USA > Maryland > Biographical sketches of distinguished Marylanders > Part 17
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The banner which aroused the inspiration of "Frank " Key into song, is said to be the property of Mrs. George- ana Armistead Appleton, of Boston, Massachusetts. This lady is the daughter of Colonel Armistead, who commanded Fort Mchenry during its bombardment by the British forces. Colonel Armistead was a staunch patriot, noted for his bravery-so brave that he acknowl- edged with pleasure the brave deeds of others. He was not one of those officers who, by the frequent use of a certain little pronoun, excludes from official notice, as well as the notice of the world, all under his command. He accorded praise wherever it was due.
The following letter from the pen of Chief Justice Taney has several times appeared in print; yet it should not for this reason be any the less acceptable to the people of this country. It is addressed to his friend, Mr. Charles Howard, of Maryland :
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 12th, 1856.
MY DEAR SIR-I promised some time ago to give you an ac- count of the incidents in the life of Mr. F. S. Key, which led him to write the " Star Spangled Banner," and of the circumstances under which it was written. The song bas become a national
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one, and will, I think, from its great merit, continue to be so, especially in Maryland ; and everything that concerns its Author must be a matter of interest to his children and descendants, and I proceed to fulfill my promise with the more pleasure, be- cause, while the song shows his genius and taste as a poet, the incidents connected with it, and the circumst inces under which it was written, will show his character and worth as a man. The scene he describes, and the warm spirit of patriotism which breathes in the song, were not the offspring of mere fancy or poetic imagination. He describes what he actually saw. And he tells us what he felt while witnessing the conflict, and what he felt when the battle was over and the victory won by his countrymen Every word came warm from his heart, and for that reason, even more than from its poetical merit, it never fails to find a response in the hearts of those who listen to it. You will remember that in 1814, when the song was written, I resided in Frederick, and Mr. Key in Georgetown. You will also recollect, that soon after the British troops retired from Washington, a squadron of the enemy's ships made their way up the Potomac and appeared before Alexandria, which was compelled to capitulate; and the squadron remained there some days, plundering the town of tobacco and whatever else they wanted. It was rumored, and believed in Frederick, that a marauding attack of the same character would be made on Washington and Georgetown before the ships left the river. Mr. Key's family were still in Georgetown. He would not, and indeed could not with honor, leave the place while it was threatened by the enemy, for he was a volunteer in the light artillery, commanded by Major Poter, which was composed of citizens of the District of Columbia, who had uniformed them- selves and offered their services to the Government, and who had been employed in active service from the time the British fleet appeared in the Patuxent preparatory to the movement upon Washington. And Mrs. Key refused to leave home, while Mir. Key was thus daily exposed to danger. Beheving, as we did, that an attack would probably be made on Georgetown, we became very anxious about the situation of his family ; for if the attack was made Mr. Key would be with the troops engaged in the defense, and as it was impossible to for see what would be the issue of the conflict, his family, by remaining in George- town, might be placed in great and useless peril. When I speak
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of we, I mean Mr. Key's father and mother, and Mrs. Taney and myself; but it was agreed among us that I should go to George- town and try to persuade Mrs. Key to come away with their children and stay with me or with Mr. Key's father until the danger was over. When I reached Georgetown I found the English ships still at Alexandria, and a body of militia encamped in Washington, which had been assembled to defend the city. But it was then believed, from information received, that no attack would be made by the enemy on Washington or George- town, and preparations were making on our part to annoy them by batteries on shore when they descended the river.
