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Battle of Baltimore

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	Topics Battle of Baltimore Topic Home In the Battle of Baltimore, one of the turning points in the War of 1812War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and Britain and its colonies in British North America from ... , AmericanUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... forces warded off a BritishUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland \| align="center" colspan="2"\| United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland... sea invasion of the busy port city of Baltimore, MarylandMaryland Maryland , is a Mid-Atlantic state located on the East Coast of the United States and is classified by the U.S.... . The American defense of Baltimore’s Fort McHenryFort McHenry Summary Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defend... in this battle inspired Francis Scott KeyFrancis Scott Key Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer and amateur poet who wrote the words to the United States national anthem, "The St... to compose the poem which would become the national anthem of the United States: "The Star-Spangled BannerThe Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America, with lyrics written in 1814 by Francis S... ." Background On August 24, 1814, the British ArmyBritish Army The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces.... had overrun confused American defenders at the Battle of BladensburgBattle of Bladensburg The Battle of Bladensburg was a battle fought during the War of 1812.... and marched into the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America.... . After burning and lootingBurning of Washington Overview The Burning of Washington is the name given to the razing of Washington, D.C., by British forces during the War of 1812.... major public buildings there and forcing President James MadisonJames Madison James Madison was the fourth President of the United States.... to flee to Brookeville, MarylandBrookeville, Maryland Brookeville is a town located two miles north of Olney in northeastern Montgomery County, Maryland, which was formally incor... , they turned their attention north to Baltimore, where they hoped to strike a knockout blow against the demoralized Americans. Baltimore was a busy port and was thought by the British to harbor many of the privateers who were raiding British shipping. The British planned a combined operation, with Major-General Robert RossFacts About Robert Ross (general) Robert Ross was a British army officer who participated in the Napoleonic War and the War of 1812.... launching a land attack at North Point, and Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander CochraneAlexander Cochrane Overview Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars.... laying siege to Fort McHenry, which was the point defensive installation in Baltimore HarborFacts About Inner Harbor The Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmar... . Battle North Point The British landed a force of 5,000 troops who marched toward Baltimore and first met heavy resistance at The Battle of North PointBattle of North Point The Battle of North Point was fought on September 12, 1814.... which was fought only 3 kilometers from the city. The city’s defenses, under the command of Major GeneralMajor General Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries.... Samuel Smith, an officer of the MarylandMaryland Maryland , is a Mid-Atlantic state located on the East Coast of the United States and is classified by the U.S.... MilitiaMilitia A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service.... , blunted the British advance. Therefore the British army halted their advance and awaited the results of the sea campaign. Fort McHenry At Fort McHenry, some 1,000 soldiers under the command of MajorFacts About Major Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country.... George ArmisteadGeorge Armistead George Armistead born in Newmarket, Caroline County, Virginia is noted for being the Commander of Fort McHenry during the Ba... awaited the British naval bombardment. Their defense was augmented by the sinking of a line of American merchant ships at the adjacent entrance to Baltimore Harbor in order to further thwart the passage of British ships. The attack began in the evening of September 13, as the British fleet of some nineteen ships began pounding the fort with Congreve rocketCongreve rocket Overview The Congreve Rocket was a British weapon designed by William Congreve in 1804.... s (from rocket vesselRocket vessel A rocket vessel was a ship equipped with rockets as a weapon.... HMS ErebusHMS Erebus (1807) HMS Erebus was a Royal Navy rocket vessel built in 1807, converted to an 18-gun sloop in 1808, to a fire ship in 1809, a... ) and mortarMortar (weapon) A mortar is a muzzle-loading artillery piece that fires indirect shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing bal... shells (from bomb vesselBomb vessel Summary A bomb vessel, bomb ship, bomb ketch, or simply bomb was a type of wooden sailing naval ship.... s HMS TerrorHMS Terror (1813) HMS Terror was a bomb vessel designed by Sir Henry Peake and constructed by the Royal Navy in the Davy shipyard in Topsh... , HMS VolcanoHMS Volcano Overview HMS Volcano was one of the Royal Navy bomb vessels involved in the attack on Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore dur... , HMS Meteor, HMS DevastationHMS Devastation (1804) HMS Devastation was an 8-gun Royal Navy bomb vessel purchased in 1804 and sold in 1816.... , and HMS AetnaHMS Aetna (1803) HMS Aetna was one of the Royal Navy bomb vessels involved in the attack on Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore and t... ). After an initial exchange of fire, the British fleet withdrew to just beyond the range of Fort McHenry’s cannons and continued to bombard the American redoubtRedoubt A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort.... s for the next 25 hours. Although 1,500 to 1,800 cannonballs were launched at the fort, damage was minimal. After nightfall, Cochrane ordered a landing to be made by small boats to the shore just west of the fort, away from the harbor opening on which the fort’s defense was concentrated. He hoped that the landing party might slip past Fort McHenry and draw Smith’s army away from the main British land assault on the city’s eastern border. Operating in darkness and in foul weather, the diversionary attack failed. On the morning of September 14, the × 42 ft oversized American flagStar Spangled Banner Flag The Star Spangled Banner Flag is the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion ... , which had been made a few months before by local flagmaker Mary Pickersgill and her 13 year old daughter, flew over Fort McHenry, and Cochrane and Brooke knew that victory had eluded them. Aftermath An American lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott KeyFrancis Scott Key Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer and amateur poet who wrote the words to the United States national anthem, "The St... , was on a mercy mission for the release of Dr. William Beanes, a prisoner of the British. Key showed the British letters from wounded British officers praising the care they received from Dr. Beanes. The British agreed to release Beanes, but Key and Beanes had to stay with the British until the attack on Baltimore was over. Key watched the proceedings from a truce ship in the Patapsco RiverPatapsco River The Patapsco is a river in central and coastal Maryland.... . On the morning of the 14th, Key saw the American flag waving above Fort McHenry. Inspired, he began jotting down verses on the back of a letter he was carrying. He composed the words to an old British drinking song, "To Anacreon in HeavenTo Anacreon in Heaven "To Anacreon in Heaven" was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, a club of amateur musicians in London who gathered... ." When Key reached Baltimore, his poem was printed on pamphlets by the Baltimore AmericanBaltimore News-American The *Baltimore News-American* was the Hearst Corporation newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland, and the final competitor to the... . His poem was originally called "Defence of Ft. McHenry." The song eventually became known as "The Star-Spangled BannerThe Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America, with lyrics written in 1814 by Francis S... ." Congress made it the National AnthemNational anthem A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and s... in 1931. Colonel Brooke’s troops withdrew, and Admiral Cochrane’s fleet sailed off to regroup before his next assault on America at New Orléans, LouisianaBattle of New Orleans The Battle of New Orlans, also known as the Battle of Chalmette Plantation, took place on January 8, 1815, at the end ... . Armistead was soon promoted to lieutenant colonelLieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine corps and air forces of the world, typica... . Much weakened by the arduous preparations for the battle, he died at age 38, only three years after the battle. The battle is commemorated in the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. See also War of 1812War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and Britain and its colonies in British North America from ... List of conflicts in the United StatesList of conflicts in the United States List of conflicts in the United States is a timeline of events that includes wars, battles, skirmishes, major terrorist atta... External links