The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-02-21

patriotic excitement, and it's people
were determined to resist the invasion
with the utmost vigor. Valiant troops
repealed the British advance from
North Point, forcing the invaders to
return to their ships. The lombard
ment of Fort McHenry, already be-
gun, confined throughout the day of
September IS.
The suspension of firing by the in
lvading fleet played a dramatic part
in the inspiration which produced the
"Star Spangled Banner" At this
time Francis Scott Key was aboard
an American vessel in the harbor. His
presence on the ship was due to an
expedition which he had undertaken
in behalf of Dr. Beanes, a leading
Maryland physician. Beanes was in
the hands of the enemy, as a result
of his capture at the head of a body
of citizens who had resisted British
soldiers.
Key and Beanes were warm per-
sonal friends. Visiting the British
| flagship, Key succeeded in procur-
ing the release Of the physician on
the strength of care and attention
bestowed on wounded British SOL
diers.
Admiral Cockrane, however, re-
fused to permit Key and Beanes to
return to Baltimore, and held them
under guard while the bombardment
was in progress.
Key Watched Bombardment.
The vessel upon which the two
Americans were held was sustained
at point at which the flag of Fort
McHenry was plainly visible. Key re-
manned on deck throughout the bonn
bardment, watching the fall of every
shell from the enemy guns. AS long
as the firing continued he knew that
the fort was withstanding the at
tack. The thing he dreaded was a
suspension of cannonading which
might signify that the Fort was in
the hands of the foe
For this reason Key was panic
stricken when the guns stopped
shortly after midnight. There was
no way for him to know that the sus-
Ipension was temporary, and he was
convinced that the garrison had sur
rendered. Resumption of the bonn
bardment a short time later brought
him a sense of relief which was en-
phasized when the dawn's early light
revealed that the flag was still there
and that Fort McHenry had not
been captured His inspiration for
the nations anthem came from that
experience, augmented by the with
drawal of the unsuccessful attackers
soon after daylight.
Fort McHenry served through the
Mexican and Civil Wars and was
used for garrison purposes in the
Spanish-American conflict. During
the World War the reservation held a
large army hospital. Its usefulness
as fortifcation passed with the adj
vent of long-range guns and it now
remains as a national shrine to honor
the city of Baltimore-the only large
city on the Atlantic coast over which
an enemy flag has never been raised.
Underground Prison Cells
In the restoration work, the exca-
vators uncovered underground pris-
ons which were used during the Civil
War. Each of the three cells in the
guardhouse was protected by graf
ed door with bars more than an inch
thick. These doors are still in posi-
ton.
The underground passage known
as the sallyport served as an entrance
to a narrow cave-like room 80 feet
long and eight feet high. Originally
these were intended for the storage
of powder, but there is evidence that
they were used also for the conine-
ment of prisoners of war. 1t is known
that Confederate soldiers were locked
in these Easements" after the bat
tie of Gettysburg.
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