by Steve Vogel
Several prisoners Arnold, “The Battle of Bladensburg,” 161; Ingersoll, Historical Sketch, vol. 2, 214; John T. Silkett, Francis Scott Key and the History of the Star-Spangled Banner, 24; Taney narrative, 20.
“the most marked kindness,” Codrington, Aug. 28, in Bourchier, ed., Codrington, 328.
At his home on Bridge Street Taney narrative, 19.
“Polly goes up” Key to John Ross Key, copy in FSK vertical file, HSF, original at Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Columbia University.
To his mother Mullaly, “A Forgotten Letter of Francis Scott Key.”
Early the next morning Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 242; Weybright, Spangled Banner, 2; Smith, First Forty Years, 118; Eleanor Jones to William Jones, Sept. 1, William Jones Papers, HSP, copy at NHHC; Sam Meyer, “Religion, Patriotism and Poetry in the Life of Francis Scott Key,” MdHM, 1989, 274.
POTOMAC RIVER, MORNING, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
By Saturday morning Rodgers to Jones, Sept. 3, NW III, 247; Rodgers to Jones, NW III, Sept. 9, NW III, 257; Herrick, August 24, 1814, 172.
Below Alexandria Napier, Admiral Sir Charles Napier, 84; Gordon to Cochrane, Sept. 9, NW III 240.
Rodgers found Alexandria Rodgers to Jones, Sept. 9, NW III, 258; Rodgers to Jones, Sept. 3, NW III, 247.
CHESAPEAKE BAY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Cochrane intended to return Cochrane to Melville, Sept. 3, NW III, 269.
Ross, for his part Smith, Autobiography, 204–206.
3. Iphigenia’s departure Cochrane to Croker, Sept. 3, London Gazette, Extraordinary, Sept. 27.
Ross accompanied Smith Maguire, “Major General Ross and the Burning of Washington,” 120; Smith, Autobiography, 207.
BALTIMORE, MORNING, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Francis Scott Key arrived Skinner to Mason, Sept. 2, 5, NARA RG 45.
“Under existing circumstances” Skinner to Monroe, Sept. 2, Misc. Letters of the Department of State, NARA RG 59, M179, Roll 30.
Skinner leased a sloop-rigged Ralph J. Robinson, “The Men with Key: New Facts in the National Anthem Story,” Baltimore, September 1956, 35; Ralph J. Robinson, “Mystery of Key’s Vessel Nears Solution,” Baltimore, January 1955, 35; Skinner account, Dec. 8, 1813, Spratt Collection, Box 1, Part 2, MdHS; Manakee, “Anthem Born in Battle,” in Filby and Howard, comps., Star-Spangled Books, 31. Contrary to many accounts repeating an old error, the ship was not Minden.
Women rolled bandages Frank A. Cassell, “A Response to Crisis: Baltimore in 1814,” MdHM, 1971.
Yet Samuel Smith Mullaly “The Battle of Baltimore,” 74; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 278–80; Marine, British Invasion, 145.
The War Department did Monroe to Madison, Sept. 3, Monroe, Writings of James Monroe, vol. 5, 291.
“I have no order” Winder to Monroe, Sept. 4, Winder Papers, MS 919, MdHS.
John Armstrong was also Stagg, Mr. Madison’s War, 421–22; Armstrong letter to Baltimore Patriot, Sept. 3, in Williams, History of the Invasion, 102.
“He is gone” Brant, James Madison, 315; Skeen, John Armstrong, 201–203.
Monroe was now Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 203; CRG, 265; Ammon, James Monroe, 337, 342.
“[T]hat it will soon” Monroe to Joseph Bloomfield, Sept. 4, RG 107; Letters Sent by the Secretary of War, vol. 7, pp. 294–95, copy at NHHC; Stagg, Mr. Madison’s War, 428.
CHESAPEAKE BAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Aboard Tonnant Brooke diary, Sept. 4, 305.
“The commander in chief Tonnant Memo Book, Codrington papers, 6/3, NMM.
