The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-07-16

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however, remembering his oft ex-
pressed wish, Let me rest meath the
shadow of the everlasting hills in
September, 1866, removed his re-
mains to his native county and rein
TERED them in Mt. Olivet, Frederick.
Rev. Osborne Ingle oficiated at the
second interment, as also at the re-
cent one beneath the monument, as
given above. The remains of his
wife, Mary Taylor Lloyd, who died
May 18TH, 1859, were placed beside
his own grave, also those of the son
mentioned above. There were eleven
children in all.
The circumstances under which
"The Star Spangled Banner" was
written are of special interest and
should be known by all who love the
flag and delight in the patriotic song.
II would be a good lesson in patriot
issa-sxes public seh0el teachers
to drill their scholars in the facts
preparatory to our next Flag" and
Independence" days. Let me give
them.
On Saturday, September 10th,
1874, war then existing between
Great Britain and the United States,
British feet of about fifty vessels
in all-frigates, bomb vessels and
barges, appeared in the Chesapeake,
just east of Baltimore. That even
ing about seven thousand troops,
under command of General Ross,
were landed at North Point, twelve
miles from the city. They were met
and defeated by the brave militia of
til State. General Ross was killed,
after which the British retired to
their vessels.
On the morning of Tuesday, Sep
tember I3th,. the feet, under Admir-
ais Cockburn and Cochrane, began
an attack on Fort McHenry, which
lasted about twenty-four hours.
The gallant General Arlnistead, in
command of the fort, had largely re-
served his fire, the ships lying be-
yond the range of his guns. That
evening the British admiral sent one
or two bomb vessels with barges and
about fifteen hundred men to pass
the fort, and moving UP the Pataps-
co assail the same in the rear. Ar
instead, at McHenry, aided by Fort
Darlington and the city battery, met
them with a CALLING fire, crippling
or sinking many of their boats and
driving them off amid the cries Of
the dying, to their feet.
Previous to the fight, Mr.. Key,
accompanied by Mr.. John S. Skin
ner, had gone aboard the ship Min
den to seek the release of several
prisoners, especially that of DR..
Beans, of Upper Marlboro. Key OBJ
tanned the release of the men and
was about to leave when he was told
that he would be detained until the
attack on the city was over. They
prise and there renamed uritii the
Patapsco was reached. They were
then sent to their own vessel, but
with guard to prevent their land
ing. They witnessed the lombard
ment from their deck, on which they
remained all night. Key, man of
fine sensibility, was full of anxiety as
to the result. He watched every shell
as it rose and fell. The lombard
ment ceased before daylight, and he
was all anxiety to know the result.
Till the "dawn's early light" they
paced the deck and strained their Wis
ion, uncertain whether the light
would reveal the cross of St. George
or their own starry banner floating
Ger the fort.
"On that shore dirnly seen thro' the
mists of the deep,
Where the foes naughty host in
dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze DER
the towering steep,
AS it fitfully blows, now conceals,
now discloses? At last
"It catches the CLEAN of the morn
ing's first beam
In full glory reflected now shines in
the stream"
The patriots glad soul instantly
leaps forth in the heart-cry, the tones
Of which will never die
"Tis the star-spangled banner! 0,
long may it wave
Ger the land of the free and the
home of the brave"
The attack had failed; the wound
ed and dead were being brought to
the ships; the feet soon sailed and
Key was free to go his way. He at
terward said:
Though / walked the deck, sur
rounded by hostile fleet, my heart
was still strong, my step firm.
Through the clouds of war the stars
of that banner still shone on my
view, and I saw the discounted host
of the assailants driven back in ig-
nominy to their ships. Then, in that
hour of deliverance and joyful
triumph the heart spoke: Do not
such a country and such defend
ers of their country deserve a song
was the question. With it came an
inspiration not to be resisted"
Key began the verses on the deck
of the vessel where he was detained
using the back of letter and making
brief memoranda of the current oi
his thought. While approaching the
shore in small boat he finished the
draft. That night at his hote
in Baltimore he wrote out the verses
as they now stand. He showed then
to Judge Nicholson, friend; they
greatly pleased the judge, who took
them at once to the Office of the
Baltimore American, and had then
printed for general circulation. Sam
uel Sands, an apprentice, set up thu
IL