South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-15
SAVE INSPIRING ANGEL OF OUR MA
TIONAI. ANTHEM

Abandonment Of TT McHenry. recommended
to congress by secy Weeks OF the war department
will be a mistake; one for which the future will
condemn the present quite beyond question. This
fort is rich in history even though its value a
military post along with others to be abandoned.
rs recommended by the secretary may be compare
lvely small But for r.. McHenry might never
have had national anthem; THE Star spangled
Banner" might never have been written
We were with England 100 years ago;
that is we mean 100 years September. 1914
when the world war had just broken out. The
British had already made their capture of Wash
ngton reducing the capitol to masses of stone and
PROSTATE columns and moving back toward
Baltimore. The British commander made his boast
that Baltimore would be his winter quarters Ad-
miral Cochrane started up the Chesapeake bay
with the intention Of bombarding Baltimore and
bringing it into subsection. American military
forces had gathered to make stand against the
advancing troops.
Tt was here that TT. McHenry made its great his
torical ray which should save it from obliteraton
II was from behind this fort that the American
forces held back the enemy, defense of the city
being conducted effectively that enemys shell
reached its mark. and Cochrane's fleet put back to
the sea
on the night before the bombardment Francis
bia. and a prisoner OF the British forces
placed aboard Cochrane's vessel, from which
throughout the night he watched the battle. Dur
ing the powder flashes he could the American
flag was sti1 waving. Then. by the dawn's early
light" he discerned that THE flag still there"
and the national anthem followed that vein.
TT McFIenry was named for James McHenry, a
native of Ireland. who came this country in 1771
and began the study of medicine in Philadelphia.
When the Revolutionary war broke out he became
surgeon in the army. and toward the end of the
war served as assistant private secretary to Gen.
Washington, and the staff of Gen. Lafayette
The fort was established in 1894 by Surgeon Gen.
McEIenry and one of his chief purposes was 10
care for the human wreckage left by the revolution
10 is now under a fve-year lease to the public
health service and could well remain dedicated TO
some such cause.
II may he said that this is largely matter OF
sentiment but sentiment. we hope is not yet dead.
Every little while we find ourselves doing some lit
tie sentimental think like erecting memorials to
Rooseveltz Grants LincoIus. AIcKinleys or, here
in Indiana. spending money to save the old Corydon
state house or the Lake Michigan sand dunes
Assuredly TT McHenry has played enough Of a
part in American history that we afford to re-
tain IT, Let the other forts go, as secy Weeks has
recommended but not Of TT. McIIenry. Let it
bc "a national soldiers home. continue as Surgeon
Gen McHenry started il. a military hospital post,
or anything properly characterize il in the Tublc
service and may the "Star Spangled Banner for
ever wave above it in triumph We know of no
historic spot in an America that could be aband-
ened with less patriotic grace.