The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-07-18
Francis Scott Key and "The
Star-Spangled Banner"

One reason why there have been so
few really great patriotic poems written
may be because in order to do the SUBJ
ject justice the poet must be under
strong emotional excitement such as in
spired Rouget de Lisle and Francis Scott
Key. In an article on Key, in the July
Lippincott's, Mrs. La Sale Corbell
Rickett tells of the dramatic circum-
stances that led him to write "The Star
Spangled Banner:''
at was from this house that Key set
out September 4, 1914, to negotiate for
the release of DR.. Beanes, one of his
friends, who, after having most kindly
cared for British soldiers when wounded
and helpless, was arrested and taken to
the British fleet as prisoner in revenge
for his having sent away from his door
yard some intoxicated English soldiers.
Key, in company with Colonel John S.
Skinner, United States Agent for Pa
role of Prisoners, arrived at Fort Nc
Henry, on Milestone Point, in time to
witness the effort to General Ross to
make good his boast that he did not care
| if it rained militia, he would take Balti-
more and make it his winter headquar
ters.'
''They were received on the ship Sur
prise, and, upon making their plea for
| their captive friend were told that he
had inflicted atrocious injuries upon
British soldiers, and the Admiral had
resolved to hang him from the yard arm.
The eloquence of Mr. Key, supplemented
by letters written by British officers to
Dr. Beanes, thanking him for the many
kindnesses which they had received from
him, finally won Admiral Cochrane
from his vengeful decision. After the
release of the captive, the Americans
were not permitted to return to land,
lest they might carry information detri-
mental to the British cause. Thus
Admiral Cochrane, who enjoyed we'll
merited distinction for doing the wrong
thing, placed his unwilling guests in
their own boat, the Minden, as near the
scene of action as possible, with due
regard for their physical safety, in order
that they might suffer the modification
of seeing their flag go down.
"For three days Key and his COM
panions watched the landing of nine
thousand soldiers and marines at North
Point, preparatory to the attack on the
fort, which was defended by a small
force of of raw militia, partly composed
of the men who had been so easily de-
feated at Bladensburg. They were
under command of Colonel George Arm
istead, who faced court-martial if he
should not win, for the Washington
administration had peremptorily ordered
him to surrender the fort.
Through the long hours of the 18th,
Key paced the deck of mis- boat, watch
ing the battle with straining eyes and
heart that thrilled and leaped and sank
with every thunder Of gun and flash of
shell. The day was calm and still, with
no wind to lift the flag that dropped
around its staff over Fort McHenry.
Ateventide breeze unfurled its folds,
and as it f1oated out she'll struck it and
tore out one of its fifteen stars.
"Night fell. His companions went
below to seek rest in such unquiet
slumbers as might visit them, but there
was no sleep in the heart of Key. Not
until the mighty question which filled the
night sky with thunder and flame and
surged in whelming pillows through his
own soul found its answer in the court
of Eternal Destiny could rest come to
the man who watched through the long
hours of darkness, waiting for dawn to
bring triumph or despair.
|
victory and defeat. Whose was the
victory? The night gave no answer,
and the lonely man still paced up and
down the deck of the Minden. Then
day dawned in glory in the east, and
glory in the heart of the anxious
watcher. In that first thrill of joy and
triumph our majestic anthem was form
ed.
''Key took from his pocket an old let
ter, and on its blank page pencilled the
opening lines of the song. In the boat
which took him back to Baltimore he
finished the poem, and in his hotel made
copy for the press. The Star
Spangled Banner was soon waving over
the musical domain as VIGOROUSLY as it
had f1oated from the ramparts of Fort
McHenry.
"My child was burned terribly about the
81, al n -,