What are facts about Fort McHenry?
Fort McHenry is a historical American coastal pentagonal bastion fort on Locust Point, now a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.It is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy from the Chesapeake Bay on September 13–14, 1814. It was first built in 1798 and was used continuously by the U.S. armed forces ...
Is Fort McHenry haunted?
To further add to the reasons Fort McHenry is among the most haunted locations in Baltimore, are the reports that people feel they are being watched as well as unusual and sometimes frightening noises coming from the spirits of prisoners once held in the dungeons!
What is Fort McHenry famous for?
What is the rarest American flag?
- Declaration of Independence Kerchief, 1826. …
- Abraham Lincoln Kerchief, 1861-62. …
- Civil War Regimental Flag, 1861-65. …
- Andrew Johnson Broadside, 1865. …
- Lincoln and Johnson Campaign Flag, 1864. …
- Teddy Roosevelt Textile, 1906. …
- Designed by Megan Tatem.
What was the cause to the Battle of Fort McHenry?
Updated January 02, 2019. The Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, the Battle of Fort McHenry saw the fort's garrison defeat a British fleet that had been advancing on the city. As the British had recently captured and burned Washington, DC, the victory proved critical in halting their advance in the Chesapeake.
Who won Battle of Fort McHenry?
American victoryBattle of BaltimoreBombardment of Fort McHenry by the British. Engraved by John BowerDate September 12–15, 1814 Location Baltimore, Maryland 39°15′48.3″N 76°34′47.1″W Result American victory; British withdrawalBelligerentsUnited StatesUnited Kingdom7 more rows
What battle was at Fort McHenry?
Encouraged by their victory at Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, and subsequent burning of Washington, D.C., the British turned north, intent on capturing the major port city of Baltimore, Maryland.
Why was Fort McHenry important?
Fort McHenry is a historical American coastal pentagonal bastion fort on Locust Point, now a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy from the Chesapeake Bay on September 13–14, 1814.
Why was Fort McHenry built?
05/30/2016. By Preservation Maryland Fort McHenry currently occupies Fort Whetstone, a star-shaped fort constructed in 1776 to protect Baltimore during the Revolutionary War. The fort went on to serve an essential role on in mid-September 1812, when soldiers fought off the British attack in the Battle of Baltimore.
When was the Battle of Fort McHenry?
Kennedy Hickman. Updated January 02, 2019. The Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, the Battle of Fort McHenry saw the fort's garrison defeat a British fleet that had been advancing on the city. As the British had recently captured ...
What happened at Fort McHenry in 1814?
Public Domain. As the ships closed, they came under intense fire from Armistead's guns and were compelled to draw back to their original positions. In effort to break the stalemate, the British attempted to move around the fort after dark.
What was the name of the ship that Cochrane attacked?
As a result, his attack force consisted of five bomb ketches, 10 smaller warships, and the rocket vessel HMS Erebus. By 6:30 AM they were in position and opened fire on Fort McHenry. Remaining out of range of Armistead's guns, the British ships struck the fort with heavy mortar shells (bombs) and Congreve rockets from Erebus .
How many men were in Fort McHenry?
At Fort McHenry, the garrison commander, Major George Armistead possessed a composite force of around 1,000 men.
Why was Key detained?
Detained aboard the ship Minden, Key had gone to meet with the British to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been arrested during the attack on Washington. Having overhead the British attack plans, Key was forced to remain with the fleet for the duration of the battle.
What was the name of the song that the soldiers sang at Fort McHenry?
Moved to write during the fort's heroic defense, he composed the words to an old drinking song entitled To Anacreon in Heaven. Initially published after the battle as the Defense of Fort McHenry, it eventually became known as the Star-Spangled Banner and was made the National Anthem of the United States.
What was the significance of the victory of the British in the Chesapeake?
As the British had recently captured and burned Washington, DC, the victory proved critical in halting their advance in the Chesapeake . Coupled with successes elsewhere, the victory strengthened the hand of American negotiators at the Ghent peace talks.
What city did the British take in the Battle of Fort McHenry?
Battle of Fort McHenry. Encouraged by their victory at Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, and subsequent burning of Washington, D.C., the British turned north, intent on capturing the major port city of Baltimore, Maryland.
Who was in command of Fort McHenry?
In command of Fort McHenry was a young major, George Armistead, uncle of the famous Confederate Civil War General Lewis Armistead , and a thousand men. Early on the morning of September 13, the British warships began their bombardment. Because of the shallow water, Admiral Cochrane was unable to use his heavy warships, ...
Why was Baltimore important to the British?
The British hoped the loss of both Washington and Baltimore would cripple the American war effort and force peace. Initially, the British strategy during the War of 1812 had been defensive.
What ships did Admiral Cochrane attack?
