Major Armistead's Report of the Battle at Fort McHenry-- Part 1: British Were Out of Range

This report is in the U.S. National Archives.

George Armistead wrote the report ten days after the battle and was sent to Secretary of War James Monroe.

24th of September

"On Tuesday morning about Sun rise, the Enemy commenced the attack from his five bomb vessels, at the distance of about two Miles, when finding that his Shells reached Us, He anchored, and Kept Up an incessant and well-directed Bombardment.

"We immediately opened our Batteries and kept up a brisk fire from our Guns and Mortars, but unfortunately our Shot and Shells all fell considerably Short  of him; this was to me a most distressing circumstance as it left us exposed to a constant and tremendous Shower of Shells without the most remote possibility of our doing him the slightest injury."

Not a Good Way To Fight a Battle.  --Brock-Perry