Was the Battle of Fort McHenry the Beginning of the End for Major Armistead?-- Part 1

I have been looking for information on what George Armistead died of in 1818 and not having much luck.

From NPS.gov site.  "Reading 1:  Armistead's Account of the Battle.

In a report written to Secretary of War James Monroe, George Armistead gave his account of the famous battle.  It was dated September 24, 1814.  Of interest, it was written ten days after the battle.  You'd have thought he would have written right away after winning such an important battle, yet, the letter was dated ten days after the battle.

It opened with:  "A severe indisposition, the effect of great fatigue and exposure, has prevented me heretofore from presenting you with an account of the attack on this Post...."

Did this problem continue after the attack to his death.

I have read that he continued to command Fort McHenry until his death.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 7: His Death

From the Battle of Baltimore site.

On April 25, 1818, Brevet Lt. Col. George Armistead, 38, died at the home of his brother-in-law Christopher Hughes Jr.

His funeral included defenders of the 1814 Fort McHenry and citizens who proceeded to Old St. Paul's cemetery while minute guns were fired from the federal Hill Observatory.  Here among the enclosing walls of the burying ground his remains were laid to rest.

On the high eminence of Federal Hill overlooking Baltimore's waterfront is a monument to the commander of Fort McHenry.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 6: An Early Death

Following the battle, Armistead was brevetted to lieutenant colonel.  Much weakened by his arduous preparations, he died in at age 38, just four years later in 1818.

Historian Benson Lossing wrote that Armistead was a victim of the British attack.  "The tax upon his nervous system during that bombardment left him with a disease of the heart... on the 25 of April, 1818, he expired at age of thirty eight years."

His funeral procession was described as "immense" and his name was immortalized by the construction of a marble monument that overlooks the city.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 5: The British Withdraw

Because the British fleet was unable to get Fort McHenry to surrender in order to enter Baltimore Harbor and bombard the American defensive line east of the city, the British commander-in-chief Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane wrote to the British Army commander approaching those defenses, Colonel Arthur Brooke that it would be up to him to determine whether to attack.

Brooke had taken over command of the British Army after British Major General Robert Ross had been mortally wounded just before the Battle of North Point on September 12.  He decided to withdraw.

Baltimore was safe.

--Brock-Perry

Thomas's Big Job-- Part 2: What Did George Do?

"Yes, the Declaration of Independence formally announces our break with Great Britain.  But why?  Does it give a hint of a reason, beyond the famous but vague phrases about self-evident truths and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

"Yes it does.  The bulk of the 1,337 words are a protracted list of grievances against one man, King George III, the 'Author of our Miseries,' to use the words of Richard Henry Lee.

"Thirteen consecutive paragraphs, each 'beginning 'He has...' gives a list of detailed gripes.  The king 'refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.'  He called together 'legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant.'  He dissolved legislatures and blocked elections."

The rest of the column by Mr. Steinberg paints our President Trump as being the new King George III.  Worth a read.

So That Is That.  --Brock-Perry

Thomas's Big Job-- Part 1: The Declaration of Independence

From the July 4, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times  "Spirit of '76, Part 2:  If you're lost, check the map" by Neil Steinberg.

"It is essentially a memo drafted by a committee, albeit one that had the good sense to delegate the work to the best writer in the group, Thomas Jefferson.

"The 33-year-old Virginian required -- anyone sweating a deadline please take note --  18 days to turn around his assignment, writing the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in quill and ink in his rented two-room suite at the home of Philadelphia bricklayer Jacob Graff."

This document formally announces our break from Great Britain.

--Brock-Perry

4th of July: Part of It Is About The Flags

And,, I have plenty of U.S. flags and items up for today outside the house.

Plus, I have a 34-star round flag from 1861-1863.

And, since June 16 I have been writing about that most famous of U.S. flags, the one that flew over Fort McHenry that inspired that song.

Happy 242nd birthday, U.S.A..

In the Mood for Patriotism.  --Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 4: A Flag So Large British Would Have Problem Seeing It From a Distance

When he arrived at Fort McHenry, he immediately ordered "a flag so large the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance."  This became the "Star-Spangled Banner" made so famous by Francis Scott Key.

During the nearly 25-hour bombardment which began before dawn September 13, 1814, and the morning of September 14, Armistead alone knew that the fort's magazine was not bombproof.  When a shell crashed through the roof of it, but failed to explode, Armistead ordered the powder barrels cleared out.and placed under the rear walls of the fort.

Remarkably, only four of his men were killed when two shells smashed into the fort's southwest bastion.

Some 2,000 shells were fired by the British fleet.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 3: At Capture of Fort George and Ordered To Command Fort McHenry

George Armistead reentered the U.S. Army February 16, 1801, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment U.S. Artillerists and Engineers.  He was promoted to captain November 1, 1806

He was one of five brothers who served in the War of 1812 in either the Army or militia.

On March 3, 1813, he was promoted to major of the 3rd Artillery Regiment.  He distinguished himself in the capture of Fort George near the mouth of the Niagara River on May 27, 1813, while serving at Fort Niagara.  Afterwards, he carried the captured British flags to President Madison.

When he arrived in Washington, D.C., he was ordered to take command of Fort McHenry.

--Brock-Perry

Civil War General Cornelius Gilbert Attwood Received Remnants of the Star-Spangled Banner

On June 22, I wrote about George Preble giving this man pieces of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry.

Cornelius Attwood fought in the Civil War with the 2nd Massachusetts.

