The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-09-08


This defense of the city was hailed throughout
the country as an important victory. President
Madison in speaking of the patriotism displayed by
the citizens of the city said in the varied scenes
which have put test the eonstancy of the nation
Baltimore ranks among the portion most distin-
guished for devotion TO the public 1t mas the
satisfaction to reflect that it boldly and promptly
espoused the resort to arms when no other honora-
bic choice remained that it found in its citizens
rampant against the assaults of an enterprising
enemy; that it never wavered nor temporized with
the vicissitudes of the contest and that it had an
ample share of the exertions which have brought
it to an honorable conclusion"
Origin of The Star spangIed Banner.
Having described the battle and bombardment, we
must now turn our attention to the origin of the
famous song which was the outgrowth of the latter
engagement. The flag that foated over the Fort
had been made by lady of Baltimore, Mrs Mary
Pickesgill. aided by her daughter. These ladies
full of the patriotic feeling of the hour made flag
worthy OF the occasion. 1t contained four hundred
square yards of bunting, and so large that the
ladies were obliged to spread it out in the malt
house ofClaggetts old brewery, which was gallanty
rendered to them by the proprietor. A number of
young ladies assisted Mrs. Piekengl and her daugh
ter in the manufacture of the ensign The girls
made quite frolic out of it. but their young hearts
pulsated wildly for the safety of their beloved city
and the honor of the volunteers who were to defend
the work of their delicate fingers.
When Mrs Pickergilrs daughter was an old lady
of76 years she used to describe the scene: ~ remem
Der" she said seeing my mother down on the floor
placing the stars. After the completion of the flag
she superintendent the topping of it. having it fat
ened in the most secure manner to prevent it being
torn away by the balls. The wisdom of her pre-
tpoS DIN fha nv
shots piercing it, but it still remained firm TO the
staff. My mother worked many nights until II
O'Clock to complete it in given time"
The reader will see the wisdom of this statement
But for the faithful stitching OF this old lady we
should probably have had no song of the Star Span
gled Banner"
The author of the song, Francis Scott Key. was
not a combatant in the attack on the Fort although
he witnessed the commencement and the end of
the same. During the first operations of the English
on the coast Admiral Cockburn and several officers
of the British feet and army, occupied as their
headquarters house at Marlborough belonging
to an aged physician of that place, DR.. Beane,
whom they detained as prisoner lest he should
send news of their landing to Baltimore. He was
particular friend of Mr.. Key. Hearing that the
Doctor was about to be carried off by the enemy,
Key obtained permission from the Commanding
General of the American forces TO visit the English
feet under flag of truce and make an attempt to
procure the old gentleman's release In letter to
his mother, written just as he was about to start
upon his errand of friendship he wrote: "I hope
to return in about eight ten days, though it is
uncertain, as do not know where will find the
fleet" He setsail from Baltimore about the Sd of
September and found the British feet at the mouth
of the Patapsco, bound for the attack Baltimore.
He went on board the vessel of Admiral Coekburn,
to whom he stated his errand and asked for the re-
lease of DIR. Beane The Admiral received him
with the utmost civiity but informed him that he
could not at present comply with his request, and
was obliged to detain even Mr.. Key himself until
after the operation on Fort McHenry concluded.
The Admiral's vessel being overcrowded he sent
Mr.. Key and his friends on board the frigate Sum
rise, commanded by his son, Sir Thomas Cockburn,
where they spentthe night and then moved onto the
attack. During the bombardment of the Fort, Mr.
Key and his friends, including DR.. Beane, were
sent on board of their own vessel under guard of
marines and there had an ample opportunity of
witnessing the action.
OF the thousands of human beings living within
hearing and sight of the bombardment, there were
probably none who were so moved by it, as was Mr..
Key then only 50 years old, lawyer in frst-class
standing and of distinguished ability at the bar of
Key an officer in the army OF the Revolution, he
had been noted from his youth up for the ardor of
his patriotism, and had attempted more than once
to celebrate in the deeds of his gallant
trymen. All day long the bombardment continued
without cessation. During the night they remained
on deck, following with their eyes the continuous
arch of fire from the enemys feet To the Fort. Sud
denly about O'Clock in the morning the firing
ceased. What did it mean? Had the Fort surren-
dered? As they walked up and down the deck of
their little vessel in the darkness and silence Of the
night they kept going to the binnacle light to look
at their watches TO see how many minutes must
elapse before they could see whether the flag over
the Fort was the stars and stripes the Cross OF
st. George of Great Britain. The daylight dawned
at last. With thrill of gratitude and triumph they
saw that "our flag was still there" They soon per-
ceived from many other signs that the attack of both
land and sea was failure and that Baltimore was
safe. They could see with their glasses the wound
ed troop carried board the vessels and at last the
whole British army reembarking.
A few moments after the dawn of the glorious
day when the poet Key felt of the issue of the
battle the impulse to express his feelings in verse
rushed upon him. Taking an old letter from his
pocket he wrote upon the back of it the first lines
of the song. In the excitement of the hour he could
not go with his task, but he wrote other brief
notes the letter. and some lines he retained in
his memory without making any note of them.
When his guard of marines left him free to hoist
soil and bear away for the city, he wrote out the
song on the way very nearly as it now reads and
on reaching his hotel in Baltimore he made clear
copy of it. on the next morning he showed itto
his brotherin-law, Judge Nicholson. Chief Justice
of Maryland. Judge Nicholson had commanded
company of volunteers in Fort McHenry during the
bombardment Yemay be sure that the Judge ex-
amined the song with critical eye. So delighted
was he with it. that he sent ii around to printer,
Benjamin Eder. who had also commanded com
pany Of troops in the late engagement An appren-
tice named Samuel Sands, instantly set it in type,
and in less than hour It distributed all
the city, and received by everyone with enthusiasm
Setting il to Music.
But what is a song without music An old SOL
der told in after years how the words became wedd
ed to the air TO which it has ever since been sung
group of volunteer soldiers lay scattered one
of the hills near Baltimore, day two after the
bombardment. Have you heard Francis S. Keys
poem?" asked member of the company who had
just come in from the town. He took copy of it
from his pocket and read it aloud to his compan-
ious as they lay on the grass. 1t was called for
again. He read it second and third time, more
soldiers gathering about hear it, until the whole
regiment appeared to be present An actor named
Ferdinand Durang. who was one of the soldiers,
sprang up, into tent seized his brothers mu-
sic book (used by both of them for their hutes ex
amined piece after piece, and at length cried out
Boys, have itp He had selected an air Of an old
English song called ITO Anacreon in Heaven. /"
written by John Stafford Smith about the year
l772- Itwas composed for musical society called
the "Anacreonites." !" who met at the Crown and An
chor Tavern. in the Strand, London, a resort much
by DR.. johnson and Sir Joshua aey-
nolds.
As soon as Durang had selected the music he
stool and sang it with all the spirit of
which he was capable. An eyewitness Of the scene
says: How the men shouted and clapped. for never
was wedding of poetry to music under such in
spring influences. Getting furlough, the Durang
brothers sang 1t in public soon after 1t was caught
up in the camps. and sung around the bivouac
fires. and whistled in the streets, and when peace
was declared, and we scattered to our homes it
carried to thousands of fresides the most pre-
.ious relic of the war OF 1872" Mr. Key died in
r.