The Jewish Patriots of Fort McHenry-- Part 1

From the June 3, 2020, Jewish Press  by Sail Singer.

The Battle of Baltimore is probably better known as the Battle of Fort McHenry, but it was fought both on the sea in the British bombardment of the fort and the land attack on defenses.  But thanks to that poem by Francis Scott Key, the fort's role is better known.  Of course, "The Defence of Fort McHenry" whose words were put into our National Anthem.

Baltimore was defended by about 1,000 volunteer citizen-soldiers, including several Jews  who made important contributions to ensure that "the star-spangled banner yet wave[d]."  There is no definitive list of Jews who fought at Fort McHenry, or even the War of 1812 for that matter, but it is known that many Jews did serve on the American side in that war (out of a probable total population of just 10,000 in the country at the time).

According to the book"A History of Jews in the United States," there is a definite record of 43 Jews who served in the military during the war, and a special group in Baltimore who enlisted in the home defense  force of the city when it was attacked.

--Brock-Perry

USS Cyane-- Part 6: Uriah Levy, First Jewish Commodore

Another important person in U.S. Navy history who served aboard the USS Cyane was Uriah P. Levy, the first Jewish person to attain the rank of commodore in the U.S. Navy.  During the War of 1812, while on the Argus, the ship seized more than 20 vessels in the English Channel before it was captured August 14, 1813.  He spent 16 months imprisoned in England.

The Cyane was laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard where it sank in 1835 and was broken up in 1836.

--Brock-Perry