did bodies hold up the flag at fort mchenry

Their bodies were removed and others took their place. You can also view this Smithsonian Channel video on YouTube. Today, it's in a special low-light chamber where you can see it 364 days per year. Being held by the British on a truce ship in the Patapsco River, Key observed the battle from afar. was its question.. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenryforces Brooke to abandon the land assault on Baltimore. Your Privacy Rights No, Key was a lawyer in Washington, D.C. Wayne Boyd, the park's Acting Maintenance Chief, discovered hidden rot in the existing flagpole, prompting the need for a replacement. Huge, vibrant, and rich in history, most Americans are familiar with the story of this particular flag: It's the one that flew overFort McHenrythe morning after the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would one day become our national anthem. Still, the decision for ground troops to either advance or retreat fell to Colonel Arthur Brooke, who had assumed command following the death of the much-esteemed General Robert Ross at North Point the previous day. He said 'If you will, scan the horizon of the sea,' and as he looked he could see hundreds of little dots and he said 'That's the entire British war fleet.' Using a storm flag in those conditions would have been standard practice. 21230, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. However, scholars continue to debate whether the storm flag flew during 25-hour bombardment. It is baffling why anyone would fabricate historical facts that would then be assumed to be authentic. Although other East Coast ports were used by privateers, Baltimore was an especially busy haven for these sailors, who were paid generously for their work. It was, of course, the huge American flag that flew over Baltimore's Fort McHenry on a hot summer night in 1814. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. It was Fort McHenry, a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore Harbor. Eben immediately wrote to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,Charles D. Walcott. Each star, by the way, is made of cotton and was created by reverse applicqu method. "The fact that it has been entrusted to the National Museum of American History is an honor.". The British hoped the loss of both Washington and Baltimore would cripple the American war effort and force peace. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield. Directives from London were clear that once troops went ashore, combat decisions belonged with the army rather than the navy, but such guidance had not anticipated that those soldiers might be under the command of a mere colonel. But when he sees the large flag flying over the fort on the morning of September 14, he knows the fort held. Only Mississippi now flies the Confederate battle flag in an official capacity - the state has incorporated a blue cross with 13 stars over a red background since 1894. inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet. [42][43] It was hung in Flag Hall, a three-story central atrium designed for this purpose. The museum removed 1.7 million stitches (a previous preservation attempt) from the Star-Spangled Banner. Over the next six weeks, Mary, her daughter, three of Mary's nieces, a 13-year-old indentured servant and possibly Mary's mother Rebecca Young worked 10-hour days sewing the flag, using 300 yards of English wool bunting. When the flag arrived at the Smithsonian it was smaller (30 by 34 feet), damaged from years of use at the fort and from pieces being removed as souvenirs. The Confederate Army eventually adopted the Confederate battle flag in order to avoid potentially lethal confusion. The Confederate States of Americas first national flag was also known as the "Stars & Bars." He wanted to be sure the British could see the United States colors from their distant warships. The narrator is apparently minister David C. Gibbs Jr. Around 3:00 p.m., he attacks the American positions. At that time, it was the practice to add one star and stripe for each new state joining the Union. As part of her work on the upcoming Smithsonian Channel filmA Star-Spangled As part of our blog series about the Star-Spangled Banner leading up toRaise It Up! "The Star-Spangled Banner" song turns 200 this year. An interactive component allows site visitors to closely explore features of the flag in detail, download an audio-descriptive tour of the exhibition for the visually-impaired, and hear the song performed on original instruments from the National Museum of American History's collection. In the twilight hours of Friday, September 16, the President was released and docked alongside Hughes Wharf at Fells Point. She once noted, "[H]ad we given all that we have been importuned for little would be left to show." The admiral came and he said 'Your people are insane.' The Confederate States of America chose a pattern for their national flag that is strikingly similar to the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag of the Union. Or, maybe it was another flag. How long did the star-spangled banner wave? A national subscription magazinepublishedlocally,NilesWeeklyRegister,recorded that thehouses in the city were shakentotheir foundations for never,perhapsfromthe timeof invention of cannonto thepresent day, were the same number ofpiecesfired with so rapid a succession.The vivid display of early 19th-century shock and awe could be heard 100 miles awayinPhiladelphia. This is made up. After coming to the Smithsonian, the Star-Spangled Banner has only left the National Mall once. [19][20] Some years, it was flown at Baltimore's celebration of Defenders Day, the anniversary of the battle. [25][26] He then put the flag on display at the headquarters of the New England Historic Genealogical Society for several weeks. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag. In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost. On the morning of September 14, the American defenders lowered their battered storm flag and raised the large, thirty by forty-two foot, garrison flag. Today it is permanently housed in the National Museum of American History, one of the Smithsonian Institution museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Naval support will be required to dislodge the American forces, and Fort McHenry will have to be eliminated. Advertising Notice [53] The framed remnant came with a faded, hand-written note attesting it was "A piece of the Flag which floated over Fort McHenry at the time of the bombardment when Key's (sic) composed the Song of the Star Spangled Banner, presented by Sam Beth Cohen. [52], A 2-inch by 5-inch fragment of the flagwhite and red, with a seam down the middlewas sold at auction in Dallas, Texas on November 30, 2011, for $38,837: the snippet was, presumably, cut from the famous flag as a souvenir in the mid-19th century. (Man's voice) There was a lawyer once, his name was Francis Scott Key. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans once more felt their homeland might be under real physical threat. Only twice in its history has the Star-Spangled Banner been hidden away to keep it safe from war, though America has fought many more wars than that since 1814. This is a longer version of the same story posted in 2008. It has fifteen horizontal red and white stripes, as well as fifteen white stars in the blue field. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website. Major Armistead commissioned Baltimore flag maker Mary Pickersgill to craft this dramatic emblem for his garrison as he was making preparations for Fort McHenrys defense. There were more than 15 states when the flag was made, but there are only 15 stars on the flag. Initially the British fleet exchanges fire with the forts cannon, but soon withdraw out of range. How and when this occurred is unclear. The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most recognizable icons of the United States. No, that's not true: The video posted and shared many times on social platforms is filled with major historical inaccuracies and is about as fictional as a "Game of Thrones" episode. At 4:30 a.m., the American batteries fell silent, followed at 7:30 a.m. by the last British bomb to arc over the Patapsco River toward Fort McHenry. which was built in 1798. September 14. This revelation was famously captured in poetry by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet. She is also thought to have begun the tradition of giving pieces of the flag away to honor her husband's memory, as well as the memories of the soldiers who defended the fort under his command. March 1, 2007 A conservator works on the Star-Spangled Banner in 1914. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Spotted something? Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. There is conflicting evidence as to which flag, the larger garrison flag or the smaller storm flag, flew over the fort during the battle. It was simply raised according to the 1808 U.S. There was no group of prisoners held in the cargo hold of the ship from where Key watched the battle. Francis Scott Key went aboard and immediately went into Fort Henry to see what had happened. Entrance Fees The entrance fee to the historic area of the park is $15.00 for adults 16 years of age and older; children 15 and younger are free. How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry inspired an anthem and made its way to the Smithsonian. These are some typical questions people have about customs and rules surrounding African American History Curatorial Collective, the flag's most recent conservation check-up, why the national anthem is so hard to sing, a nationwide sing of the national anthem on Flag Day (June 14, 2014), When lightning strikes: The making and meaning of a patriotic symbol, Rene Fleming's Super Bowl gown: A curatorial jackpot, Pointers from the Flag Code, just in time for Flag Day. "[54], Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The fort suffered only light damage from the 1,500 cannonballs, rockets and shells fired upon it. If you want fictional war accounts, we recommend Game of Thrones. Volunteers dug huge entrenchments east of town, and the city militia drilled regularly. The video opened: (Written text on screen) We guarantee that you will NEVER feel the same way again when you sing this song at a sporting event after you hear this story! He said 'All of the gun power, all of the armament is being called upon to demolish that fort. The British plan to land troops on the eastern side of the city while the navy reduces the fort, allowing for naval support of the ground troops when they attack the citys defenders. President Abraham Lincoln maintained that those states never really left the nation but were merely in rebellion. During that conflict, the British conducted frequent raids on American towns and harbors along the Atlantic coast, including forays into Chesapeake Bay. Every purchase supports the mission. Bodies of the dead were not used to hold up the flag pole a 42 by 30 foot flag has to be on a well-anchored pole, not held up by a few dead bodies stacked around it. Every purchase supports the mission. 1. That same year, Preble had the first known photograph of it taken at the Boston Navy Yard and exhibited it at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where he stored it until 1876. Is Northern capitalized? Major George Armistead, the Forts commanding officer, desired "to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance. Skinner and Key had been dispatched to obtain the release of the elderly Dr. William Beanes, who had been taken prisoner during the Washington campaign for confronting three British soldiers. He said 'How are you going to do that?' We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. They said 'We've left them a way out,' and he said 'What's that?' In 1814, the United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. For example, it claims the song was written during the American Revolution, although it was penned more than three decades later in September 1814 -- in the final months of the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key went down below and told the men what was about to happen. While there are some details that differ from the Surgernor video, it is the same story. Because of the shallow water, Admiral Cochrane is unable to use his heavy warships, and instead attacks with the bomb vessels HMSTerror,Volcano,Meteor,Devastation, andAetna. Although states seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America, the U.S. flag remained unchanged. The narrator refers to Fort Henry, which did not exist. Support Outdoor Classrooms at Seven Key Battlefields. In 1814, the United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. "There's a legend that the star was buried with one of the soldiers from Fort McHenry; another says that it was given to Abraham Lincoln," says Kendrick. And what he found had happened was that flag pole and that flag had suffered repetitious direct hits, and when hit had fallen, but men, fathers, who knew what it meant for that flag to be on the ground, although knowing that all of the British guns were trained on it, walked over and held it up humanly until they died. The striking visual has pervaded our national imagination: The first rays of a new day reveal the symbol of a nation young but strong standing defiant in the face of our foes. It is likely that they kept the flag hidden in their home in Baltimore for the duration of the war, but Margaret Appleton Baker, Georgiana's daughter, told theNew York Heraldin 1895 that the flag had actually been sent to England. It was this storm flagnot the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Bannerwhich actually flew during the battle. Two days later, having reembarked the land forces, the fleet sailed down the Chesapeake, soon to receive new Admiralty orders to attack the port of New Orleans, an engagement that took place before word could arrive that peace had been secured through a conference in Ghent, Belgium. Corbis On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in. The newest bomb ships of the Vesuvius class were three-masted vessels carrying a massive central weight of 325 tons, with a length of 102 feet, ideal for heavy weather and shore bombardment. He convinced the British to release Beanes. [16] Historians suggest that the storm flag flew through the night, and the garrison flag was hoisted in the morning, after the British retreated.[17]. Did dead bodies hold up the flag at Fort Mchenry? The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry, she says. The most recent flagpole at Fort McHenry dated to 1989. Recognizing its need for repair, the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler, an embroidery teacher and well-known flag preserver, in 1914 to replace the canvas backing that had been added in 1873. From the early morning hours on September 14, Fort McHenry had withstood a sustained attack by the British fleet, commanded by Admiral Cochrane. Victoria "Tory" Altman is an Education Specialist in the Office of Education Outreach. On the night of Saturday the 10th inst. On the appointed day in a row boat, he (Key) went out to this boat and he negotiated with the British officials and they reached a conclusion that men could be exchanged on a one-for-one basis. He has published several books and numerous articles. You are free.' Armistead ordered the large wool flag taken down and Pickersgill's smaller 17' x 25' foot storm flag hoisted. But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifactit's also a national symbol. Started in 1996, the Star-Spangled Banner preservation projectwhich includes the flag's conservation and the creation of its new display in the renovated museumwas planned with the help of historians, conservators, curators, engineers and organic scientists. Coming in at 17 x 25 feet, this storm flag was much smaller and was designed to withstand tough weather, such as the raging winds and pouring rain that occurred during the Battle of Baltimore. Still, only a handful could navigate the shallow waters of the Patapsco River, where Fort McHenry was located. Let me tell you a story. Join us online July 24-26! The Battle of Fort Henry, Tennessee occurred as part of a Union plan to open a water route into the Confederate heartland by capturing Forts Henry and Donelson. So the old flag survives, bathed in dim light, floating out of the darkness, just as it did on that uncertain morning at Fort McHenry. In fact, military posts traditionally lower the American flag at night. [48], Following the reopening of the museum on November 21, 2008, the flag is now on display in a two-story display chamber that allows it to lie at a 10-degree angle in dim light. Francis Scott Key said he remembered what George Washington had said. Command of the land forces passes to Col.Arthur Brooke. It's called the 'National Anthem.' Now, as preparations for a British attack proceeded, the three-story-tall flag waved atop the 90-foot flagpole at Fort McHenry, its bold red, white and blue geometry unmistakable. "We're aware of at least a dozen more that exist in other museums and private collections," says Kendrick. As World War II began, plans were made to protect a number of the Smithsonian's most precious objects. George Armistead was born April 10, 1780, in Newmarket, Virginia. The second phase consisted of the most comprehensive, detailed examination of the condition and construction of the Star-Spangled Banner to date, which provided critical information for later work. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. Quick Facts about the Star-Spangled Banner Flag. It evokes powerful emotions and ideas about what it means to be an American. Whether or not Francis Scott Key actually visited Fort McHenry that day, he would have not seen a stack of "patriots' bodies" holding the flag pole upright. He said 'We have told them that if they will lower that flag, the shelling will stop immediately and we'll know that they've surrendered and you'll now be under British rule.'. "STAR-SPANGLED BANNER" "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States, was inspired by the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in the harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). The bodies holding up the flag pole story is about as ridiculous as it is insulting to the four killed, and twenty four wounded (of which several would later die) as a result of the battle. In addition to the gigantic 42 x 30 foot garrison flag (now the Star-Spangled Banner), Pickersgill and the young women who helped her also sewed a smaller "storm flag." Again, this is an imaginary conversation. It then remained in a safe-deposit vault in New York City until Appleton loaned it to the Smithsonian in 1907. The Star-Spangled Banner, or the Great Garrison Flag, was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. While the conservators worked, the public looked on. It may not have weathered the perilous fight as many believe. But a missing 15th star has never been found. Georgiana, herself, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. [34][35] In 1912, Appleton formally donated it to the Smithsonian. It was with huge surprise and joy that as dawn broke, he saw, not the Union Jack flying above the fort, but the American flag. He said 'Tonight, I have negotiated successfully your return to the colonies.' George Washington never said that. The flag and many other treasures were crated up and sent to Luray, Virginia, for safekeeping. The British attack on Baltimore had began in earnest. In 1813,Mary Pickersgill, a Baltimore flagmaker, was commissioned to make two flags for Fort McHenry. There were about 28 American casualties. In this photo from the Smithsonian Archives, Smithsonian collections are crated and covered with a tarp to be transferred to a storage facility in Luray, Virgina, for safekeeping during World War II. Although this flag has been around for 200 years now, there is more to this story that begs to be told. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. It is a made-up quote, according to scholars at Washington's presidential library. The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon printed it, and within weeks, Key's poem, now called "The Star-Spangled Banner," appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his wordsand forever naming the flag it celebrated. Also, there were no "hundreds" of ships in the river attacking the fort. He had witnessed Britain's twenty-five hour bombardment of the Fort, and for Key, the raising of the American flag was a triumphant symbol of bravery and perseverance. He said 'Well, Mr. Key,' he said, 'tonight we have laid an ultimatum upon the colonies. Fort McHenry, Sept. 24th, 1814. F or as famous as it is, the so-called Star-Spangled Banner is shrouded in plenty of misconceptions. The colonies were engaged in vicious conflict with the mother country, Britain. This changed on April 6, 1814, with the defeat and abdication of Napoleon, which freed up veteran troops for a more aggressive strategy. He said 'It's full of women and children.' The imposing Fort McHenry, at the mouth of the inner harbor, provided the linchpin for the American defenses. Initially they worked from Mary's home (now a private museum known as the Flag House), but as their work progressed they needed more room and had to move to Claggett's brewery across the street. ", In this 1993 photo from Smithsonian Archives, the flag is shown inside the museum's center hall. Superior British weapons pounded the fort from newly designed bomb ships anchored safely out of range of the fort's own guns. Accordingly, he launched a late evening diversionary barge attack on the western shore, the backdoor of the American land defenses. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew Foote were commissioned to lead a joint expedition to seize the twin forts. MD Francis Scott Key, jubilant with the fact that he had been successful, went down below in the boats and what he found was a cargo hold full of humanity, men. These ships fire exploding mortar shellsat high angles into the fort. In February 1815, the storm flag was lost to history after being replaced by a new one from the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. Gen.John Stricker to delay the advance by provoking an engagement. In the first phase, the team removed the linen support backing that was attached to the flag during the 1914 restoration. Spotted something? But the inspiring banner he glimpsed may only have been raised at daylight.

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