Part 11 (1/2)
They kept up a heavy bombardment until three o'clock in the afternoon.
”Armistead at once opened the batteries of Fort McHenry upon them, but, after keeping up a brisk fire for some time, discovered that his missiles fell short and were harmless. It was a great disappointment to find that he must endure the tremendous shower of the sh.e.l.ls of the enemy without being able to return it in kind, or do anything whatever to check it. But our brave fellows kept at their posts, enduring the storm with great courage and fort.i.tude.
”At length a bomb-sh.e.l.l dismounted one of the twenty-four pounders, killing Lieutenant Claggett and wounding several of his men. That caused some confusion, which Cochrane perceived, and, hoping to profit by it, he ordered three of his bomb-vessels to move up nearer the fort, thinking to thus increase the effectiveness of his guns.
”No movement could have been more acceptable to Armistead, and he quickly took advantage of it, ordering a general cannonade and bombardment from every part of the fort, thus punis.h.i.+ng the enemy so severely that in less than half an hour he fell back to his old anchorage.
”One of their rocket vessels was so badly injured that, to save her from being entirely destroyed, a number of small boats had to be sent to tow her out of the reach of Armistead's guns. The garrison gave three cheers and ceased firing.
”The British vessels returned to their former stations and again opened fire, keeping up, with very little intermission, a furious bombardment until past midnight, when it was discovered that they (the British) had sent a pretty large force up the Patapsco to capture Fort Covington, commanded by Lieutenant Newcomb, of the United States Navy, and the City Battery, then attack Fort McHenry in the rear. For this purpose there had been sent one thousand two hundred and fifty men in barges, with scaling ladders and other implements for storming the fort. But providentially their errand was made known to the garrison of Fort McHenry in good season by the throwing up of rockets to examine the sh.o.r.es, and not the fort alone but also two redoubts on the Patapsco immediately opened a heavy fire upon them, and drove them away.
”So heavy was the firing that the houses of Baltimore were shaken to their very foundations. Lossing tells us that Rodgers's men in Fort Covington worked their guns with effect, but to Webster's continuous cannonade with his six gun battery Armistead said he was persuaded the country was much indebted for the final repulse of the enemy. The historian adds that he thinks it not too much to say that Webster's gallant conduct on that occasion saved both Fort McHenry and the city.”
”Were any of the British killed, sir?” asked Walter.
”Yes, a large number; also two of their vessels were sunk.”
”And did they go on firing at the fort?”
”They did, until seven o'clock in the morning of the 14th, then ceased entirely.”
”Oh, papa, you have not told us of the writing of the 'Star-Spangled Banner'!” exclaimed Lulu. ”Wasn't it that night it was written?”
”Yes; by Mr. Francis S. Key, a resident of Georgetown in the District of Columbia, who was at that time a volunteer in the light artillery commanded by Major Peter.
”When the British returned to their vessels after the capture of Was.h.i.+ngton, they carried with them Dr. Beanes, a well known physician of Upper Marlborough. c.o.c.kburn carried him away on board the flag-s.h.i.+p of Admiral Cochrane, in spite of the intercession of his friends.
”Then Mr. Key was entreated by the friends to go to Cochrane and intercede for the doctor's release. Key consented, obtained permission of the President, and went under a flag of truce in the cartel s.h.i.+p _Minden_ in company with General Skinner.
”When they reached the British fleet it was at the mouth of the Potomac, preparing to attack Baltimore, and though Cochrane agreed to release Dr.
Beanes, he refused to let him or his friends return then. They were placed on board the _Surprise_ and courteously treated. The fleet sailed up to the Patapsco, and they were transferred to their own vessel, but with a guard of marines to prevent them from landing and communicating with their friends and countrymen.
”Their vessel was anch.o.r.ed in sight of Fort McHenry, and from her deck the Americans watched the fight, oh, so anxiously! and though it was, as I have said, over before midnight, those anxious watchers did not know until morning how it had ended--whether by surrender of the fort, or the abandonment on the part of the enemy of the attempt to take it. It was with very anxious hearts they waited for the coming of the dawn, but at last, in the dim light, as the day began to break, their eyes were gladdened by the sight, through their gla.s.ses directed toward Fort McHenry, of the beautiful stars and stripes 'still there,' and to their great joy they soon learned that the attack on Baltimore had failed, that Ross was killed, and the British were returning to their vessels.
”It was while pacing the deck during the bombardment, full of anxiety for the result, that Mr. Key composed that song so dear to the American heart, 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'”
”Oh, let us sing it!” exclaimed Lulu, and with one consent, patriotic enthusiasm swelling in every breast, they did so, the voices of old and young uniting in the soul-stirring words.
”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 rockets' 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?
”On that sh.o.r.e dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam Of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now s.h.i.+nes in the stream; 'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
”And where are the foes who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war, and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution; No refuge could save The hireling and slave, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave; And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
”Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!