Francis Scott Key, who was onboard a ship several miles distant on September 14, 1814, could just make out an American flag fluttering over Fort McHenry in the "dawn's early light." As British ships began to leave Baltimore, Key concluded that the United States had survived the conflict and had halted the enemy's approach. He wrote about his experience later that day in a poem now known as "The Star-Spangled Banner." Key was aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, which was under command of Captain John Hart. The ship was near Fort McHenry at the time the poem was written so it can be assumed that Key saw the American flag flying there. The battle had ended more than three hours before he wrote about his experience so he must have seen the flag shortly after it had been raised by Colonel Marcus Miller for the first time since the attack began. Hart ordered the crew to silence their guns because he didn't want to give away their position but also didn't want to fight any more battles that day. After the war had ended, Hart received a letter from President James Madison thanking him for his service and praising his courage during the battle. This is probably when Key composed his poem about the flag being used as a source of inspiration for another nation to fight for its freedom. There are other locations around Fort McHenry where flags were flown during the battle but they were lost soon after the conclusion of the fighting.