his party from the first.
That Key was more bard than politician,
is conclusively shown by the remark of
contemporary that his ballad was
worth 10, 900 men to the Democrats
the war party. Of his quality as an ar
fist 1.-The Star-Spangled Banner" is all
sufficient testimony. In selecting the
solemn, sou[swelling melody of 'Anac-
reon in Heaven" and fitting to it mis-
patriotic verse, he evinced musical taste,
cultivation and Judgment of the rarest
sort. Not inaptly has his genius been
likened to that of Mozart. At DR..
Beane's dinner-table Joseph Hopkinson,
the author of Hail Columbia, :"
then at the height of his popularity, first
met Francis Scott Key, when the latter
was rising young barrister of George
town; and it was at the Beanes planta-
ton that an adventure occurred which,
through romantic chain of circum-
stances led up to the composition of
"The Star-Spangled Banner" Mr.. Key
was born at Frederick, Md, Aug. l,
l779, and died at Baltimore, Jan. II,
lS43. He was educated at st. John s
College, Annapolis, practiced law at
Frederick, then went to live at George
town and finally became District-Attor-
ney of Washington. A good lawyer, a
brillantwit and man of poetic genius,
it is yet true that a comparatively tri-
fling circumstance, his presence at the
COMMANDMENT of Fort McHenry. afford
ed the single opportunity of his life to
render his name famous for all time.
volume of his poems was published at
Baltimore about thirty years ago, and
some mention of him is to be found
In McCarty's National Songs" and in
more recent publications; but his one
great song overshadowed all else in his
career.
In the summer Of 1914 the tide of war
brought Admiral Cockburn to the Re-
publican capital, and the torch was
rntblessly applied by the British under
Cockburn and Ross. When the British
army reached Marlboro in the march on
Washington, Cockburn. Ross and their
stan officers made their headquarters at
Dr. Beanes' residence. The best that
The house afforded was laid before them.
Pleased with his reception, General
hoss placed guards around the grounds
ana outhouses to prevent depredations
DY the troops. The subsequent move
ments OF Ross and Cockburn are written
IN The full blaze of history, and never
were the English arms stained with
,oaer disgrace than by these two
leaders. The so-called American army
OF some six thousand farmers and me-
cnanics, hastily rallied to the capital by
GENERAL Winder, with $50 regular SOL
uefs and 700 sailors and marines under
.he gallant Commodore Barney, made q
saow OF resistance when the British
reached Bladensburg. But what hope
was there for raw levies against veterans
"a 10 had seen service under Wellington?
Inc capitol, Presidents house, public
VI VNidilngs. house built by General
vas Washington on Capitol Hill, the navy
!ao' arsenal, public stores and news
apef offices were all set on fire and
turned to the ground by these soldiers
george the Third. Then came the
..oSanter-panic and the adventure above
Oh. s,,''aed to. A hurricane passed over
;ae city one afternoon and so democrat
n s. the red-coats that they fled terror
sM.r,eken from the smouldering ruins of
:. M;ashington. Gleig, in his MARIA
ass tells of this absurd flight of Ross
ana Cockburn before the imaginary
siee'res of the skies. The conquerors
a MT conquered by gust of wind,
anu p. IN their swift race back to the
.. aa the doughty host furnished
,h o'lef illustration of the truism
Gra there is but step from the sub
June to the ridiculous.