The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-02-21
Historic Fort McHenry Restored Original Condition
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FOR FUTNRE INSPIRATION
New Status of Fort McHenry Is
Brought About Through
Congressional Activities
By DUNCAN CAMERON

49,
Henry has been restored to the
condition in which it stood when
Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star
Spangled Banner" under the shadow
of its flag.
Through this restoration the ia
mouse milestone of American his
tory enters an area of perpetual ded-
ication as a national shrine-a CEN
trail point from which the future may
take inspiration from heroic deeds of
the past.
The new status of Fort McHenry
as national shrine has been brought
about through congressional action
which provided for setting the prop
erty apart and appropriated funds
for adequate restoration. With this
work now completed the Star Span
gled Banner has a permanent home
at the birthplace Of the national an
them.
Dates Back to 1875.
Fort McHenry has played a stir
ring part in the history of the United
States. The first attempt at estab-
fishing defensive construction at this
point came in March, 1776, when the
people of Baltimore heard the alarm
ing news that the British warship
Otter was in Chesapeake Bay. The
initial Notifications were extremely
primitive, consisting of earthworks
and a few cannon. Close approach of
an invading ship was barred by plac-
ing a massive boom across the mar
row channel
In those days Baltimore was a
struggling village Of hundred
homes or less. The town was begin
ming to grow, and its Importance as
a commercial port brought rapid eX-
pansion after the Revolutionary War.
With business development came adj
ded attractiveness for invading forces
and the young city soon recognized
that its capture would be one of the
first detectives of the enemy in time
of war.
The need for defensive measures
became emphasized in 1894 when
there was prospect of a war with
France. To meet the possible emer-
gency the earthworks of 1776 were
repaired and enlarged under the di-
rection of Major j. J. Ulrich Rivar
di, a refugee from the terror of the
French Revolution. This engineer de-
signed and built the bastion fort with
upper and lower batteries as more
complete form of fertilization. Ri
vardi had been an artillery officer in
France and his work was based on
long study and experience.
Fort Became Important
The first important part in his
tory played by the new fort came
with the War of 1912. At that time
British activities sought to cripple
American trade with France and the
West Indies. The British Navy was
ruler of the seas and vessels Of the
war fleet lowered along the Ameri-
can coast and seized merchant ships
which ventured abroad in pursuit Of
trade. Men were forcibly taken from
American ships and impressed into
service on the vessels of the besieg-
ing fotilla. The capture of seamen
extended even to ships of the United
States Navy, beginning with the
sloop of war Baltimore" and spread
ing to various other craft of the new
ly organized battle fleet.
The feeling aroused by this out
side aggression became so vigorous
throughout the United States, that
war became inevitable, and its decla-
ration took place June IS, 1872. The
situation was dramatic. With treas
ury that was practically bankrupt,
and with small armament, the Amer
lean Republic undertook armed con-
fiict with the most powerful nation
in existence. Against the trained
army and navy of Great Britain the
national defense could muster but
seven ships and 5000 soldiers.
Baltimore and Fort McHenry as
sumed important roles in the conflict
from the outset. Ship building was
an active feature of the city's COM
mercial life, and there was an imme-
date stimulus to the construction
and arming of ships for supplement-
ing the naval establishment.
Within four months from the out
break of hostilities the shipyards of
Baltimore had sent AZ privateers-
men against the enemy. Some of
these vessels went to the very coast
of England and seized British ship
ping as a measure of reprisal for
similar activities directed towards
American craft The first six months
of the War saw these privateersmen
capturing more than $50 English YES
sells, with many guns and merchan-
disc vauled at many million dollars.
Enemy Wanted Baltimore
The Baltimore activities made the
city shining target for enemy at
tentions, and there was concentrated