I have been writing about him in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog and you can check him out by going to My Blog List to the right of this and clicking on the Civil War blog.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 2: Entered Army During Quasi-War with France

From Wikipedia.

April 10, 1780- April 25, 1818

American military officer.  Commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore.

Born at Newmarket Plantation in Caroline County, Virginia (now the town of Milford )  Newmarket Plantation apparently still stands and is in use.

His military career began during the Quasi War with France when he was commissioned an ensign in the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment on January 14, 1799.  He became a second lieutenant on March 3, 1799 and 1st lieutenant May 14, 1800.

After the Quasi War, the Army was reduced in strength and Armistead was discharged June 15, 1800.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 1: Commander of Fort McHenry

Well, what about the commander of Fort McHenry, the one who wanted the giant garrison flag which became "The Star-Spangled Banner?"

From Find-A-Grave.

Born 10 April 1780 in Caroline County, Virginia.

Death 25 April 1818 (age 38)  Baltimore County, Maryland

Buried Old St. Pauls Cemetery, Baltimore.

United States Army Officer.  Served as Major and commander of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland.  He was in command of the Fort in the War of 1812 when the British unsuccessfully attempted to force its capitulation by a naval artillery bombardment.

The attack was witnessed by Francis Scott Key, who immortalized it in the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner."  Major Armistead was the uncle of Civil War Confederate General Lewis Armistead, who is buried next to him.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 7: Eben Appleton and Georgianna Appleton

Eben Appleton donated the flag with the request that it always remain on view for the public.

From Find-A-Grave.

Full Brock-Perryname:  Ebenezer Stuart "Eben" Appleton.

Born 19 August 1845 in Baltimore.  Death 1 June 1925.

Buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Mother Georgeanna Louise Frances Armistead.  Born 1817, Died 25 July 1878.  Buried Old St. paul's Cemetery, Baltimore

Given the Fort McHenry flag by her father, Lt. Col. George Armistead.  The flag was presented to the Massachusetts Historical Society.  (Not sure about this.)

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 6: Eben Appleton

From the Star-Spangled Banner, Smithsonian.

Eben Appleton was a New York stockbroker who inherited the Star-Spangled Banner upon his mother's death in 1878.  The flag had received a lot of publicity in the 1870s which had transformed it  into a national treasure.  Eben Appleton received a whole lot of requests to lend it for patriotic occasions.  He did lend it to the City of Baltimore for its sesquicentennial in 1880.

After that he became concerned about the flag's deteriorating condition so he began keeping it in a safe deposit box in New York City.

In 1907, he loaned it to the Smithsonian and in 1912 converted it into a gift.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 5: Three More Fragments

From Natural Museum of American History, Smithsonian.

The museum has three fragments of the Star-Spangled Banner that were presented to William Carter bybalt Major Armistead's grandson, Eben Appleton.  Carter was a local historian who carried the flag in a parade during Baltimore's Sesquicentennial Celebration 13 October 1880.

The flag was later being packed for shipment to New York and Appleton cut off three pieces and gave them to Carter.  Later, Carter's daughter gave the pieces to the Maryland Historical Society who later donated them to the Smithsonian.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 4: 25-Hour Bombardment and Gifted to the Smithsonian

The British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry for 25 hours between September 13-14, 1814.  When they were unable to force the fort to surrender, the attack ended and they sailed off.  The flag was still flying.

This so impressed Francis Scott Key that he wrote his famous poem "The Defence of Fort McHenry."  This became the "Star-Spangled Banner" that we know today.

The flag that flew there at the end of the bombardment became a significant artifact, yet remained in the possession of Major Armistead and later, his family.  He was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel for his action.

Eben Appleton, his grandson, inherited the flag in 1878.  In 1907, he loaned it to the Smithsonian Institution and in 1912 made it a formal gift.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 3: Original Size Was 30 by 42 Feet

Mary Pickershill stitched the flag using a combination of cotton and dyed English wool.  She was assisted by her daughter, 2 nieces and a black indentured servant.

The flag consisted of fifteen horizontal red and white stripes and fifteen white stars on a blue field, that according to the Flag Act of 1794 when Vermont and Kentucky entered the Union.

The flag was originally 30 by 42 feet and each star was two feet in diameter.  After the battle, the Armistead family occasionally would give away pieces as souvenirs and gifts.  This and deterioration of the flag over the years has resulted in the loss of several feet.  It now measures 30 by 34 feet.

And, there are just 14 stars, the 15th was given as a gift and unfortunately the recipient or whereabouts is unknown.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 2: The Great Garrison Flag

The larger of the two flags made for Armistead is referred to as the Great Garrison Flag and it was the largest battle flag ever flown up until that time.

The smaller one was known as the Storm Flag and was more durable and less prone to fouling in inclement weather.

The flag was most likely sewn by Mary Young Pickersgill, a noted Baltimore seamstress.  She received a government commission to make it in 1813.  Cost of the flags was $405.90.  Major George Armistead specifically wanted "a flag so large that the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance."

--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

Fabric from "Star-Spangled Banner" Goes to Auction-- Part 3: Pieces Given to Cornelius Attwood for Civil War Service.

These two pieces of the flag were given to General Attwood for his service with the  25th Massachusetts in the Civil War.  There are also other flag fragments from flags associated with him.  The scraps in question from the Fort McHenry flag were probably given to him by his friend George Preble who looked after the flag in the 1870s.

About eight feet of the original Fort McHenry flag is gone and believed to have been given to war heroes,

Cornelius Gilbert Attwood was given the pieces which were taken care of by him and his family ever since.

The auction was May 11.

--Brock-Perry