“Further operations” Scott, Recollections, 330–31; Rowley, “Captain Robert Rowley,” 250.
PATAPSCO RIVER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
“We are now on our” Skinner to Mason, Sept. 5, NARA RG 45.
After the letter was posted Robinson, “The Men with Key,” 37.
Skinner was “a man” Weybright, Spangled Banner, 114.
The twenty-six-year-old Skinner Benjamin Perley Poore, “Biographical Notice of John S. Skinner,” The Plough, the Loom and the Anvil, vol. 7, 2–3; Dietz, “The Use of Cartel Vessels, 193.
“tact and persuasive manners” Skinner, “Incidents,” 341.
WHITE HOUSE LANDING, NOON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
After three days Gordon to Cochrane, Sept. 9, NW III, 241; Napier, Admiral Sir Charles Napier, 85; Anna Thornton diary, Sept. 5, 180.
The battle on the Potomac Porter to Jones, Sept. 9, NW III, 256; Thomas Brown, “An Account of the Lineage of the Brown Family,” Ambler-Brown Family Papers, Manuscript Department, William R. Perkins Library, Duke University, copy at NHHC, 12; CRG, 265.
The British attempted a landing Henry Newcomb to Rodgers, Sept. 5, Series 3B, vol. 8, Rodgers Family Papers, LOC, copy in NHHC; Herrick, August 24, 1814, 167.
On the bluffs above Brown, “An Account of the Lineage of the Brown Family,” 16–17.
“I determined not” Porter to Jones, Sept. 9, NW III, 254.
But the British still had to contend John S. Gallaher, Sept. 5, 1856, in Williams, History of the Invasion, 370; Napier, Admiral Sir Charles Napier, 85–86.
“notwithstanding the dreadful” CRG, 266.
Across the river Napier, Admiral Sir Charles Napier, 85; Gordon to Cochrane, Sept. 9, NW III, 241.
But appearances aside Monroe to Barbour, Sept. 6, in H. W. Flournoy, ed., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts, vol. 10, 385; Perry to Jones, Sept. 9, NW III, 256.
Over the course of five Porter to Jones, Sept. 9, NW III, 256.
“behaved remarkably” Napier, Admiral Sir Charles Napier, 85.
CHAPTER 13: The Town Must Be Burned
CHESAPEAKE BAY, MORNING, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
George Cockburn had resigned CMS, 138; Scott, Recollections, 331.
Cochrane had learned Cochrane to Croker, Sept. 17, NW III, 286; Scott Sheads, “Equinoctial Storms over the Chesapeake, Summer 1814,” Maryland in the War of 1812 blog, http://maryland1812.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/equinoctial-storms-over-the-chesapeake-summer-1814/trackback/.
Menelaus arrived Tuesday Journal of Pulteney Malcolm, Sept. 7, ADM 51/87, NAUK, copy in NHHC; Parker to Cochrane, Aug. 30, NW III, 233.
That same day, the fleet Evans memorandum, Sept. 7, NLS, 19.
Cochrane relented Cochrane to Croker, Sept. 17, NW III, 286.
“extremely urged” Cochrane to Melville, Sept. 17, NW III, 289.
Rear Admiral Codrington Codrington, Sept. 13, in Bourchier, ed., Codrington, 320.
Aboard Albion, CMS, 138–39.
MOUTH OF THE POTOMAC, AFTERNOON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
As the American sloop Malcolm to Mason, Sept. 6, 138, and Malcolm to Cochrane, Sept. 6, 139, Malcolm Letter Book, Sir Pulteney Malcolm Papers, MAL/106, NMM.
But around noon Taney narrative, 20; Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 242, 245.
At 2:10 p.m. Log of Tonnant, Sept. 7, War of 1812 Collection, MdHS.
The Americans arrived James, Naval History of Great Britain, 188.
“was the prime mover” Skinner to Mason, Oct. 7, Spratt Collection, Box 1, Part 1, MdHS.
When Key mentioned Taney narrative, 20.
