Thursday, September 11, 2008

From Janell

(This is kind of a rerun, but I like this story.)

September 14th is an important American anniversary.

Baltimore, MD

On the morning of September 3, 1814, a young lawyer from Georgetown, PA and his friend, Colonel Skinner found themselves sailing seaward towards an enemy ship which held Prisoners of War. In the lawyer’s briefcase were a number of letters he hoped to use to retain the release of one of those prisoners, Dr. William Beanes, who had been arrested and taken captive in the previous weeks. The British army intended to try and hang the doctor for treason. The trial and execution would have to wait, however, until after they had successfully invaded Baltimore by land and Ft. McHenry by sea. The letters the lawyer was bearing were from enemy Prisoners of War who had been injured in the fighting and subsequently treated by Upper Marlboro’s beloved physician. Their letters testified to the humane treatment they had received at his hands and expressed their hopes that he would be released. It took the two men until September 10th to locate the ship on which Dr. Beanes was being held and the rest of the day to negotiate his release with the British officers. It was near sunset by the time the British agreed to let Dr. Beanes go. The three men were not allowed to leave, however, because it was feared they had seen and heard too much regarding the impending attacks on Baltimore and Ft. McHenry. They were placed on the sailboat, under guard and forced to wait out the attack and watch the battle that would surely spell doom not only for Baltimore and Ft. McHenry, but endangered the new United States as well.

The bombardment began on the morning of September 13 and would continue for 25 hours. Approximately 1500 bombshells weighing 220 pounds each were lit and launched toward the city. However, some of the fuses were too short and the shells would explode in mid air long before they reached the target. In addition to the bombshells, the British fired their newest weapons; Congreve rockets, which traced arcs of red flame across the sky. The attack was halted at sunset, but began again around 1 AM on September 14.

The three friends waited anxiously, watching the flames and the explosions. A few hours later, the ships in the sea around them fell silent. Our lawyer, Colonel Skinner and Dr. Beanes waited anxiously for the sun to rise so they could determine why the firing had stopped. From their vantage point they would have a clear view of Ft. McHenry and would be able to see whose flag was flying over it.

When the sun finally broke the horizon, the three rejoiced to see that the Stars and Stripes still flew. Having lost 22 vessels, the British were retreating. It was then that our lawyer, Francis Scott Key, took up his pen and wrote:

“Oh say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

I believe it still does. Do you?




Additional info: The flag which flew over Ft. McHenry was commissioned by its commander, Major George Armistead in 1813. He wanted a flag “so big the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance.” A local flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill and her 13 year old daughter Caroline made the flag using 400 yards of fabric. The finished banner measured 30 by 42 feet. Each of the 15 stars measured two feet from point to point. It cost $405.90.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Janell!

Sue said...

I did remember to fly my flag yesterday in memory of 9-11.

Janell said...

Thanks, Joe!

Sue - I'm ashamed that I don't own a flag for flying on holidays. I'm hoping to rectify that soon.

Anonymous said...

It was great to see all the flags on 9-11-08! I'm having a lot of fun reading your poems and checking out your Ruby Tuesday each week.

Brooke said...

So beautiful! Thanks for the post...and yes, I DO believe!

Blessings,

Cliff said...

Thanks Janell, that was great.

Ralph said...

What a great, great post.
Thank You
Ralph

Scarlet said...

This gave me chills. Seriously. What a wonderful story for today, September 14th. :)

eyes_only4him said...

ya no whats funny, my 8 year old daughter knew it was the annivesary of the writing of the song and I had no idea...

I have a flag pole, a big freakin pole in the backyard, it was here when we moved in...but I have no flag..

Janell said...

Hi Iris! Thanks for stopping in. It's always good to hear from you.

Brooke; thanks - good for you!

Thanks, Cliff and Ralph. I apprecaite your visits.

Scarlet; Chills? Wow. That is a good story. Are you working on getting a pic of your hair to post on Ruby Tuesday?

Momma; I'm glad to know Blondie knew this date. She's been paying attention in those History classes. We need to work on getting you a flag for that pole.

Jamie Dawn said...

Great story!
May our flag fly proudly!!!!
I love when I see a BIG American flag flowing in the breeze.