The record-union., 1894-09-15

AliAiSoiy poSt oI the General Government
was celebrated on the 18th of Septem-
Der. That is not the exact anniversary,
But 1t is the special date in Baltimore's
calendar of patriotism, ranking next TO,
ii not almost equaling, the Fourth of
July.
In the war of 1872 Baltimore was the
object of a special hatred on the part of
EnglIshmen. Her clippers, then the
swl1test boats that swept the seas, had
given British commerce more trouble
than 1t had ever known. Admiral War
rem boasted: Baltimore is a doomed
town." The leading paper of London
said: Baltimore must be tanned" A
British statesman declared: Baltimore
Is the great depository of the hostile
spirit of the United States against Eng
land" So Admiral Cock burn, with a
powerful fleet, and General Ross, with
1000 veterans who had fought under
Wellington in the Napoleonic wars, came
TO Maryland with the intention of burn
ing Washington, razing Annapolis, and
making their winter quarters in Balti-
more. This was in August, 1914.
On the way up the bay the fleet stopped
at DeaPs Island, and many of the officers
and men went to hear local preacher
whose fame was general in those days.
This preacher, standing in his pulpit,
claimed the powers OF prophecy, and told
the English warriors that they would be
vanquished. They laughed uproariously
at his prediction, and resumed their jour
ney up the bay. Plllage and cruelty
marked their progress. Landing at the
PatuXent River, they marched TO Wash
lngton and burned the Capitol. This gave
Baltimore time for defense. Five hundred
thousand dollars was spent, and every
iaNQ afn Of ~
rushed to arms. The battle OF North
Point and the sJorming of Fort McHenry
were the result, and the victory OF both
engagements is the proudest page in
Baltimore's history.
For many years the veterans of these
engagements, organized under the name
OF the Old Defenders Association reou-
larly celebrated every 18th OF Septem Der,
and IN course OF time the day became
local holiday, many of the most impor-
tant celebrations aud public occasions
clustering around it. Gradually the Old
defenders died. Finally the number
dwindled TO one, and his modest home on
the anniversary of the battle was the
Mecca of the city's loyalty. When lie
died, by the wish expressed several years
before, new organization was estab-
1lshed upon the memories of the OLD De-
tenders. 1t was the Society of the War
OF 1872, and it consisted OF the descend
in chat memorable contest. The society
has taken advantage OF the anniversary
to celebrate the centennial and TO dedicate
Maryland's day to the historic fort.
The fort was named after James Nc
Henry, one of the trainers of the Consti-
tuition of The United States, Secretary to
General " ashingLon during the war, and
Secretary OF War during President Wash
1ngton's Administration in l79S.
The Patapsco River from it's confluence
with the Chesapeake bay proceeds in an
almost westerly direction for about
twenty-five miles to BalLimore's harbor
a the lower part of the city the river
separates into two wide branches, and it
Is the point between them on which the
fort is situated. It's earliest records date
from February a, l66l, when Charles
Gorsuch, Quaker, patented fifty acres,
paying 81 year TOR 1t. He afterward
abandoned the ground, and on June 2.
1902, John Carroll patented it and paid
z shlIllngs year, and named it Whet-
stone Neck. In 1906 it was made port of
entry, and the land settlers of that day
pronounced II good place for town.
Further investigation discovered iron ore,
and this ore was large part OF the Mary
land supply for mum ber of years.
When the revolution opened, Whet-
stone Point was appreciated for its mill
tary Importance, and in l775 preparations
were made to tortity it. A battery of ar
tiIIery was stationed behind the land de-
lenses, and three massive chains of
wrought iron passing through floating
blocks were stretched across the river,
leaving small passage only on the side
next TO the tort. Constant improvements
were made in the Notifications during
the progress of the Revolution. The
tort remained under the control of til @
State of Maryland until 1894, when it was
ceded to the General Government, The
Government did not care to spend the
money to put 1t in condition, and so the
public-spirited citizens of Baltimore
raised enough for that purpose. Its his
tory was uneventful until the year 1914,
when the fortunes of war made its name
immortal through the most popular lyric
IN our national hymnologY. The story of
The Star Spangled Banner has been
told so many times incorrectly that it is
worth while TO tell it over again in the
light of all the facts which investigation
has brought forth.
Francis Scott Key, the son of John
Ross Key, who was a Revolutionary
officer, was born in Frederick County,
Md, IN August, 1850. At the time of the
breaking out OF the war he was q lawyer
living in Georgetown, D. G. He wit
messed the burning of Washington. He
was an aide de camp to Gen. Smith, and
he had the duty of assigning the regi-
ments to their positions as they arrived
on the field at Bladensburg. He was a
young man of singular beauty of counte-
nance, of the loftiest ideals of patriotism,
ond OF those qualities which risk any
thing and everything for the sake of
country, honor or friendship.
The British had captured DR.. Beanes. a
physician at Upper Marlborough, and
had conveyed him to one of their ships in
the Patuxent. DIR. Beanes was one of
Keys most intimate friends, and as soon
as Key heard of the arrest he hurried,
a FNfn A.
with the commissioner for the exchange
of prisoners, TO secure his release Kew
and the commissioner were received on
board one OF the ships, and were prompt
ly informed Dy the Admiral that he
would be obliged to detain them over
night. Inc reason, OF course, was that
the feet was on its way to bombard BaI:i-
more. Admiral Cock burn declared to
Key that the hight would be only a matter
of a few hours, and then the dread sus-
pense began. The range was a long one.
and it was utterly futile to expect the
guus of Fort McHenry to do any damage
10 the British vessels, OF which there were
nearly seventy. All day on the 18th and
far into the night on the 18th the shells
rained on Fort McHenry. The land at
tack under Ross was repulsed thereby
doubling the fleets responsibility. Under
the cover of darkness the Admiral sent
sixteen British frigates within close
range, but little fort on the opposite
side of the channel used them up so thor
oughly that they made prompt retreat.
During all these long hours of sus-
pense Key could not tell whether or not
the fort had been destroyed. He was two
miles away from it and clouds of smoke
were between, but finally, when the
bombardment had utterly failed, when
in the cool Of the morning the
British ships began TO drop down the
river, and the smoke and the clouds
lifted, he saw that the great banner