|
Home::Reference & Education
The Story Of The Star Spangled Banner
Author : Daniel Goevert
The future of the young United States looked bleak as the summer of 1814 entered its final weeks. The “Second War for American Independence�, often called the “War of 1812�, had taken a perilous turn for the upstart Americans. On August 19, British warships sailed up Chesapeake Bay and captured Washington D.C. in only five days. President Madison and other government officials barely escaped the city before the Redcoats set fire to the US Capitol, the White House, and numerous public buildings. As if by divine intervention, a torrential rainstorm struck just in time to save the city from total destruction.
From Washington, the British planned a massive attack on Baltimore. Incidental to the events leading up to the assault, American physician William Beanes was taken prisoner by a British scout party. Fearing for his wellbeing, a few of the good doctorÂ’s friends sent a respected Georgetown lawyer named Francis Scott Key to negotiate his release. Once on board the British flagship, Key amiably persuaded the commanding officer to free Dr. Beanes, but because both Americans had observed preparations for the military operation against Baltimore, they were temporarily detained behind the British fleet.
At the mouth of BaltimoreÂ’s harbor sat Fort McHenry. No invasion force could take the city without passing by the imposing fortification. Knowing full well the British were coming, the determined Fort McHenry defenders unfurled an exceptionally large American flag, to proudly demonstrate their resolve. Sewn from the finest wools, the 30 foot by 42 foot banner was visible for miles.
At 7 oÂ’clock on the morning of September 13, 1814, the British naval bombardment of Fort McHenry commenced. The American garrison, personified by their enormous flag, stood ready to face the enemy. The fierce bombing continued all day, and into the night.
From a distance, Key anxiously witnessed the battle as the evening wore on. As long as the roar of cannons filled the air, he knew Fort McHenry had not surrendered. Occasionally, the red glare of deadly rockets illuminated the night, giving visual assurance the Stars and Stripes were still flying. A few hours after midnight, the shelling suddenly stopped, followed by an eerie, uncertain silence. Key nervously paced the ship deck, agonizing over who had won the battle. Visions of defeat dampened his spirit. If Fort McHenry had fallen, would this spell doom for the United States? Did this mean the end of the republicÂ’s grand experiment in ordered liberty?
Peering into the darkness for what seemed like an eternity, Key searched in vain for a sign to relieve his anxiety. Finally, the first glimmer of dawnÂ’s early light revealed a joyous sightÂ… the great Star-Spangled Banner gently blowing in the breezeÂ… proof that Fort McHenry remained secure in American hands!
Moved by the dramatic outcome, Key quickly composed a few lines of poetry on the back of an old letter. Later, in his Baltimore hotel room, he added several more stanzas under the title “Defence of Fort M’Henry�. Within a week, the poem appeared in print, and soon, newspapers from Georgia to New Hampshire were running with the verses. Eventually, the poem was accompanied by music and renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner�. The song enjoyed patriotic popularity for many years, but it wasn’t until March 3, 1931, that Key’s inspiration was officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Daniel J. Goevert is the webmaster of US Coin Values Advisor (www.us-coin-values-advisor.com), specializing in US coin value trends and coin collecting advice, plus an illustrated history of the US and the Mint. Be notified when new information posted. Copy this code into your RSS reader: www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/coin-values.xml
Related articles
|
More related feeds |
The+Story+Of+The+Star+Spangled+Bannerhttp://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch_feeds?hl=en&q=The+Story+Of+The+Star+Spangled+Banner&ui=blg&ie=utf-8&num=10&output=rsstemporarily... dysfunctional: The Star Spangled Banner - How SWEET ...
The Cactus Cuties singing our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, is now available for downloading from Cdbaby and Itunes. The Cactus Cuties, http://thecactuscuties.com, range in age from 8 to 13. ...» David Archuleta Star Spangled Banner 2004 DAVID ARCHULETA FAN SCENE
One Response to “David Archuleta Star Spangled Banner 2004”. David looked so adorable and professional. His voice is so peaceful. He makes me feel peace when I hear him sing. God bless him! Sandra DB - Venezuela said this on January 1st ... Indicador: Learn About the United States of America
American National AnthemThe Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States. Constitution of the United States and Treasured U.S. DocumentsLearn more about the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United ... The Story of the Star Spangled Banner
The account surrounding Francis Scott Key's writing of the Star-Spangled Banner is a fascinating story. We have just recorded a 7-minute video of that inspiring narrative and thought you might enjoy seeing it. You can click here to view ... Fans of David Archuleta » Possible new song? AOL Homepage!
What else can explain the fact that I bit my husband’s head clean off the other day when he dared to close my YouTube window with the Inaugural Star Spangled Banner queued up? This is wonderful news. David is lending his talent and ... ABC's 'Ugly Americans': Obnoxious George Bush Supporters ...
The “wife” was ridiculously rambunctious at every turn, and the “husband” began singing the “Star Spangled Banner” when their boat left its dock, and actually shouted “George Bush!”(why??) when posing for snapshots. ... NATIONAL ANTHEM! Star Spangled Banner!
have you ever heard the USA's national anthem? yes, the name of the anthem is "Star Spangled Banner" and its actually a very beautiful 'song'. heh. anyways, i have been really stressed out over my exams, and so i started looking for ... THE DAILY BANTER.COM: Money Owes No Allegiance
The corporate model is loyal only to shareholders and whether it’s the Star Spangled Banner or the International, their only anthem is the sound of jingling coins. The prospect of homeless, freezing Americans doesn’t mean a thing to ... Obama Citizenship Case (Donofrio) Set for Conference Before the ...
Schreiber posted a story concerning legal issues in my pending US Supreme Court case seeking to challenge the 2008 Presidential national election. Mr. Schreiber failed to even link to this blog. I have quoted selected erroneous ... Humanities Resource Center Online - Jerz's Literacy Weblog
Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary responds to the urban legend that his song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" is an extended metaphor for drug use. He then mockingly applies the critical lens of drug metaphors to The Star-Spangled Banner,. ...
|
|
|
