In the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, among the many treasured artifacts is a flag with 14 stars remaining on its blue field. It has eight red stripes and seven white stripes. It is riddled with holes and the outer edge opposite its flag pole contact is very ragged and uneven making it now approximately 30 by 34 feet.

This poor tattered old flag is none other then the once magnificent Star Spangled Banner which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "Defense of Fort M'Henry" which later was set to tune and became known as "The Star Spangled Banner."

The events which that lead up to the battle which inspired Mr. Key to write the poem had roots going back over a quarter of a century. The British nerves were still raw from losing the American colonies in their war for independence. England still considered herself as the master of the high sea.

Europe was having problems with Napoleon Bonaparte so King George III was not anxious to deal with the complaints of the upstart United States of America. English ships were stopping and boarding American ships to search for deserters from the Royal Navy. To fill the gap left by the deserters the British captains frequently would take American sailors and force them to serve in the British navy. The Royal Navy was also capturing American merchant vessels carrying supplies to France.

June 18, 1912 the United States declared war on England for the treatment of US ships on the high seas and over some land in the north that England still claimed as British Territory.

British soldiers captured Washington, D.C. and set on fire many of the public buildings including the White House and the Capital Building in the month of August of 1814.

Because of the treatment of their capital the people of the United States were like a she-bear robbed of her whelp. The British then turned their attention to the port city of Baltimore which was protected by Fort McHenry. The angry Americans were far more able to defend the city than the British land forces had anticipated.

Anticipating the British forces would come to Baltimore in 1813, a year before British soldiers captured Washington, the commanding officer of Fort McHenry, Major George Armistead (uncle of Confederate General Lewis Armistead, who was mortally wounded at Gettysburg), requested a flag that, as he said, "the British have no trouble seeing it from a distance." Major Armistead commissioned Mary Young Pickersgill to construct the flag. Mrs. Pickersgill, with the help of her 13-year-old daughter Caroline, two nieces, and an indentured African-American girl sewed together 8 red stripes, 7 white stripes and a blue field with 15 white stars. All but the stars, which were cotton, was made from wool. Not having an area large enough to assemble the flag Mrs. Pickersgill asked and received permission to use the floor of the Claggett's brewery at night. It took several weeks to finish the work and it was presented to Major Armistead on August 19, 1813.

Along with the 30 by 42 foot garrison flag Mrs. Pickersgill made a 20 foot by 38 foot storm flag. She was paid $405.90 for the garrison flag and $168.54 for the storm flag.

On their way to Washington DC the British used the farm and home of Dr. William Beanes as headquarters. The doctor treated the British as guests and was a gracious host which may have in part been because he was hiding all the records for the State of Maryland on that very farm. Returning from their capture of Washington the British again passed through Dr. Beanes' farm. Six stragglers caused an altercation and Dr. Beanes had them arrested for disturbing the peace. Major General Robert Ross, the commanding officer of the British troops, was outraged and after securing the release of his men he took captive the 65 year old doctor. Dr Beanes family hired lawyer Francis Scott Key to try to secure the freedom of the Doctor. Mr. Key was assisted by John S. Skinner who is sometimes called the Paul Revere of the war of 1812.

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