Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-09
INSPIRED PATRIOTIC HYMN
Loaned by Owner to the Government
for Two Years.
DRAPED IN A GLASS CASE
Historic Piece of Bunting Which
Greeted Eyes of Imprisoned Ameri-
cans on Public View.

The flag that hoated over Fort McHenry
during the bomhardment by the British on
the night of September Is. 1914. and which
inspired Francis Scott Key when he saw
II still floating over the ramparts at sun
rise the next morning to write the Star
Spanglcd Banner is now upon exhibition
In the hall of history at the Smithsonian
Institution.
The flag which is about % by 30 feet,
has been loaned to the institution by Mr..
Eben Appleton of New York for two years
upon the personal solicitation of DR.. Chares
II. Walcott. secretary of the institution. AS
the flag lies draped in the glass case only
one OF the large stars is visible. 1t Is
backed by canvas stated to have been
placed there by the late Rear Admiral
Preble. formerly stationed at the Boston
navy yard. AS very little of the flag can
he seen in its present resting place 1t is
the purpose of the officials of the institu-
ton to drape 1t upon one of the walls of
the hall of history where II can be plainly
viewed by the visitors to the building.
According to Mr.. ]. B. Baylor of the
United States coast and geodetic survey.
Col Armstead. who commanded Fort Nc
Henry during the bombardment by the
British fleet. took the flag after the rain of
shot and she'll had ceased and had 1t con-
veyed TO his headquarters, He later gave
It to his mother. who was a sister of Mr..
Taylor's great-great grandfather
Col. Armstead's mother some years after
ward. 1t is said presented the flag to her
granddaughter. who married one of the
AppletOns of New York and Boston. Later
Mr.. Eben Appleton came into possession
of the flag. In his letter to DR.. Walcott
Mr. Appleton says that he Is pleased to
loan the flag to the Smithsonian so as to
enable so many of his Countrymen to see
the ensign that caused THE Star-Spangled
Banner" to be written.
Inspiration of Key.
Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Span-
gled Banner" while virtually prisoner upon
the British frigate Surprise during the
bOmbardment of the fort. DR.. William
Beanes. who resided in Upper Marlboro.
Md, attended several of the soldiers of
Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn as they
marched on Washington. After the burn
ing of the Capitol. 1t Is said. several of the
soldiers applied to the physician for treat
ment as they passed through his home town
on their way back to Baltimore. He re-
fused point-blank, 1t Is alleged. and when
Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn were In
formed they Immediately ordered the arrest
of the physician.
He was taken at once to Baltimore and
placed on board the British vessel His
friends Immediately took up the work of
procuring his release. and engaged Mr..
Francis Scott Key. who resided in George
town and who frequently practiced law in
the courts at Upper Marlboro. Mr.. Key
went to Baltimore and 1t Is said found
both Admiral Cockburn and Gen. Ross
highly incensed at the conduct of DIR.
Beanes but after lengthy appeal Mr.. Key
obtained the promise of the commanding
officers to release the physician.
The provision was made that both Mr.
Key and DR.. Beanes should remain upon
the British vessel in the harbor of Balti-
more until IAN expedition" which after
ward proved to be the COMMANDMENT should
be concluded. 1t was upon the Surprise
that the two Americans saw the star-span-
gied banner at the first CLEAN of morning
which caused Mr.. Key to indite the lines
upon an envelope. Upon going ashore Mr.
Key. II Is said. gave copy of the poem
to Capt. Ben. Eades Of the 9th Baltimore
Regiment The directions were that the
words should be sung to the tune of 'Anac-
reon In Heaven" Shortly thereafter the
entire country was familiar with the hymn