Oh say can you see.......

The saga goes on with the raw water pump on the boat. After contacting numerous vendors, I find the pump is not available - anywhere!! I called Mercury direct, and was told there were problems with this pump, it is off the market, they have no more in stock, and it will be six to eight weeks before a replacement is out.  I did locate a rebuild kit, and was able to have it rebuilt. Many thanks to my friend Mike from the Cruisers Yachts forum for his help finding a good shop to do it! Then I did some more searching on-line, and found a vendor who had the previous generation pump in stock that would fit our application. So I had that one shipped home. Now we also have a spare waiting to be sent anywhere we need it.

We left Annapolis Wednesday morning, and headed further up the Chesapeake. We took a left into the Patapsco River, and up the river to Baltimore. We are docked right in the heart of the action here! A walk to the Visitors Center, and we were able to plan a few days of sightseeing in this historic town. As we had gotten here early afternoon, we decided to take the water taxi out to tour Fort McHenry

During the war of 1812, the British Empire had an ongoing war with France, and were also restricting trade with the United States. Fort McHenry sat prominently at the harbor entrance to Baltimore, and was Baltimore's defense against any sea based attack.

In 1814, a young Baltimore lawyer by the name of Francis Scott Key boarded a boat to meet with the British who were anchored in the Chesapeake, and negotiate the release of certain prisoners of war. He boarded the British ship HMS Tonnant, and pleaded his case to the British officers, only to find out they would not let him go back to Baltimore, as he was now privy to their planned attack of Fort McHenry!

All through the night, he watched as the British relentlessly pummeled Fort McHenry with cannon and mortar fire. At dawns first light, he strained to see who's flag now flew over the fort. It was still Old Glory flying. This is when he wrote down the historic words that would become our National Anthem!

Looking at Fort McHenry from the ocean side, you would think it would be easy to target the buildings and devastate them with cannon fire. However, what is here today, was not there in 1814.

Back in 1814, the two story buildings which stand now, were only one story, and sat hidden from the sea behind the earthen berms. The British did not know where to aim their cannons.

There were only a few American deaths after being bombarded all night long. The British finally gave up, and retreated. 

The cannon shown here is typical of what was used in 1814.

Around the time of the Civil War, many larger cannons were added.

There are numerous underground bunkers which had stores of gun powder and fuse cord. Men as young at 12 years old acted as the “monkey”, carrying powder to the cannons.  

An archeological dig in the 60’s or 70’s located the original cross brace for the flag pole that stood at the fort.

It is now displayed in the fort, along with a mock-up of how the cross brace was planted in the ground to hold the flag pole. 


 

The flag that Francis Scott Key saw that morning had been commissioned by Major George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry. He wanted a flag so large, that the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance. Mary Young Pickersgill, a local seamstress, received the commission to create an American ensign measuring 30X42 feet, using the finest quality bunting available. It was so large, she had to make it on the floor of a local brewery! She also made a smaller “storm flag”, which may have been the flag flown the night of the attack. The flag raised in the morning, the one that inspired Francis Scott Key, is the large flag she made. That flag is now in the Smithsonian.

The Park Rangers working at the fort have many flags they fly. Often times, they enlist the help of school groups touring the fort to assist in raising and lowering the flags.

If those Rangers would let me out of my cell, we could show you more of Baltimore!!! 
                                          Mr. Key - HELP - I need your services!!!
 Captn Ken