The knowledge of these preparations probably hastened their departure; and the second or third day after my arrival the ships were seen moving down the Potomac. On the evening of the day that the enemy disappeared, Mr Richard West arrived at Mr. Key's and told him that after the British army passed through Upper Marlboro', on their return to their ships, and had encamped some miles below the town, a detachment was sent back, which entered Dr. Beanes' house about midnight. com- pelled him to rise from his bed, and hurried him off to the British camp, hardly allowing him time to put his clothes on ; that he was treated with great harshness, and closely guarded; and that as soon as his friends were apprized of his situation they has- tened to the headquarters of the English army to solicit his release, but it was peremptorily refused, and they were not per- mitted to see him; and that he had been carried as a prisoner on board the fleet. And finding their own efforts unavailing, and alarmed for his safety, his friends in and about Marlboro' thought it advisable that Mr. West should hasten to Georgetown and request Mr. Key to obtain the sanction of the Government to his going on board the Admiral's Ship, under a flag of truce, and endeavoring to procure the release of Dr. Beanes, before the fleet sailed. It was then lying at the mouth of the Potomac, and its destination was not at that time known with certainty. Dr Beanes, as perhaps you know, was the leading physician in Upper Marlboro', and an accomplished scholar and gentleman. He was highly respected by all who knew him; was the family physician of Mr. West, and the intimate friend of Mr. Key. He occupied one of the best houses in Upper Marlboro', and lived very handsomely, and his house was selected for the quar- ters of Admiral Cockburn, and some of the principal officers of
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the Army, when the British troops encamped at Marlboro' on their march to Washington. These officers were, of course, furnished with everything that the house could offer; and they, in return, treated him with much courtesy, and placed guards around his grounds and outhouses to prevent depredations by their troops. But on the return of the army to the ships, after the main body had passed through the town, stragglers who had left the ranks to plunder, or from some other motive, made their appearance from time to time, singly or in small squads, and Dr. Beanes put himself at the head of a small body of citizens, to pursue and make prisoners of them. Information of this proceeding was by some means or other conveyed to the Eng- lish camp, and the detachment of which I have spoken was sent back to release the prisoners, and seize Dr. Beanes. They did not seem to regard him, and certainly did not treat him as a prisoner of War, but as one who had deceived and broken his faith to them.
Mr. Key readily agreed to undertake the mission in his favor, and the President promptly gave his sanction to it. Orders were immediately issued to the vessel usually employed as a cartel in the communications with the fleet in the Chesapeake to be made ready without delay ; and Mr. John S. Skinner who was agent for the Government for flags of truce and exchange of prisoners, and was well known as such by officers of the fleet, was directed to accompany Mr. Key. And as soon as the ar- rangements were made he hastened to Baltimore, where the Vessel was, to embark ; and Mrs. Key and the children went with me to Frederick, and thence to his father's, on Pipe creek, where she remained until he returned. We heard nothing of him until the enemy retreated from Baltimore, which, as well as I can now recollect, was a week or ten days after he left us; and we . were becoming uneasy about him, when, to our great joy, he made his appearance at my house on his way to join his family. He told me that he found the British fleet at the mouth of the Potomac preparing for the expedition against Baltimore. He Was courteously received by Admiral Cochrane and the officers of the army as well as the navy. But when he made known his business his application was received so coldly that he feared it would fail. General Ross and Admiral Cockburn, who accom- panied the expedition to Washington, particularly the latter, spoke of Dr. Beanes in very harsh terms, and seemed at first
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not disposed to release him. It however happened, fortunately, that Mr. Skinner carried letters from the wounded British officers left at Bladensburg; and in these letters to their friends on board the fleet they all spoke of the humanity and kindness with which they had been treated after they had fallen into our hands. And after a good deal of conversation and strong representations from Mr. Key as to the character and standing of Dr. Beanes, and of the deep interest which the community in which he lived took in his fate, General Ross said that Dr. Beanes deserved much more punishment than he had received, but that he felt himself bound to make a return for the kind- ness which had been shown to his wounded Officers whom he had been compelled to leave at Bladensburg, and upon that ground, and that only, he would release him. But Mr. Key was at the same time informed that neither he nor any one else would be permitted to leave the fleet for some days, and must be de- tained until the attack on Baltimore, which was then about to be made, wasover. But he was assured that they would make him and Mr. Skinner as comfortable as possible while they de- tained them. Admiral Cochrane, with whom they died on the day of their arrival, apologized for not accommodating them in his own ship, saying that it was crowded already with Officers of the Army, but that they would be well taken care of in the Frigate Surprise, commanded by his son, Sir Thomas Cochrane. And to this Frigate they were accordingly transferred. Mr. Key had an interview with Dr. Beanes before General Ross consented to release him. I do not recollect whether he was on board the Admiral's ship or the Surprise, but I believe it was the former He found him in the forward part of the ship, among the sailors and soldiers; he had not had a change of clothes from the time he was seized; was con- stantly treated with indignity by those around him, and no offi- cer would speak to him. He was treated as a culprit and not as a prisoner of War. And this harsh and humiliating treat- ment continued until he was placed on board the cartel. Some- thing must have passed when the officers were quartered at his house on the march to Washington, which, in tue judgment of General Ross, bound him not to take up arms against the Eng- lish forces until the troops had re-embarked.
