New-York tribune., 1906-12-09
FORT M'HENRY SIZE
National Guard to Get III .4fter
Federal Troops Lcare III.


General Clinton L Riggs. of the Maryland Ma
ional Guard historic Fort McHenry will be
preserved in memory Of Francis Scott Key and
lis pas; glories after its abandonment as a fort
Il the War Department on April l. 1907 Cen
ca! Risgs has secured five years lease of
The fort and grounds from the national govern
nent for the use Of the infantry division of the
state militia
Ihe Baltimore regiments Viii drill and have
o>77p practice on the old parade grounds The
ola guns and relics viii remain as viii also all
buildings on The reservation. The government
VIII maintain any Of the buildings not used nv
1he state troops. For the use Of the fort and
reservation Maryland viii pay the United States
81 "A year
The Stars and Stripes will continue to float
from he old ramparts they did on that nlenl-
or3lle September morning in 1914 when the
riSns sun. piercing the smoke Of battle during
The bomhardment Of the fort by the British dis
closed them to the delighted view Of Key i'm
r~tsouad on one 0f the British warships. and
iuspt~aI him 70 write ''The Star Spangled Ban
The land u which Fort McHenry is part was
taken u3 in 1861 under the name MILESTONE
Point Under patent by Charles Gorsuch. a mem
ler Il the Society OF Friends Its Importance
a military fort was early recognized. and in
l-75 il had been strengthened by the construc-
zion T . Uater battery then impregnable. honey
Dorlled by magazines and secret underground
rlssage0ays. This battery still stands intact
f.ciug Tho water approaches Of this city from
The south The following year, in preparation
o. a visit from the British, 4 boom was con-
s,fu,t-d between MILESTONE Point and the Lag
aretto and 4 great chain supported by twenty
one sunkerl bay vessels was stretched across the
entrance 10 the harbor. The fort remained under
the control of the state until 1913 when it wa-s
turned over to the national government, and
named in honor Of Colonel James McHenry. ot
Maryland. who was Secretary Of War in Wash
ington's Cabinet
T. 1794 with funds raised by public sub
sc-Iptior great five star fort Of brick cement
and earth VAS erected. whose dungeons in the
Civil War became the prison OF some Of the
most prominent citizens Of Baltimore whose 10y
atty to the Union was suspected and whose ac-
rivities Eere feared.
For more than hundred and thirty years the
StaIwart raJnparts Of the fort have kept a tire
i.ss vigil II times of peace they have cleaned
resplendeut in their cloak Of green In times Of
war they have fr2wned defiance At the foe
The old fort is now Sd close 10 this city that
an invading force, safely out Of reach Of its
guns might easily lombard Baltimore al will
New forts more suitably located and with mod
srr equipments have been constructed to cope
usefulness of the old fort inner de-
fence has passed away absolutely But il will I
i've in history linked with the national song.
on September 10. 1914. after the sacking Of
Washington the British fieeet up the bay. |
having on board the troops under the veteran
General Ross. II was the latter's boast that he
would eat ms supper in Baltimore in hell" /
He never got 70 Baltimore having been killed |
al North Point whore he landed in the early I
part - the battle.
Francis Scott Key. a distinguished son Of /
Maryland. had the evening before the bonn |
tardment gone on the American cartel ship !
Nluder under flag Of truce TO effect the re- !
lease II some captured friends. He and his YES |
81 were detained in order that he might not /
takt back information of the lively prepara- |
tl8n h. witnessed for the BON bardment The I
Miudeu was anchored in sight Of the fort
Whilc the bomba rdTnent ragged in the night /
and early morning n began 70 compose the /
inspiring lines:
.h say. eau You by the dawn's early light.
What proudly hailed al the twhght's last /
gl-amITS-
who's. broad stripes and bright stars through the
clouds Of the fght
J'er the ramparts ~ watched were so gallantly |
f