Snippets: Baltimore

In the gathering gloom of dusk, in the year 1812, a British peace ship sailed down the Patapsco River near Baltimore. It trailed 19 other ships that were, perhaps, not so peaceful. On board the peace ship were the temporary prisoners, Dr. Beanes and an American lawyer. The fleet of war ships gathered in the ocean within range of Baltimore and their object: Fort McHenry.

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, a seamstress named Betsy Ross, sat in her home sewing furiously. As the British fleet began to bombard Fort McHenry on September 13, Betsy finished her work. As darkness began to fall, Betsy hung her flag outside.

Watching the attack from the peace ship, Dr. Beanes and the American lawyer saw the flag slowly unfurl under the light of the rockets and mortars of the British fleet. The American lawyer watched a moment and then hurried to his cabin. There, on an envelope under his swiftly moving pen, words began to appear. "O! say can you see by the dawn's early light..."

Francis Scott Key was detained on board the peace ship until after the battle, (which the Americans won). In his later life, Key served as Vice President of the American Bible Assocation. The association is best known for its Good New Bible translation. Key's grandson was later held prisoner in Fort McHenry for being a suspected Confederate sympathizer. It is ironic that the National Anthem of America, written at a time of war with Britain, is set to a British tune.

Baltimore is the 20th largest city in the U.S. The name means "Town of the Big House" from the Irish. Baltimore was named after Lord Baltimore, of the Irish House of Lords. It was nicknamed "The Monumental City" by President John Quincy Adams because of the skyline of large churches, edifices, and monuments.

Not only did some of Americas finest history take place in Baltimore, but the traditional American boardgame, Monopoly, can also claim it's share in Baltimore. The B&O railroad (Baltimore & Ohio) began in Baltimore. It was privately owned, (in other words, a Monopoly) for many years, and made Baltimore a key shipping and industrial city. The B&O company suffered what is known as The Great Railroad Strike in 1877.

In 1904, a blessing in disguise was granted to Baltimore in the form of the Great Baltimore Fire. The fire burned most of the city (the disguise), and forced it to rebuild. The new buildings and layout made the city even bigger (the blessing).

It's almost the Fourth of July and most people have probably forgotten, or never heard, the story of the Star-Spangled Banner. America has mainly forgotton the price paid for her freedom and the bravery of the "primitive" colonists. Our country was founded on God and patriotism, it is my prayer that our country will turn back to God and patriotism and that we can, from the heart and with truth, say "God Bless America!

(This has been: Snippets: Baltimore. Tune in next time to read: Stories of my Life).