Evening star., 1945-12-09
Neil Swanson Says
|BuItimore's S Defense
won War of 1872
The PeriIous Fight
BIZ Neil H. Swanson. (Farrar &
Rhinehdrt,, $500

! 4t5tGtCftOf " p"'oV'
In writing this history of the de-
tense OF Baltimore In the War of
1912, Neil H. Swanson, executive edi-
tor of the Baltimore Sunpapers, has
had a number of objectives. For
one, he says, he wanted to clear THE
Star Spangled Banner" of the charge
that it is song no one can sing.
For another, he has been inspired
to rescue a neglected. hero-Gen.
Sam Smith, who directed the de-
fense. He also wishes to urge mil
itary training in the present day.
But above ALL he obviously wishes to
direct attention to the great part
played by Baltimore itself in the
old conflict.
The main thesis of his book is that
the attack on Baltimore was a cru
cial blow at the American Republic,
and that It's repulse saved the coun-
try. With some asperity he points
out that the Battle of New Orleans
usually gets pages in our histories,
while the defense of Fort McHenry
is dismissed with few lines. But it
was the defense of McHenry, says
Mr.. Swanson, which broke the Brit
ish morale. In his 500-page book,
he recounts the story of that de-
fense blow-by blow with vividness
which makes his story as enthralling
as good war motion picture.
Beginning with the Battle of Bla-
densburg, which preceded the burn
ing of Washington, he carries his
account through the looting of Alex
andria to the combined sea and land
attack on Baltimore a month later.
The story sums up to vindication
of citizen soldiery inspired by local
pride, as against politicians inflated
by concern for their public reputa-
tions. The high brass of the day
the Cabinet, Congress and the Presi-
dent-were responsible for the losing
of the Capital, in Mr.. Swanson s
view. James Monroe, Secretary OF
State, whom he terms a 'fathead,'
was most responsible. They had
neglected preparations and. when
the attack came, they hamstrung the
Army by foolish interference.
Baltimore, then, warned by the
example, elected its own general and
proceeded to its defense almost as
II it were an Independent country
or so Mr.. Swanson tells us, with inn
pressive Recommendation. Baltimore
selected Sam Smith, Revolutionary
veteran and for long mere militia
officer, to lead 1t against yelling.
tons Invincibles and the mighty
British feet. And Sam Smith fought
out his war by a combination of psy-
chology. delaying tactics and cold
nerve. Writing brilliantly, Mr.. Swan
son makes his reader actually see
the desperate preparations which his
city took in the short time that II
had at is disposal.
Nonetheless, a dispassionate reader
will be forced to conclude, on the
basis Of Mr.. Swansons own report
!; that it was the shallowness Of the
Patapsco, combined with an acci-
dental failure of British land-and-
; sea cooperation, which made tht
!, attack a failure. The ships coule
not come close enough to McHenr,
J to make their fire accurate, and 4
] small boat feint which was in.
tended to cover land assault failed
because half its force got lost in tn.
dark. But for those two circum-
stances, one fears, Gen. Smiths un-
Iquestionably valiant fighters woulc
have had a much harder time of it
This, however, only strengthens Mr.
! ISwanson's contention that it is rash
, to depend on impromptu prepared.
ness. There may not always be g
lucky accident-or an available Sam
Smith.
L The whole story of the composition
| of the national anthem is included
in the work. 1t is not offered as de-
: rived from new research, but from
! the Government Printing Office
, booklet by Oscar George Theodore
/ Sonneck, published in 1914.