Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-04
BIRTH OF THE STAR SPANGLEp
BANNER.

September is particularly a patriotic
month. for, besides giving this country
"Old Glory" it also gave the national
anthem and on Septemper g. III the
American flag was first unfurled in battle
and received its initial baptism OF blood
and fire. This was at Cooch's bridge, Del
aware. where a stone memorial marks
the sio On which the memorable CON
fict was fought.
At n recent meeting OF the United Amerl-
can Mechanics one OF the members gave
a description Of "Old Glory's' baptism.
The battle Of September .. III, took
place between the British, under Gen.
Howe and a corps Of light infantry from
Gen. Washington's army. commanded by
Gen. Maxwell, and, significant as it now
appears the bearers of the red, white and
blue were routed
The many people who have supposed
that the flag first met the smoke of war
on the CORY field OF Orskany, Del, Au-
gust 8. III. seem to be discredited. 1t Is
related by w. II. Richardson that this
new national emblem. improvised from
II white shirt and old blue Jacket of a
| soldier and some stripes from his wife's
red petticoat. was hoisted as signal OF
! victory on Fort Stanwix after the work
| of that murderous day was done In
other words. the nag was for the first
time "on view a Criskany and "ln
| business" at Cooch's bridge
! Gen. Howe's design in landing at Elk
| ton was to march on Philadelphia. His
plans We're made known to Washington
and So for the purpose OF harassing this
invaders in every possible way, a corps
of picked light infantry was placed in
charge Of Gen. Maxwell, The first COLI
sion occurred at Coochs bridge. over the
| Chrlstiana creek. As the Americans were
overwhelmingly outnumpered by the
| British division under Lord Corn wallis
and as the enemy was supplied with ar
| tillery-an arm which was altogethe7
lacking In Maxwell's par,y-they Were
forced to retire. losing forty killed and
wounded. The British loss was three kill
| ed and nineteen wounlel.
The story OF how Francis Scott Key
was inspired to compose The sta
Spangled Banner" September "A, 1914, 4:
n part of American history.
The author was a native OF Maryland
He was for many years district attorne,
al Washington. and was also interested
in military affairs. on the date above
mentioned ne, with companion. had
been sent on board one of the British
fleet TO secure the release of friend
His mission successfully accomplished
he was Informed by the British comman'
der that they would not be permitted t,
leave the vessel until the surrender o.
Fort McHenry-which. he boastfully add
ed, would be in n few hours
All day long, and far into the night
Key listened with the greatest anxiety
TO the booming of mannon and BURSTING
of shot and shell, When oarkness settl-
ed down upon them and they could no
longer see the distant fort, the question
was often on his lips; us the flag still
there"
At length the firing ceased and all was
quiet Was our beloved flag torn down
and dshonored or had the enemy been
forced to abandon the attack?
Washington city had been burned few
weeks before. and II Baltimore should
also fall how terrible would he the conse-
quences, The time seemed irterminable,
but the longest night has an end. and at
last the rosytinted horizon heralded the
approaching day.
Eagerly they turned their glasses to-
ward the fort, and strained their eyes in
that direction. The sight filed their
hearts with Joy and gratitude, for, float
nS trumphantly in the morning breeze,
they beheld the star spangled banner
still CALAMITY streaming" The enemy
was retreating. defeated'
In the rapture OF the moment the words
OF the song came into the mind OF the
poet, and were hastily jotted down on the
back of the letter. Reaching Baltimore.
he arranged them for the printer and, on
September q. they appeared in print in
the Baltimore American.
No song ever sprung into such sudden
and permanent popularity. 1t Is today
known the world around as tho national
anthem, as we'll as the battle song OF
the intrepid American fighters.