history of the star spangled banner song

Is the flag still there? Can you see it? Is the flag still there? The storm flag was no longer flying atop the 90 foot flag pole, it had been replaced by the much larger garrison flag to signify to the British and to the Americans that indeed, our flag was still there. As the dawn’s early light slowly arrived, the fort could once again be seen in the haze of the morning sun. The three men, tired and sick with worry, once again huddled at the edge of the rail. It would be a handful of agonizing and weary hours until the sun made its appearance over the eastern horizon, its first beams pointed west toward the fort.

Did the British stop bombing because they gave up? Did they stop because the fort has fallen? Is the flag still there? The three men were worried more than ever at this point. With only a quarter moon hanging in the sky, there was only enough light to provide hope of seeing the American flag. The only sounds that could be heard were the waves lapping against the side of their boat. Every now and then, a bomb would explode near enough to it that they could catch a fleeting glimpse of the storm flag still flying, tattered from the attack.Įarly on the next morning, the bombardment stopped.

Key, Skinner and Beanes could only watch, pacing the deck of the ship in worry and concern.Īs nightfall approached they would stay pressed to the edge of the ship, straining to see the stars and stripes flying proudly above the fort. The shelling of the fort continued for 25 straight hours. The original flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, inspiring Key, is now preserved in the Smithsonian Museum.Īs the rain continued to come down, the smaller storm flag was still being flown. Flag to have more than 13 stripes, and it is immortalized in Francis Scott Key's national anthem. Its two additional stars represented the admission of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792). This flag, known as the Star Spangled Banner, was adopted on May 1, 1795. The fort was helpless against the powerful British attack. Key and his two friends could only watch as the last major defense of Baltimore was blasted with nearly 2,000 bombs and rockets. 13, 1814 not long after midnight, the bombardment began. They were transferred to a truce ship and there they would remain for the battle of Fort McHenry.

The three men, having heard of these plans, were not allowed to leave until the bombardment was over for fear that they would warn their countrymen. Having failed to take the fort by land earlier in the week, the British decided to soften it up by sea and readied their warships for a bombardment. His release, though, would not be immediate. It took an entire week for the two men to negotiate for Beanes’ freedom. In early September 1814, as the British forces moved toward Baltimore, Key and the government agent sailed out under a flag of truce and boarded the ship where Beanes was being held. government liaison agent named William Skinner to negotiate Beanes’ release. After being captured and taken prisoner, his friends pleaded with a young Baltimore attorney named Francis Scott Key as well as a U.S. Along their march they took many leading citizens prisoner and kept them aboard the British warships which were sailing up the Chesapeake toward Baltimore.Īmong those citizens was Dr.

The British forces then pushed northward, to Baltimore, which was at that time the third most populous city in America and a major port of trade.

History of the star spangled banner song