Because of the shallow water, Admiral Cochrane was unable to use his heavy warships, and instead attacked with the bomb vessels HMS Terror, Volcano, Meteor, Devastation, and Aetna. These ships fired exploding mortar shells at high angles into the fort.
How many men were in Baltimore on September 13?
This delay would give the American defenders in Baltimore much needed time to bolster their defenses. The next day, September 13, the Americans assembled 10,000 men and 100 cannon astride the Philadelphia Road, blocking the British advance toward Baltimore.
How many cannonballs were fired at the Fort?
Over 1,500 cannonballs, shells, and rockets were fired at the fort, but only inflicted light damage thanks to fortification efforts before the battle. During the night, Cochrane ordered a landing party to slip past the fort and try to draw troops from the force opposing Brooke.
How many warships were in Baltimore?
The fleet of nineteen warships, also made available by the defeat of Napoleon, was under the command of Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane. Baltimore, unlike Washington, contained formidable defenses, especially around the harbor. Central to this defense was the large star fort built in 1800, Fort McHenry, which guarded the inner harbor ...
What was the significance of the attack on Fort McHenry?
The attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore's harbor was a pivotal moment in the War of 1812 as it successfully thwarted the Chesapeake Bay campaign the Royal Navy had been waging against the United States. Coming only weeks after the burning of the U.S.
What happened to Fort McHenry in 1814?
On the morning of September 14, 1814, the Royal Navy commanders realized they could not force the surrender of Fort McHenry.
What was the red glare on the Star Spangled Banner?
The "rocket's red glare" mentioned by Francis Scott Key in "The Star-Spangled Banner" would have been the trails left by the Congreve rockets fired from British warships.
What happened to the British at Fort McHenry?
The Bombardment of Fort McHenry. After being thwarted at Fort McHenry, the British forces in the Chesapeake Bay sailed away, leaving Baltimore, and the center of America's East Coast, safe. Had the fighting in Baltimore in September 1814 gone differently, the United States itself might have been gravely threatened.
What was the name of the poem that was printed after the Battle of Fort McHenry?
Key's poem was printed as a broadside soon after the battle. And when the Baltimore newspaper, the Patriot and Advertiser, began publishing again a week after the battle, it printed the words under the headline, "The Defense of Fort McHenry.". The poem, of course, became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner," and officially became ...
Where did the British land in 1814?
British Landings. A large British fleet appeared off Baltimore on September 11, 1814, and the next day approximately 5,000 British soldiers landed at North Point, 14 miles from the city. The British plan was for the infantry to attack the city while the Royal Navy shelled Fort McHenry. British plans began to unravel when ...
Who was the American naval officer who organized the Chesapeake Flotilla?
In early 1814 the American Naval officer Joshua Barney, a Baltimore native, organized the Chesapeake Flotilla, a force of small ships, to patrol and defend the Chesapeake Bay. When the Royal Navy returned to the Chesapeake in 1814, Barney's small boats managed to harass the more powerful British fleet.
Why did Fort McHenry point towards the water?
When Civil War broke out in 1861, Fort McHenry’s defensive role was once again prominent, with its large cannons not only pointed towards the water to defend the city from coastal attack, but also pointed towards the center of Baltimore to intimidate its pro-secession population into remaining in the Union.
When was Fort McHenry re-designated?
In 1939 the site was re-designated as a National Monument and Historic Shrine, the first and only of its kind. Fort McHenry was briefly called back into service in the Second World War as a training site for the United States Coast Guard. Following the conclusion of the war in 1945 the site returned to the NPS.
What was Fort McHenry named after?
The new fort was dubbed Fort McHenry, named after George Washington’s Secretary of War, and Baltimore native, James McHenry. Artist's depiction of the bombardment of Fort McHenry. NPS.
What was the name of the fort that was attacked during the American Revolution?
History of Fort McHenry. The bombardment of Fort McHenry. During the American Revolution a small earthen star fort known as Fort Whetstone was constructed at the end of the peninsula that led to the entrance of the Baltimore harbor. Although the fort was never attacked during the American Revolution, military experts saw the importance ...
What was the War of 1812?
After its completion in 1803 Fort McHenry had a brief period peace which allowed the fort to be an outpost for the small standing army of the United States, and the country’s first light artillery unit was organized there.
How many British soldiers landed in Baltimore?
In September of 1814 5,000 British soldiers landed North-East of the city and halted outside of hastily constructed earthworks. The British Navy was needed to come into the Baltimore harbor to support the attack, standing in its way was Fort McHenry and its 1,000 defenders.
When was the Star Spangled Banner re-designated?
In 1931 “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the National Anthem of the United States, breathing new life into the need to preserve Fort McHenry. In 1933 the site was transferred to the National Park Service. In 1939 the site was re-designated as a National Monument and Historic Shrine, the first and only of its kind.
Why were the British unable to pass Fort McHenry?
