Also known as: Fort McHenry.
| Date | September 1814 |
|---|---|
| Role | Seacoast defense of Baltimore harbor |
| Legacy | The bombardment inspired The Star-Spangled Banner |
The rockets' red glare
Fort McHenry guarded the water approach to Baltimore, and in September 1814 its heavy seacoast guns helped hold off a British fleet during the War of 1812. Kept beyond the reach of the fort's guns, the British ships bombarded it but could not reduce it or force the harbor.
The garrison's endurance under the night-long bombardment, and the flag still flying at dawn, inspired the verses that became The Star-Spangled Banner, joining the fort's guns to the nation's memory.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: manuals, reports, and historical references.