It is impossible, on any other ground, to account for the man- ner in which he was spoken of and treated. But whatever Gen-
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eral Ross and the other Officers may have thought, I am quite sure that Dr. Beanes did not think he was in any way pledged to abstain from active hostilities against the public enemy. And when he made prisoners of the stragglers, he did not consider himself as a prisoner on parole, nor suppose himself to be vio- lating any obligation he had himself incurred. For he was a gentleman of untainted character and a nice sense of horwith 1 incapable of doing anything that could have justified su
ment. Mr. Key imputed the ill-usage he received to the 12' ence ot Admiral Cockburn, who, it is still remembered, while he commanded in the Chesapeake, carried on hostilities in a vindic- tive temper, assailing and plundering defenceless villages, or countenancing such proceedings by those under his command Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner continued on board of the Surprise, where they were very kindly treated by Sir Thomas Cochrane, until the fleet reached the Patapsco, and preparations were making for landing the troops. Admiral Cochrane then shifted his flag to the Frigate in order that he might be able to move further up the River, and superintend in person the attack by water on the Fort. And Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner were then sent on board their own vessel, with a guard of sailors or marines, to prevent them from landing. They were permitted to take Dr. Beanes with them, and they thought themselves fortunate in being anchored in a position which enabled them to see distinct- ly the flag of Fort McHenry from the deck of the vessel. He proceeded then with much animation to describe the scene on the night of the bombardment. He and Mr. Skinner remained on deck during the night watching every shell, from the moment it was fired until it fell, listening with breathless interest to hear if an explosion followed. While the bombardment continued, it was sufficient proof that the Fort bad not surrendered. But it suddenly ceased some time before day ; and as they had no com- munication with any of the enemy's ships, they did not know whether the Fort had surrendered, or the attack upon it had been abandoned. They paced the deck for the residue of the night in painful suspense, watching with intense anxiety the return of day, and looking every few minutes at their watches, to see how long they must wait for it ; and as soon as it dawned, and before it was light enough to see objects at a distance, their glasses were turned to the Fort, uncertain whether they should see there the Stars and Stripes or the flag of the enemy. At length the light
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came, and they saw that "our flag was still there." And as the day advanced they discovered, from the movements of the boats between the shore and the fleet, that the troops had been roughly handled, and that many wounded men were carried to the ships At length he was informed that the attack on Baltimore had failed, and the British army was re-embarking, and that he and ... 0 represe. Skinner and Dr. Beanes would be permitted to leave them of Dr. pwhere they pleased as soon as the troops were on board in -. the fleet ready to sail. He then told me that under the ex- citement of the time he had written a song, and handed me a printed copy of the " Star Spangled Banner." When I had read it and expressed my admiration, I asked him bow he found time in the scenes he had been passing through to compose such a song ? He said he commenced it on the deck of their vessel, in the fervor of the moment, when he saw the enemy hastily re- treating to their ships, and looked at the flag he had watched for 80 anxiously as the morning opened ; that he had written some lines, or brief notes that would aid him in calling them to mind upon the back of a letter which he happened to have in his pocket; and for some of the lines, as he proceeded, he was obliged to rely altogether upon his memory ; and that he finished it in the boat on his way to the shore, and wrote it out as it now stands at the Hotel on the night he reached Baltimore, and im- mediately after he arrived. He said that on the next morning he took it to Judge Nicholson to ask him what he thought of it, and he was so much pleased with it, that he immediately sent it to a printer and directed copies to be struck off in hand-bill form ; and that he, Mr. Key, believed that it had been favorably received by the Baltimore public.
