Samuel Smith of Baltimore-- Part 4: Victory At Hampstead Hill and Fort McHenry

The British, led by Major General Robert Ross until his death landed on North Point by Baltimore on September 12, 1814,  with 4,000 soldiers and encountered a delaying force led by Brigadier General John Stricker.

The delaying tactic worked and Smith was able to fortify Hampstead Hill, a fortified position  east of Baltimore.  He congregated thousands of militia men and whatever guns he had.  British attempts to flank the position were foiled by Smith.  He also positioned his troops so that a frontal assault would get caught in a crossfire.

The British retreated September 14 and boarded their ships.

The British also assaulted Baltimore with their Navy warships but Fort McHenry and its covering forts (Covington and Babcock) successfully withstood the famous bombardment. and they also withdrew.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 1: The Great Garrison Flag

From Wikipedia.

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag is also referred to as the Great Garrison Flag and flew during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore.  This is the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write his poem "Defence of Fort McHenry."

This was retitled using words near the end of the first stanza.  It was set to music to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven" by John Stafford Smith.

When it became apparent that the British were going to attack Baltimore, the fort's commander, Major George Armistead expressed the desire for a very large flag to fly over the fort.

General John S. Stricker and Commodore Joshua Barney placed an order with a prominent Baltimore flagmaker to make two large flags.

--Brock-Perry