The Americans were soon summoned Skinner, “Incidents,” 342–43.
a “vagabond” Cockburn to Cochrane, July 17, NW III, 136.
“most painful” Cochrane to Mason, Sept. 7, Mason to Cochrane, Sept. 27, and Cochrane to Mason, March 1815, David Porter and David Dixon Porter Papers, UM, transcripts at NHHC.
One man remained quiet Skinner, “Incidents,” 343.
“the Americans behaved” Gleig diary, Sept. 10, 168.
Speaking with Key Taney narrative, 21–22; Delaplaine, Francis Scott Key, 158.
“purely in proof” Ross to Mason, Sept. 7, NARA RG 45.
“was not put to the test” Skinner, “Incidents,” 343.
Early the next morning Ibid., 346; Taney narrative, 21; Skinner to Mason, Oct. 7, Spratt Collection, Box 1, Part 1, MdHS.
The ten-man American crew 1929 review “re Messrs K
ey and Skinner,” War of 1812 Collection, MdHS.
Captain Gordon’s squadron Codrington to Jane Codrington, Sept. 10, NW III, 271; Log of Tonnant, Sept. 8 and 9, War of 1812 Collection, MdHS.
“All our ships” Log of Albion, Sept. 9, copy in Tangier History Museum.
“In short it is nothing” Codrington to Jane Codrington, Sept. 10, NW III, 271.
“a most venturesome” Theodore Roosevelt, The Naval War of 1812, 292.
At least two days NW III, 238; O’Neill, “The Potomac Squadron.”
At 11 a.m. Friday Log of Albion, Sept. 9, Tangier; Journal of Pulteney Malcolm, Sept. 7, ADM 51/87, NAUK, copy in NHHC; Lossing, Pictorial Field-book, 941.
The Potomac battle over Paullin, “Services of Commodore John Rodgers,” 505; Whitehorne, Battle for Baltimore, 167; Schroeder, Commodore John Rodgers, 138.
“Forts, redoubts” Rodgers to Murray, Sept. 9, NW III, 263.
BALTIMORE, MORNING, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
At Fort McHenry George Armistead to Louisa Armistead, Sept. 10, War of 1812 Collection, MdHS.
Armistead, the coolheaded Scott Sumpter Sheads, Guardian of the Star-Spangled Banner: Lt. Colonel George Armistead and the Fort McHenry Flag, vii, 4, 6–8, 49.
With Armistead’s blessing Scott Sheads, “ ‘Yankee Doodle Played’: A Letter from Baltimore, 1814,” MdHM, Winter 1981, 380–82.
The handsome and dashing Nicholson Scott S. Sheads, “Joseph Hopper Nicholson: Citizen-Soldier of Maryland,” MdHM, Summer 2003, 141,145; Filby, and Howard, Star-Spangled Books, 18.
Elected to the House Sheads, “Joseph Hopper Nicholson,” 137–38.
“We should have to fight” Ibid., 144.
“Good God!” Nicholson to Jones, Aug. 28, William Jones Papers, HSP, copy at NHHC; Sheads, “Joseph Hopper Nicholson,” 146.
CHESAPEAKE BAY, AFTERNOON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Along the coast Gleig, Narrative of the Campaigns, 165; [Barrett], “Naval Recollections of the Late American War,” part 1, 461.
Watching from the cupola Nathaniel Hickman, The Citizen Soldiers at North Point and Fort McHenry, September 12 & 13, 1814, 72; Newcomb to Rodgers, Sept. 18, NW III, 292; Cassell, “A Response to Crisis,” 279–80.
Around dusk, lookouts Sheads, “Yankee Doodle,” 380.
At Fort McHenry Saturday Armistead to Monroe, Sept. 24, NW III 302.
In town, Captain Nicholson Sheads, “Yankee Doodle,” 380–81.
BALTIMORE, MORNING, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
An odd calm Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 251; Marine, British Invasion, 147; Sheads, Rockets’ Red Glare, 81.
The speed Swanson, Perilous Fight, 288, 292.
