The Snowflake herald. [volume] (Snowflake, Ariz.) 1913-1969, 1922-06-09


ton. The first encounter, wholly land,
the afternoon of the 10Th. The British stormed
the American earthwOrks, but were checked by
hre of shot Slugs, scrap iron and nails. The lines
of both armies swayed back and forth, with VIC
tory smiling first on one side and then the
other. The British lost 600 that day, the Ameri-
cans $50.
AT dusk great storm broke and the fighting
halted. At daybreak the rain ceased and the bat
tie began anew, the British commander, Brooke.
who had succeeded Ross, ordering his for
ward to avenge the setbacks of the day before.
The fleet was all commotion for officer from
Colonel Brooke's staff had urgently requested Ed-
miral Cochrane to open the bombardment Of Fort
McHenry, which, If successful would seal the fate
of the city. Soon the ships weighed anchor and
sailing up the Patapsco, got into battle formation
2H miles Cf the fort The decks were stripped
the bomb and rocket vessels opened their fire, and
16 ships hurled bombs, rockets and solid shot into
the ramparts The garrison of the 900 vol
unteers and regulars-was under Col. George
Armstead Armistead unmasked his batteries and
directed brisk fire, but the range of his guns and
mortars fell short Of the ships. This disheagt-
enng, and his anxiety was not lessened wher
24-pounder in the southeast bastiOn den.ol-
ished by an exploding bomb, MORALLY wounding
officer and several of the cannoneers.
Observing the confusion in the fort, Admiral
C0chrane signaed three of his bomb vessels, and
they moved closer to the ramparts to hasten the
victory. Armstead seized his opportunity, and or
dered well-directed fire, and his wide-mouthed
cannon wrought havoc the decks of the three,
one of them, the Erebus, being disabled.
In the shadow of the British feea that day and
night rode the American vessel MtaSen flying
flag of truce, and used by American agents In the
exchange Of prisoners. While the bOmbardm
ragged none watched with more anxiety than Fran
els Scott Key. He had gone to the British fleet
in the Potomac seek the release of old friend
OF taking up arms against British stragglers Key
obtained his release but the eve of the opera
tions both were transferred to the Mnden which
detained under guard of marines until the
British plans should be carried out.
From the decks of the cartel ship Key and his
companions watched every belch of the cannon
Midnight came and 1850 men, equipped with
scaling ladders, dropped from the fleet into barges
with the intention Of surprising from the rear
How the hearts of the patriots beat as HELPLESS
TO give the alarm, they this strategy under
way with every prospect of success. In attempt
ing to effect landing however, the expedltiOnary
force strueS lights and these lights 1t q pos
sible victory. The defenders promptly set fire TO
a haystack and as its glow revealed the barges,
Fort McHenry and the redoubts shook with the
salvos Of the guns. The six-gun battery under
Sailing Master Webster, which the British had
planned to take by storm, was served that mid
night cOolly and quickly by little group of can
thought
of home and country, and to whom Colonel Armi-
stead afterward said he was persuaded the coun-
try was much indebted for the final repulse of the
enemy Many of the landing party were killed
and others wounded two boats were sunk and
the survivors made back to the fleet. The de-
tenders lost killed and "A wounded The mas
ter stroke had been delivered and had failed.
1900 shells had been thrown into the fortications
but no white flag flew from the great staff
Sunset had cast leaden gloom upon the snrits
of the defenders but dawn found their homes high
and the invader beaten off, That night with the
fate of the city and perhaps the existence of tbe
Union hanging by thread, Key paced the deck of
the Minden, and each shell that sped screaming
from the ships was stab at his heart chal-
lenge to all he held dear. When the first blush of
morning tinged the sky Key gazed toward the hat
Elements and with straning eyes beheld the Stars
and Stripes, Scared but still defantly floating
The cannonading had ceased; the troops. many Of
them wounded. had been conveyed to the shjns
and the fleet was setting its sails. The Joy of Kew
was unrestrained, and from his soul there came
"the Star-Spanged Banner"