The Untold Anthem of Ft. McHenry

Roy

I blogged previously about the celebrated triumph and inspiration surrounding Ft. McHenry during the war of 1812 against the British.  There is however another chapter to the story of this military citadel, one that involves the Civil War about 50 years later.

It was this very fortress that Abraham Lincoln used to keep Maryland, against her will, from seceding along with the other Southern states.  Since the capitol of the Union was Washington DC, and Washington DC was in Maryland, the loss of Maryland would likely have meant the loss of the Union.  And since the preservation of the Union was Lincoln’s sole objective he would go to any length necessary to secure it.  So the guns of this garrison were turned around and aimed at their own citizens in Baltimore and the city was held hostage in the Union.

It was also at this fort that over 2,000 citizens were jailed illegally as martial law was imposed during that war.  Among these was most of the government of Baltimore: the mayor, chief of police, all of the city council, etc.  Lincoln felt it was necessary to imprison these officials lest they lead the city (and therefore Maryland) away from the Union.  The only problem was that they had committed no crime worthy of incarceration.  When the United States Supreme Court ruled that Lincoln’s actions were breaking the law he retaliated by issuing an arrest warrant for the Chief Justice himself.  Later Lincoln stated that a president could break the law if he felt it was necessary to accomplish a greater good.  This started a dangerous precedent that continues even today.

Ironically, one of the prisoners during this time was Frank Key Howard, the grandson of Francis Scott Key (the author of the Star Spangled Banner).  Frank disagreed with the methods the president was using to impose his will against the people and against the law and he used his newspaper to express his opposition.  Lincoln shut down the newspaper and had him thrown into prison.  On September 13, 1861 (the 47^th anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner) Frank looked out the barred window of his cell at Ft. McHenry and remarked:

“I could not but contrast my position with his, forty-seven years before. The flag which he had then so proudly hailed, I saw waving at the same place over the victims of as vulgar and brutal a despotism as modern times have witnessed."

When you devote the time to investigate the truth of history for yourself you often discover a story that does not align with the convenient spin that you were fed in school.  This seems to be one of our uglier sides at a troublesome time in our past.

I do want to end on a positive note and be very clear about one point: Our love and commitment to this country and its founding principles are kindled even stronger as we uncover (and admit) its foibles and imperfections.  We know there is no perfect nation and feel incredibly blessed to be born into this one.

The boys locked up in one of the prisoner cells.  “Hands-on Homeschooling” at it’s finest… J.