Weekend Post/ Song

The Battle That Led to the Writing of "The Star Spangled Banner"

For those who need a refresher in the history surrounding the anthem, it was written during the war of 1812, a particularly brutal and nasty conflict with the British. The capital building, the treasury building and the president's mansion in Washington had already been burned down, and the British were intent on capturing the Port of Baltimore, which was being protected, in part, by Fort McHenry, a bit to the south.

On September 7th, 1814, two men went out to one of the British ships, intending to try to negotiate the release of a third man, a doctor by the name of William Beanes, who had been captured during the attack on Washington. The two would-be rescuers were Colonel John Skinner, and our esteemed Frances Scott key, who was a lawyer and a sometimes poet. Doctor Barnes was a friend of Key's, and by showing the British some letters from wounded British officers who praised the care they had received from Dr. Beanes, the two were successful in getting the British to agree to the release.

However, in the process, the three men had learned way too much about the planned attack on Baltimore, and so were forced to remain on board the ship until the battle was over, which was not to commence until six days later.