Judge Nicholson and Mr. Key, you know, were nearly con - nected by marriage, Mrs. Key and Mrs. Nicholson being sisters. The Judge was a man of cultivated taste, and had at one time been distinguished among the leading men in Congress, and was at that period of which I am speaking the Chief Justice of the Baltimore Court, and one of the Judges of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Notwithstanding his judicial character, which exempted him from military service, he accepted the command of a volunteer company of artillery. And when the enemy ap- proached, and an attack on the Fort was expected, he and his company offered their services to the Government to assist in its defence. They were accepted, and formed a part of the garri-
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son during the bombardment. The judge had been relieved from duty, and returned to his family only the night before Mr. Key showed bim his song. And you may easily imagine the feelings with. which, at such a moment, he read it and gave it to the public. It was, no doubt, as Mr. Key modestly expressed it, favorably received. In less than an hour after it was placed in the hands of the printer, it was all over town, and hailed with enthusiasm, and took its place at once as a national song.
I have made this account of "The Star Spangled Banner" longer than I intended, and find that I have introduced inci- dents and persons outside of the subject I originally conten- plated. But I have felt a melancholy pleasure in recalling events connected, in any degree, with the life of one with whom I was so long and so intimately united in friendship and affection, and whom I so much admired for his brilliant genius and loved for his many virtues. I am sure, however, that neither you nor any of his children or descendants will think the account I have given too long. With great regard, dear sir,
Your friend truly, R. B. TANEY.
CHARLES HOWARD, Esq.
Although Mr. Key possessed considerable literary ability, and the soul of a true poet, the "Star Spangled Banner" is the only poem left to us, (his sacred songs excepted,) that does credit to his name or fame. It is to be regretted that the volume entitled "Key's Poems " ever was allowed to be published. Evidently these rhymes, written in a spirit of gaiety, were never in- tended to be seen beyond the household circle. In such a mood of gaiety he wrote an address to "The Twelfth Night Queen." The queen was Miss Katharine Murray of Annapolis. According to an old English custom the twelfth night was always an occasion of festivity and reunion. On the twelfth night of January, 1833, was , solemnized the marriage of Miss Josephine Harwood. She was the daughter of an old and respected citizen of Annapolis. The bridegroom, Edward Tilton, was a young officer of the United States Navy. Miss Har-
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wood's wedding night was rendered doubly joyous by the crowning of the " Queen " at the home of the bride, and we can well imagine the "toasts " and graceful compliments of which Miss Katharine Murray was the recipient forty " golden years ago." The Bride, the Queen and the Poet were connected by ties of blood and marriage.
Francis Key was a contemporary of Edward Coote Pinkney, and contributed to the same periodicals for which the Poet wrote. He was a man of great refine- ment and culture of manner as well as of intellect. He won for himself the esteem of all good people by living up to the standard of a Christian and an honorable gen- tleman. The line of difference is distinctly drawn be- tween his character and that of John Randolph, of Roanoke, in the following anecdote: Mr. Key was on intimate terms of friendship with Mr. Randolph, who, being confined to his rooms by illness upon one occa- sion, was engaged in conversation with Mr. Key, who . had called upon him at the hotel. Not long after }Ir. Key entered the room an officer of high rank in the British Navy, deeming himself on intimate terms with Mr. Randolph, merely knocked at the door, then open- ing it entered unannounced. Turning hastily around, Randolph cried out in a rude mannner: " Busy, my lord, busy ! Always apply to my servant before you enter my lodgings."
" Beg pardon," answered the officer, who immedi- ately withdrew. Mr. Key said :
" Mr. Randolph, how can you treat a gentleman in this way? He meant nothing wrong," "Neither do hogs mean wrong when they enter my corn-fields; but I always turn them out," was the answer of John Randolph. An old friend of Mr. Key says: "Every body who knew Frank Key loved him, and there was
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not a more agreeable companion to be found " Mr. Key was an Episcopalian. Gentle and unassuming in the practice of his belief, and generous in his toleration of others. He taught a Sunday-school class for many years at the "Rock Creek Church."
