Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-07-24
Senator Smiths Speech.

The following is Senator John Waite
Smiths speech, delivered on Friday last i
the U. S, Senate, on his amendment to tn
House general deficiency bill ito erect &
Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md. under tn
direction of the Secretary of War, a monu
ment in memory of Francis Scott Key. au
thor of The Star-Spangled Banner, and tn
soldiers and sailors who participated i
the Battle of North Point and the attac
on Fort Mctenry in the War of 1912, SIS
600, or so much thereof as may be neces
sary"
Mr. President, wish to say that intro
duced bill in the Senate appropriately
this sum Of money some little while back
and that bill has been reported to the Sen
ate. and is on the calendar today.
hope there will be no opposition to thi
item. Ordinarily would not ask for it
insertion in deficiency bill. as am sat
isfed it will pass the Senate 1t has beer
considered and favorably reported by thu
Senate Committee on the Library Ny
reason for asking that it be put in this de
ficiency bill is because between September
6 and September IS there is to be a cele
bration commemorative the Battle of Nortf
Point, Fort McHenry, and the author o.
the anthem THE Star. Spangled Banner.
Except for that would not ask it.
think this is a most appropriate time
and occasion for starting this monument
and if the Senate will indulge me for few
moments should like to give my reasons
| have informed myself recently as to the
historical facts, especially in regard to the
most decided and influential part that was
taken by the State of Maryland in the War
of 1912.
Whatever controversy there may be as
to the propriety and business of the decla
ration of war by the United States on Great
Britain on June IS. 1912. there is no con-
troversy as to the Importance of Maryland S
part in that war. The war was popular
in Maryland. Her people were driven by
deep and sincere faith in the justice of
the cause to respond to President Madison s
call and the requisitiOn of the Twelfth
Congress by an appropriation made at an
extra session of the legislature of $40. 900.
a large sum for those days, to aid the war.
Maryland at the same time raised 5000
men. A newspaper and its editor who
opposed the war were mobbed in Balti-
more. Later, after the ignOminious sur
render by Gen. Hull at Detroit, Maryland
raised a regiment, commanded by Col.
William Winder, and $4,000 by popular
subscription to fit it out, in addition to
manning all the forts and coast defenses
within the State with little or no Federal
aid, and when the United States Govern
ment asked war loan of $l6,000.000
Maryland. though small and then sparsely
populated State. subscribed 100000 Of
the loan. After all, probably no conflict
has ever been undertaken with so little
thought as to the means of carrying it ia
successful termination.
The War of 1872 might have ended with
all almost unbroken succession of defeats
sustained by our soldiers on land except
for the Battle of New Orleans. when An
drew jackson so decisively defeated the
British, and the Battle of North of Point
a few miles east of Baltimore, on Septem-
Der IL, 1914.
In 1873 Admiral Cockburn. with his Brit
ish feet, had blockaded the Chesapeake
and pilaged and terrorized the people
along its shores. Towns were burned and
private property wantonly destroyed.
In August 1914, the British forces were
further strengthened by the arrival o
Admiral Cochrane and his feet. With hin
came Gen. Ross and 5000 veterans of Ma
poleOnic wars.
Except for q repulse by Maryland militia,
at Caulk's field. when the British command.
ing officer, Sir Peter Parker, was killed
Admiral Cochrane and Gen. Ross met nc
effective opposition.
Admiral Barney had to destroy his own
ships, fitted out at such pains and expense
to the United States. to avoid capture by
the British in the tributaries of the Poto-
mac. Gen. Ross landed soldiers and sail
Ors and marched TO Bladensburg without
difficulty. where he defeated and actually
routed our troops. though far superior in
numbers to his. President Madison, in
stead Of serving a repast prepared for the
American officers to enjoy after the antici-
I cd xfaf oil tyit 10 oh
the Potomac. destroying the bridge behind
him. Washington was pillaged and par
TALLY burned by an invading foe for the
first and the last time.
Baltimore was selected as the next object
Of British attack. On Sunday. September
| II. so British ships were within sight of the
mouth Of the Patapsco River. ID miles be-
low Baltimore. Gen. Samuel Smith. in
charge Of the American forces about Bal
timore, perceived that the British would
land troops and attack the city by land and
water.
Everybody in Baltimore, in anticipation
Of the British attack. had drilled or thrown
up Notifications about the city. Volun-
teers far exceeded the available arms
Fort McIIenry, named for Washington &
Secretary Of War, guarded the city's inner
harbor. Temporary defenses elsewhere we're
hastily thrown up and batteries installed
The city was in an uproar
Seventeen hundred men under General
Stricken were sent out on Sunday down the
Philadelphia road to what is now the North
Point road. They encamped about an old
meeting house some miles from the pre-
sent modern Notifications, known as Fort
Howard. or North Point, at the junction of
the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay