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Fort Mchenry Fort in 1814 Prevented the Capture of Baltimore the Patuxent River with 20 Warships and 3,400 and Inspired Francis Scott Key to Write "The Troops

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Fort Mchenry Fort in 1814 Prevented the Capture of Baltimore the Patuxent River with 20 Warships and 3,400 and Inspired Francis Scott Key to Write The repulse of a British naval attack against this In mid-August the expeditionary force entered Fort McHenry fort in 1814 prevented the capture of Baltimore the Patuxent River with 20 warships and 3,400 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The troops. The British landed at Benedict, Md., and Star Spangled Banner " at the battle of Bladensburg on the 24th routed the American militia defending the capital. That evening the British entered Washington. The well-disciplined British army succeeded in de­ stroying government buildings and property, but it also greatly inflamed American bitterness against the British. From 1793 to 1815 England and France were engaged in a world war. Intent on crushing Because the Bay was considered unhealthy in each other, both countries confiscated American the late summer, Admiral Cochrane had merchant ships and cargoes in an attempt to planned to attack Washington, leave the Chesa­ prevent supplies from reaching the enemy, acts peake, and attack Rhode Island. He would then considered by many Americans as violations of move southward attacking vulnerable points their neutral rights. along the coast, including Baltimore, until he reached New Orleans. General Ross concurred The situation was made hotter by British im­ with this plan, but Admiral Cockburn urged pressment of American seamen and the de­ Cochrane to launch an immediate attack on mands of the "war hawks',' a group of southern Baltimore. The British force reembarked on and western congressmen who wanted the their ships at Benedict and set sail down the United States to expand into British Canada Bay. For some reason Cochrane changed his and Spanish Florida. The declaration of war on mind and decided to attack Baltimore. But to June 18, 1812, in order to preserve "Free Trade do so from the Chesapeake it was first neces­ and Sailors Rights," was carried by the war sary to seize Fort McHenry. On the morning of hawks. September 12 British troops landed at North Point and began their march toward the city. For two years the Americans were merely an En route the British discovered an uncompleted annoyance to the British, who could not devote defensive trench across their line of march. much effort against the United States until Ross realized the Americans were closer than Napoleon was defeated. In April 1814 Napoleon he had expected. At the Gorsuch farm Ross capitulated, and in August a British expedition­ interrogated some American prisoners, who ary force arrived in Bermuda. The ships' crews reported the strength of Gen. Samuel Smith's had been augmented with experienced sailors army, but said nothing about the 3d Brigade from the Mediterranean fleet and the army, under Gen. John Strieker at nearby Bear Creek. under Gen. Robert Ross, with seasoned vet­ erans from the Spanish campaigns. The British Strieker, however, knew Ross was coming and commander, Adm. Alexander Cochrane, had sent a detachment toward the Gorsuch house full authority to use his ships and soldiers as with orders to stop the British force. In the he saw fit, and he decided to attack Washing­ skirmish, the Americans were forced back, but ton. Negotiations for peace between England Ross was mortally wounded. Col. Arthur Brooke and the United States were about to begin at then assumed command and moved his troops Ghent, Belgium. Cochrane wanted to give the forward. Later that afternoon, in the battle of Americans "a complete drubbing" before North Point, he forced Strieker to retire. The peace was made to strengthen the British Americans retreated to a position near Balti­ bargaining position. more and the British camped for the night. National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland Rain fell almost continuously the next day and On the other hand, the Americans were frus­ throughout the night, as British forces prepared trated by the inability of their cannon to reach to resume operations against Baltimore. The the British. The defenders hung on, taking cover bomb vessels Terror, Meteor, Aetna, Devasta­ from the bombs and rockets and retaliating with tion, and Volcano, firing a heavy explosive shell an occasional gun fired at the British ships. from a mortar, and the rocket ship Erebus, Still, they had to be prepared to hold the fort employing the new Congreve rocket, took posi­ against the attack they felt was certain to come. tion about two miles from Fort McHenry. The remaining ships formed an arc, out of the range At midnight the attack began. The fleet intensi­ of the fort's guns. At first light an intensive bom­ fied the cannonade of Fort McHenry, and 20 bardment of Fort McHenry began. The British boats headed for Ferry Branch. But somehow, hoped the American defenders would panic, Shortly before midnight all was ready. The rain in the rain and dark, 11 boats became sepa­ evacuate the fort, and leave Baltimore defense­ made everyone miserable. Special care had to rated and headed toward Northwest Branch. less. be taken to keep the powder from getting wet The Americans believed this was a move to and making the guns useless. Sailors and capture the Lazaretto Battery and began to fire On the shore a British army of 3,300 men faced marines from the fleet rowed up Ferry Branch upon them. Realizing the error and the danger 15,000 Americans. Brooke, realizing that a toward Ridgely's Cove seeking their way around confronting them, the boats retired to the fleet. frontal attack could not be made on Baltimore, the batteries emplaced by the Americans to In the meantime the other boats moving into tried to move his troops under cover of the prevent such a foray. Meanwhile, the British Ferry Branch were detected by the batteries heavy rain to the north of the city. The attempt soldiers facing Rogers Bastion had to contend west of Whetstone Point: "and the heavens was discovered, and the Americans kept between with the mud as well as the rain and darkness. were lighted with flame, and all was continued the British and the city. explosion for about half By evening the British an hour. Having got this were before Rogers Bas­ taste of what was pre­ tion, the strong defensive pared for them (and it was position east of the city. a mere taste) the enemy precipitately retired with his remaining force, bat­ In the early evening Brooke tered and crippled, to his decided upon a night respectful distance. ." attack on the bastion. Be­ cause of the need for diversionary and protective By 2 a.m. the attack was fire, this enterprise re­ over. The British had quired the cooperation of failed to reduce the bas­ the fleet. Brooke arranged tion, neutralize the fort, with Admiral Cochrane for or capture the city. a feint by the navy toward For five more hours the Ridgely's Cove, just off ships continued to provide Ferry Branch. Boats car­ fire to cover the retreat of rying 1,200 men were to be the army to North Point. utilized for the feint, while In 25 hours of cannonade the vessels of the fleet the British expended were to reduce Rogers between 1,500 and Bastion. With the bastion 1,800 rounds at Fort Mc­ destroyed Baltimore could Henry, causing but four be attacked. The Bombardment of Fort McHenry deaths and 24 wounded. by Alfred Jacob Miller Courtesy The Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore. The tour of the fort and grounds begins at the" visitor center, where exhibits and a film depict The guardhouses ( ) on both sides of the en­ the history of the fort and the writing of "The trance date from 1835, and the cells, where Civil Star Spangled Banner." Numbers on the map War prisoners were held, from 1857. From one indicate other exhibits along the route. Audio of the five bastions ( ) you have a view of the stations around the fort are marked by stars Patapsco River, where the British fleet lay at anchor in 1814. A taped message here describes Opposite the visitor center is a statue of Maj. the fort's strategic importance. George Armistead, the commander of Fort Mc- Henry during the 1814 bombardment. ( ) You In a semi-circle around the parade ground are can also see the outlines of several original the several buildings that served as living quar­ service buildings. Along the trail to the fort, ters for the soldiers of the fort. The regular markers ( ) identify the site of an old tavern 60-man garrison was housed in the soldiers' and the 1814 road to Baltimore. barracks ( and ). These buildings, like the other quarters at the time of the bombardment, Fort McHenry itself, star-shaped with five bas­ were 1V2 stories high, with gabled roofs, dormer tions, follows a century-old French design. On windows, and no porches. They appear today your right as you approach the fort, the raised much as they did over a century ago. Each con­ mound ( ) is the remains of the dry moat that tains exhibits which help to explain the signifi­ originally encircled the fort and protected many cance of the fort. The first floor of the adjoining of its defenders during the bombardment. At building ( ) was junior officers'quarters. that time the moat was a little larger than it is today. The V-shaped outwork ( ) opposite the During the bombardment, the powder magazine fort entrance is a ravelin, which protected the ( ) was struck by a 186-pound British bomb entrance from direct attack. The underground which failed to explode. Later it was rebuilt and magazine was added after the battle. enlarged to its present size. The restored quar­ ters of the commanding officer ( ) were used The archway over the sally port ( ), through by Major Armistead as his headquarters.
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