Church bells Whitehorne, Battle for Baltimore, 175.
“My brethren” Marine, British Invasion, 147.
Samuel Smith’s plan Mullaly, “The Battle of Baltimore,” 70; Cassell, “A Response to Crisis,” 279–81.
Smith had chosen his best Ibid., 281; Smith to Monroe, Sept. 9, NW III, 294; Williams, “The Rock of North Point,” 13; Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 253.
Brigadier General John Stricker “Battle of North Point, 1814,” Defenders Day booklet, 1990, Maryland Museum of Military History, Archives and Research Center; John Stricker, Jr., “General John Stricker,” MdHM, September 1914; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 297; George, Terror, 16; Frederick M. Colston, “The Battle of North Point,” MdHM, 1907.
By 3 p.m., Stricker Whitehorne, Battle for Baltimore, 176; Colston, “The Battle of North Point,” 113; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 300–302.
Around 8 p.m., Stricker reached Cassell, Merchant Congressman, 196, 205–206; Cassell, “A Response to Crisis,” 281; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 317–18.
Stricker pushed the Baltimore Stricker to Smith, Sept. 15, Brannan, Official Letters, 420; George, Terror, 136.
“We lay that night” John McHenry to John McHenry, Sept. 20, War of 1812 Collection, MdHS (hereafter McHenry letter); Sheads, Fort McHenry, 6–7.
WASHINGTON, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
On Saturday, Madison and Monroe “Protection of the District,” NI, Sept. 12; CCW, 587; Berg, Grand Avenues, 230.
An attack on Baltimore “The Enemy at Baltimore!,” NI, Sept. 12.
PATAPSCO RIVER, EVENING, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Cockburn and Ross were not long Gleig, Subaltern, 108–10; Morriss, Cockburn and the British Navy, 110; Cassell, “A Response to Crisis,” 279; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 320.
“With an uncommonly favorable” Skinner, “Incidents,” 344.
All day, British ships Swanson, Perilous Fight, 320; Malcolm journal, Sept. 11, ADM 51/87, NAUK, copy in NHHC; CSM, 139.
At 7 p.m., Cockburn and Ross Log of Albion, Sept. 11, Tangier; Battalion Order Book, 1814, 3rd Battalion Royal Marines, B1/208, RMM.
Francis Scott Key watched “At a Political Meeting,” in [Key], Poems of the Late Francis Scott Key (hereafter Key Frederick speech), 197; Cochrane to Brooke, Sept. 12, NW III, 276.
“Never was man” Key to Randolph, Oct. 5, Howard Papers, MdHS.
“Ah, Mr. Skinner” Skinner, “Incidents,” 347; Taney narrative, 24.
Key, Skinner, and Beanes 1929 review “re Messrs Key and Skinner,” War of 1812 Collection, MdHS; Robinson, “The Men with Key.”
“To make my feelings” Key to Randolph, Oct. 5, Howard Papers, MdHS.
CHAPTER 14: THE BATTLE FOR BALTIMORE
An unworldly calm Gleig, Narrative of the Campaigns, 168–69; Lossing, Pictorial Field-book, 950.
But around 3 a.m. Gleig diary, 168; Mullaly “The Battle of Baltimore,” 82.
“Though no enemy” Major Peter Bowlby memoir, 2002-02-729, National Army Museum, 18.
Ross and Cockburn landed CMS, 140; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 327.
All told, some 4,700 British Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 256–57; John McNish Weiss, “The Corps of Colonial Marines: Black freedom fighters of the War of 1812,” http://www.mcnishandweiss.co.uk/history/colonialmarines.html.
Even Royal Marine Major Mortimer Timpson Timpson journal, 36, RMM.
With the beach secure Mullaly, “Battle of Baltimore,” 83; Brooke diary, 310.
As the army advanced Cochrane to Croker, Sept. 17, NW III, 286.
“As we proceeded” [Barrett], “Naval Recollections of the Late American War,” part 1, 462.
