After WS-IV \"Beyond the Rails\"

Dave Yates (PAH)

No, not RxBean, but Dr. Beans. T'wer it not for the good doctor, Francis Scott Key would not have witnessed the battle t'wen the Britts and the Yanks.

Lois & I stopped by Fort McHenry on Sunday for a tour of the historic site that inspired this Nation's National Anthem. We watched a nice video about Dr. Beans and his subsequent capture with cofinement aboard a British vessel. Seems Key was a friend, who together with another friend negotiated Dr. Beans release. But, as luck or fate would have it, the Britts wouldn't let them go ashore because they felt too much of their attack plans had been overheard. So, there they were - captives aboard the hostage rescue ship till battle's end. So it was that Beans was a key to Key's penning of the Star Spangled Banner.

As the video ended, a curtain wall was drawn back to reveal the 30' x 42' Stars & Bars that flew over the fort that fatefull day. A marine or army or navy all-male choir began a low volume rendition of our nation's anthem. As they sang the verses, the volume of their collective four-point-harmony increased. Winding its way through this window-scape is a sidewalk & a group of Boy Scouts from my home council were seen winding their way along the path. Walking into & out of view.

After that emotional experience, we toured the fort and imagined blasting the mighty guns at those interlopers!

Here's a link to the story: http://www.multied.com/documents/StarSpangled.html

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Mark Eatherton

Sounds might powerful...

This Dr Beans guy, his name wasn't Jose per chance was it?

Jose can you see, by the dawns early light...

Just wondering:-)

ME

Steamhead

But did they tell you

that the tune Key used was an old English drinking song- "To Anacreon in Heaven"?

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jim lockard

In Baltimore

They call it the " Battle of North Point" with the state of Maryland remembering it as defenders days in Sept every year. The Brits where feeling quite cocky after burning Washington City. So they decided to try it in Baltimore, With the British General making the demand of the local militia to surrender or he would burn the City. The reply was quick with a american sniper killing the General on the spot. "Baltimore only colonial city that was not invaded or occupied an enemy army"