The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-06
Fort McHenry to Be Saved
by Maryland Militia.
INSPIRED NATIONAL ANTHEM
Federal Government Has Abandoned
Ia as an Army Pest, but the People
Rescue and the Flag VIII stiII
Wave over It's Ramparts.

Baltimore. Jan. although Fort Nc
Henry. one of the oldest and most historic
forts in this country. viii be abandoned
as a coast defense and United States
army station on March 81 next. the Stars
and Stripes viii continue 10 float from the
old ramparts rs they did that memorable
August morning in ISL, when the rising
sun. piercing the smoke OF battle during
the bombardment Of the fort by the Brit
ism. disclosed them 20 the delighted view
Of FraEicis Scott Key. Imprisoned on one
Of the British war ships and inspired him
to write The Star-Spaugled Banner"
Through the patriotic efforts Of tie citf-
zens Of Baltimore and AGjt. Gen. Clinton
l. Riggs, Of the Maryland National
Guard. the foTt VIII be preserve lu mem
DRY Of Key and its past glories after its
abandonment as a fort by the War De-
partment April j, 1867. Gen. Riggs has
secured a five-year lease on the fort and
grounds from the national government
for the use of the infantry division OF the
State militia. The Baltimore City Tegi-
ments VIII d-ill and have camp practice
on the old parade grounds.
Relies VIII Remain.
The old guns and relies viii remain. IS
win also all the buildings oa the reserva-
ton. The government viii maintain any
Of the buildings 81 used boy the State
troops. For the use of the fort and reser-
walton, Maryland viii pay the United
States 81 year.
Strangely enough the land Of which
Fort 0IcHeHry is a part was taken uD in
16fI under the name milestone Point.
under patent by Charles G0rsuch. mem
Der Of the Society of Friends.
It's Importance as q military fort was
early recognized, and in 1T5 it had been
strengthened by the construction OF a
water battery, then impregnable. honey
combed by magazines and secret under
ground passageWays This battery stiu
STANDS intact facing the water ap-
pTJaches Of the city from the south.
The following year. In preparation Of q
visitation from the British, 81 boom was
constructed between o.. EetstOIe Point and
the LaZaTeUJo. and great chain. support
Cd by twenty-One smken bay vessels. was
stretched across the entrance To the har-
Dor.
The fort remained under the control Of
the State until I7B, when IL was turned
over to the national government and
named in honor of Col James McHenry,
Of Maryland. VINO was Secretary of War
in Washington Cabinet
BuiIt by subscription
In 1873. with funds raised by public sub
scriptions, the great five-star fort Of
brick, cement. and earth was erected.
whose dungeons were destined during the
civil war 10 become the prison of some Of
the most prominent citizens Of Baltimore
whose loyalty TO the Union cause was
suspected and whose activities were
feared.
For more TN 100 years the stalwaTU
ramparts Of the fort have kept a tireless
vigil In times Of peace they have cleaned
respIendid In their cloak Of green. In
times of war they have frowned defiance
at the foe.
The old fort is now so close to the city
that an invading force. safely ont OF
reach Of its guns. might easily lombard
the city at will New forts more suitably
located. with modern equipments, have
been constructed 10 cope with the great
war ships of the day, and the usefulness
of the old fort even as an inner defense
has passed away absolutely.
But it viii live in history, linked with
the national song.
August IA. ISl4. after the sacking Of
Washington. the British feet. under Ad-
miTal Cochran. came up the bay. having
on board the troops. 5000 strong, under
the veteran Gen. Ross. It was The lat
ter's boast that he would eat his supper
to Baltimore, having been killed at North
Point. where he landed during the early
part Of the battle.
Francis Scott Key, a distinguished son
of Maryland, had, on the evening before
the bombardment, gone on the cartel
ship AIlnden under q flag Of truce to ef-
feet the release Of some captive friends.
He was himself detained in order that he
might not take back Information Of tbs
lively preparations he witnessed for the
bombardment. The 8Iinden was anchored
in sight Of the fort
Lines Are Inspired.
While the bOmbardment ragged during
the night and early morning he began the
inspiring lines.
OH say can you see by the daFp's early light
What so proudly We hailed at the twilight's last
cleaning;
And then as the SUnugnI pierced ms
clouds Of smoke he triumphantly con-
Guided:
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the
peTilCus fight,
Der the ran1parts we watched. were 50 calamity
streaming
lis the star-Spangsd Bsnnerl Oh. long may It
wave
Der the land Of the free and the home Of the bravo
Key wrote his song on the back Of d
letter he happened TO have in his pocket.
After his return he wrote II out in fun
and submitted it TO his uncle, Judge Mich
olson. who had it printed and distTib-
uted Il was first sung in q restaurant
adjoining the Holiday Street Theater. by
Charles Durang, TO an asSemblage Of pa
triotic defenders.
a few years ago the flagstaff on ths
highest parapet Of the inner fort from
which the flag fioated was removed and
the new pole planted on the northeast
point Of the fve-pointed star on the
identical spot it stood when Key watched
for it.