The British ships were unable to pass Fort McHenry and penetrate Baltimore Harbor because of its defenses, including a chain of 22 sunken ships, and the American cannons . The British vessels were only able to fire their rockets and mortars at the fort at the weapons' maximum range.
How long did the British bombard Fort McHenry?
Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on September 13, 1814, British warships under the command of Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane continuously bombarded Fort McHenry for 25 hours. The American defenders had 18-, 24- and 32-pounder (8, 11, and 16 kg) cannons. The British guns had a range of 2 miles (3 km), and the British rockets had a 1.75-mile (2.8 km) range, but neither guns nor rockets were accurate. The British ships were unable to pass Fort McHenry and penetrate Baltimore Harbor because of its defenses, including a chain of 22 sunken ships, and the American cannons. The British vessels were only able to fire their rockets and mortars at the fort at the weapons' maximum range. The poor accuracy on both sides resulted in very little damage to either side before the British, having depleted their ammunition, ceased their attack on the morning of September 14. Thus the naval part of the British invasion of Baltimore had been repulsed. Only one British warship, a bomb vessel, received a direct hit from the fort's return fire, which wounded one crewman.
What is Fort McHenry National Monument?
National Park Service. Website. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Fort McHenry is a historical American coastal pentagonal bastion fort on Locust Point, now a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore ...
What is the flag that flew over Fort McHenry?
The flag that flew over Fort McHenry, the Star Spangled Banner Flag, has deteriorated to an extremely fragile condition. After undergoing restoration at the National Museum of American History, it is now on display there in a special exhibit that allows it to lie at a slight angle in dim light.
What was the purpose of Fort McHenry?
During the American Civil War the area where Fort McHenry sits served as a military prison, confining both Confederate soldiers, as well as a large number of Maryland political figures who were suspected of being Confederate sympathizers.
How big was the American flag in 1812?
During the War of 1812 an American storm flag, 17 by 25 feet (5.2 m × 7.6 m), was flown over Fort McHenry during the bombardment. It was replaced early on the morning of September 14, 1814 with a larger American garrison flag, 30 by 42 feet (9.1 m × 12.8 m). The larger flag signaled American victory over the British in the Battle of Baltimore.
Where was Fort McHenry in Baltimore?
Fort McHenry was built on the site of the former Fort Whetstone, which had defended Baltimore from 1776 to 1797. Fort Whetstone stood on Whetstone Point (today's residential and industrial area of Locust Point) peninsula, which juts into the opening of Baltimore Harbor between the Basin (today's Inner Harbor) and Northwest branch on the north side and the Middle and Ferry (now Southern) branches of the Patapsco River on the south side.
Who was the General who evacuated the Confederate troops to Fort Donelson?
After a fierce naval bombardment, Confederate Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman secretly evacuated the bulk of his troops to nearby Fort Donelson before surrendering to Union forces. The fall of Fort Henry, followed 10 days later by the capture of Fort Donelson, opened up both the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to Union control, ...
What battle did the Union win in the Civil War?
A week after the Union victory at Fort Henry, the two forces would face off again at the Battle of Fort Donelson. In addition to marking the first major Union victory in the Civil War, the Battle of Fort Henry, along with the subsequent Union victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson, restored Western and middle Tennessee and most ...
What was the first major battle of the Civil War?
The Battle of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, was the first significant Union victory of the American Civil War (1861-65). In an effort to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote launched an attack on the lightly defended Fort Henry in Tennessee. After a fierce naval bombardment, Confederate Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman secretly evacuated the bulk of his troops to nearby Fort Donelson before surrendering to Union forces. The fall of Fort Henry, followed 10 days later by the capture of Fort Donelson, opened up both the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to Union control, cutting off Confederate access to two key waterways for the remainder of the war.
How many Confederate soldiers defended Fort Grant?
The fort was defended by less than 3,400 Confederate soldiers. In comparison, Grant had 15,000 Union troops at his disposal, supported by ironclad and wooden gunboats led by Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote. Foote began his attack at noon on February 6, 1862.
How many Confederate officers were on the Cincinnati?
The Confederate surrender was received onboard the Cincinnati, with 12 Confederate officers and 82 men present. Foote’s fleet suffered 32 casualties, while battle damage to the ironclad Essex left it out of commission for the rest of the war.
Where is Fort Henry located?
Fort Henry was named for Confederate Senator Gustavus Henry and built in 1861 during the Civil War. Located on the Tennessee River, it was a critical point of defense for the Confederacy, protecting Nashville, Tennessee and the railroad route between Bowling Green, Kentucky and Memphis.
Was Fort Henry flooded?
The fort had been partially flooded by recent rainstorms, and the bad weather had left many of the troops left to defend it ill. To make matters worse, much of the Confederate weaponry dated from the War of 1812.