His wife was a Miss Lloyd, of Maryland, the young- est sister of Governor Edward Lloyd, and their home was noted for its hospitality, particularly to strangers.
In the year 1833, June 29th, Mr. Key was appointed to the position of 'United States Attorney for the District of Columbia by the President, General Jack- son. He was re-appointed January 6th, 1837. He was called upon to fill the same office the third time, Janu- ary the 13th, 1837, under President Van Buren. IIe - was distinguished for his ability in performing the duties of his office, and is mentioned as one of the con- fidential friends of the President, Andrew Jackson.
During the nullification agitation in this country he was sent unofficially to the South. He remained for some time in the city of Charleston, and it is said that to him is due partly the peaceful termination of the difficulty. After the removal of the public deposits from the Bank of the United States by Roger B. Taney, and after he had been rejected as the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States by the Senate, many demonstrations of the people's regard were shown in his behalf. About this time a public dinner was given in his honor in the grounds of the court house, at Frederick, Maryland. Mr. Key being a guest, the following toast was offered and drunk: "Francis S. Key-a friend of the administration, and an incorrupti- ble patriot-worthy of being - honored wherever genius is admired, or liberty cherished, as the author of the Star Spangled Banner." Mr. Key expressed his thanks and said :
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السيد
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" He never had forgotten and never should forget that he was a native of the county whose citizens were as- sembled upon aa occasion so gratifying to his feelings. Though no longer a resident, its people and its scenes had never ceased to be dear to him. His annual visit here had been always anticipated with pleasure, and never, even from his boyhood, had he come within the view of these mountains without having his warmest affections awakened at the sight. What he felt now, in accepting the invitation with which he had been hon- ored, he should not attempt to express. The company had been pleased to declare their approbation of his song. Praise to a poet could not be otherwise than ac- ceptable; but it was peculiarly gratifying to him to know, that, in obeying the impulse of his own feelings, he had awakened theirs. The song he knew came from the heart, and if it had made its way to the hearts of men whose devotion to their country and to the great cause of freedom he so well knew, he could not pretend to be insensible to such a compliment. They had re- called to his recollection the circumstance under which he had been impelled to this effort. He had seen the flag of his country waving over a city, the strength and pride of his native State, a city devoted to plunder and desolation by its assailants. He witnessed the prepara- tions for its assault, and saw the array of its enemies as they advanced to the attack. He heard the sound of battle; the noise of the conflict fell upon his listening ear, and told him that "the brave " and "the free " had met the invaders. Then did he remember that Mary- land had called her sons to the defence of that flag, and that they were the sons of sires who had left their crim- son footprints on the snows of the North, and poured out the blood of patriots like water on the sands of the South. Then did he remember that there were gathered
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around that banner, among its defenders, men who had heard and answered to the call of their country, from whose mountain-sides, from this beautiful valley and this fair city of his native county, and though he walked upon a deck surrounded by a hostile fleet, de- tained as a prisoner, yet was his step firm and his heart strong as these recollections came upon him. Through the clouds of war the stars of that banner still shone in view, and he saw the discomfited host of its assail- ants driven back in ignominy to their ships. Then in that hour of deliverance and joyful triumph the heart spoke; and " does not such a country and such defend- ers of their country deserve a song ?" was its question. With it came an inspiration not to be resisted ; and if it had been a hanging matter to make a song, he must have made it. Let the praise, then, if any be due, be given not to him, who only did what he could not help doing. not to the writer, but to the inspirers of the song. He would advert (he said), to another and still more glori- ons triumph -- to another of our cities assailed by the same army. Before New Orleans was the flower of the British Army, the veteran conquerors of Europe; men who had broken through hosts of disciplined warriors and the proudest walls that military science could erect. With what scorn must they have looked upon our cotton ramparts and rude militia? And the General who was to oppose, with such forces as these, their skillful and experienced leaders, what would they think of him ? They thought of him, no doubt, as his present oppo- nents still profess to think of him, as an ignorant and rash man, unfit for any command. Yes, (he continued). even now, when he has administered the Government with unexampled wisdom and success, we are told that. he is a man of no learning, of no ability as a writer or a speaker, and the most contemptuous comparisons are 21*
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