Aboard Tonnant Codrington, in Bourchier, ed., Codrington, 319–20.
METHODIST MEETING HOUSE, 7 A.M., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Cavalry scouts Stricker to Smith, Sept. 15, Brannan, Official Letters, 420; Mullaly, “Battle of Baltimore,” 84; Whitehorne, Battle for Baltimore, 179.
The Baltimore Rifle Stricker to Smith, Sept. 15, Brannan, Official Letters, 420; Baltimore City Archives, RG 22, War of 1812 Records.
At a cavalry outpost Author visit, Todd House, Oct. 3, 2009; Scott S. Sheads, “Defending Baltimore in the War of 1812: Two Sidelights,” MdHM, Fall 1989, 256.
Sailing Master George La Roche Sheads, Rockets’ Red Glare, 84–85; Lord, Dawn’s Early Light, 272.
At noon, John Hewes John Hewes to Edward Hewes, Sept. 12, War of 1812 Collection, MdHS; Richard J. Cox, “ ‘The Truth Is, However, Bad Enough’: A Rediscovered Letter Relating to the Origins of Our National Anthem,” Manuscripts, Spring 1975.
GORSUCH FARM, 8 A.M., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Moving swiftly from North Gleig, Narrative of the Campaigns, 171; Gleig, Subaltern, 119–20; Whitehorne, Battle for Baltimore, 179; Scott, Recollections, 333.
“But they are mainly militia” Marine, British Invasion, 150; “Attack Upon Baltimore,” NWR.
At the landing beach Brooke diary, Sept. 12, 310.
“one of the hottest” Robyns journal, Sept. 12, 150, RMM.
“No,” Ross is said William George Hawkins, The Life of John H. W. Hawkins, 9. Samuel Martin, a surgeon with the City Brigade, reported hearing Gorsuch tell the story a few days later. Hickey, Don’t Give Up the Ship! 85.
AMERICAN CAMP, METHODIST MEETING HOUSE, 11 A.M., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
S
tricker, learning that Stricker to Smith, Sept. 15, Brannan, Official Letters, 420; Swanson, Perilous Fight, 365, 367–68.
About 70 riflemen Hickman, The Citizen Soldiers at North Point and Fort McHenry, September 12 & 13, 1814, 72.
In contrast to the vivid [Spencer H. Cone], Some Account of the Life of Spencer H. Cone, 124.
“tall, slender of emaciated” Henry Clay McComas, The McComas Saga: A Family History Down to the Year 1950, Maryland Museum of Military History.
At 1 p.m., the task force Ibid.
GODLEY WOOD, EARLY AFTERNOON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
General Ross was no Evans, Facts, 16; Mullaly “The Battle of Baltimore,” 85.
The Americans opened up CMS, 141; Cockburn to Cochrane, Sept. 15; Gleig diary, 12 Sept., 168.
Ross grew concerned Gleig, Subaltern, 121; Barrett, 85th King’s Light Infantry, 179.
Reaching the crest CSM, 192; Lossing, Pictorial Field-book, 964; Scott, Recollections, 334; Marine, British Invasion, 192.
Major Heath’s skirmishers Buzz Chriest, Defenders Trail, 7; Stricker to Smith, Sept. 15, Brannan, Official Letters, 421; McHenry letter, MdHS.
Heath ordered Marine, British Invasion, 193; Curtis Carroll Davis, Defenders Dozen, 19.
Aisquith’s riflemen [Cone,] Some Account of the Life of Spencer H. Cone, 125; McComas, The McComas Saga; Lossing, Pictorial Field-book, 951.
The shot that hit Ross Cockburn to Rev. Thomas Ross, Sept. 17, D/2004/1A/4, PRONI; George, Terror, 138.
“My arm is broken” Ross papers, misc. newspaper clippings, 1:19, 1:14, GWU; Crofton letter, Aug. 7, 1815, D/2004/1A/4/16, PRONI; Marine, British Invasion, 192.
A soldier ran to Cockburn Skinner, “Incidents,” 344.