BGuthrie Photos: MD -- Fort McHenry Natl Monument -- Exhibit Rooms Inside Fort

MD -- Fort McHenry Natl Monument -- Exhibit Rooms Inside Fort:

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. FTMCEX_131027_012.JPG: Bombproofs: The arched chambers on either side of the sally port are identical bomb shelters for the fort's soldiers. They were built immediately after the bombardment of 1814, when it became obvious that such places were needed. Fortunately, Fort McHenry was never shelled again, and the bombproofs were never used for their intended purpose. Contrary to popular belief, the underground rooms in and around the star fort are not "dungeons," despite their iron gates and dark, narrow entrances. Bombproofs and magazines were built to protect personnel and ammunition from enemy artillery fire.
2. FTMCEX_131027_028.JPG: Civil War Guardhouse: Fort McHenry has had several guardhouses. This one, built in 1835 and enlarged in 1857, is one of the best-preserved buildings in the star fort. Soldiers on duty in this room guarded military offenders in the adjacent sells. During the Civil War, Fort McHenry served as a transfer point for Confederate prisoners of war, most of whom were kept in buildings and stockades outside the star fort. High-security prisoners were locked up here. In the city, civil rights were suspended at times during the turbulent war years. Citizens suspected of contributing to the rebellion were detained at Fort McHenry. Political prisoners included Baltimore's mayor and chief of police, Washington's mayor, and -- ironically -- a grandson of Francis Scott Key. "There was no bedstead of chair, there being no room for such luxuries. I was allowed a mattress, which I placed on the damp floor at eight, and stood up on and against the wall in the day. I was not allowed bed linen. At no time were the walls of my cell (dry), the rear wall particularly. Moisture trickled down it the whole time, and I could fill my hand with a green slime, simply by passing it up the face of the wall." -- Henry Brogden, Confederate prisoner, 1863
3. FTMCEX_131027_048.JPG: 1812: Trial by Fire ... the War of 1812: "Baltimore ... the one great American port over which no enemy flag has ever waved." -- President Warren G. Harding, June 14, 1922 The newly-constructed fort in Baltimore received its severest test during the War of 1812. Although the conflict began with a series of American invasions into Canada, the arrival of a British squadron in the Chesapeake Bay a year later resulted in hurried improvements to Fort McHenry. New artillery positions, additional cannon, and outer work such as the Ravelin, bolstered the fort's material defenses. Preparations included the making of a large 30 x 42-foot American flag. In addition to defying the British, the large flag raised the morale and confidence of the defenders of the fort and the city. The British attacked on September 13, 1814. Following a bombardment lasting over 25 hours, the huge American flag signaled that the garrison held against great odds. In one day, the fort proved its value in safeguarding the city and became a national symbol as the birthplace of Francis Scott Key's song: "The Star-Spangled Banner."
4. FTMCEX_131027_058.JPG: 1805: A New Fort and a New Flag Although the United States won its independence in 1783, the threat of foreign invasion remained. To protect the young republic, the federal government launched an ambitious program of building forts near America's primary cities along the East Coast. Fort McHenry was one of those forts. Completed in 1805 and named after the Secretary of War, James McHenry, the new fort boasted five points or "bastions," accommodations for over 150 soldiers and a line of heavy artillery aimed downriver. The first flag to fly over the newly constructed ramparts was a 15-star, 15-stripe banner, reflecting the recently added states of Vermont and Kentucky.
5. FTMCEX_131027_074.JPG: 1829: Strengthening the Fort: Today, the fort appears much as it did following extensive renovations between 1829 and 1836. Improvements included the addition of earthworks, removal of trees, and reinforcement of earthen ramparts with brick and granite walls. To provide for a larger garrison s second story was added to the interior buildings. Eventually, the quiet lapping of the Patapsco River replaced the noise of construction, and the fort remained a peaceful, quiet post until the Mexican-American War. Like the fort, the American flag changed a great deal following the War of 1812. Congress returned the flag to its 13-stripe design and called for additional stars to represent states added to the union.
6. FTMCEX_131027_077.JPG: 1846: Ho! For Mexico! With the outbreak of war in 1846, Fort McHenry changed from a quiet military post to a scene of bustling activity. Though far removed from the battlefields in Mexico, Fort McHenry served a vital role as a training ground, supply depot, and embarkation point. The American flag took on a new role as well. For the first time, American troops carried the stars and stripes into battle. The military's extensive use of the flag and the thousands who enthusiastically volunteered to fight reflected the growing nationalism of a young country feeling its strength as an emerging world power. The scene above depicts volunteers of the Fifth Regiment, Maryland Volunteer Infantry. On July 15, 1847, officers of this regiment presented a gold-handled cane to their commander. Colonel Hickman, prior to their departure for Mexico. This festive mood would stand in stark contrast to the rights of long marches in a hot climate with poor food and little water. As a result of the war, Mexico lost almost half of its territory, paving the way for the addition of states to the union and stars on the flag.
7. FTMCEX_131027_082.JPG: 1861: When the Civil War erupted in April 1861, Maryland was bitterly divided between North and South. On April 19, 1861, a bloody riot in Baltimore left four Union soldiers and nine Baltimoreans dead. To maintain control of Baltimore, and by extension Maryland, Fort McHenry's cannons were aimed at the city. To suppress pro-Confederate sentiment, Union forces shut down newspapers, monitored telegraph lines, imposed martial law and arrested anyone suspected of being pro-Southern. Although bloodless, the swift, decisive measures taken at Fort McHenry secured the city for the Union Cause. With Fort McHenry in Union hands, Maryland, and the rest of the South, remained as stars in the flag snapping over the ramparts. "The loss of Baltimore would have been the loss of Maryland; the loss of Maryland would have been the loss of the national capital, and perhaps, if not probably, the loss of the Union cause." -- Union Maj. Gen. John Dix, 1861 A Victory Greater than Gettysburg: Fort McHenry in Union Hands 1861-1865
8. FTMCEX_131027_088.JPG: 1861: One Family, One Flag? Over the course of the Civil War, Union forces confined over 2,000 prisoners of state at Fort McHenry. One of them was Frank Key Howard, the grandson of Francis Scott Key. On September 13, 1861, federal authorities arrested Howard for his editorials in The Baltimore Daily Exchange. Howard's views show how difficult it was for Marylanders to choose sides. Howard initially disagreed with the secession of the southern states, but also believed that force should not be used to bring them back into the Union. His criticism of the Lincoln administration resulted in his arrest and the closure of his newspaper. "I could not but contrast my position with his, forty-seven years before. The flag which he had then so proudly hailed, I saw waving, at the same place, over the victims of as vulgar and brutal a despotism as modern times have witnessed." -- Frank Key Howard, September 14, 1861
9. FTMCEX_131027_094.JPG: 1917: The Great War -- General Hospital No. 2 During the First World War, Fort McHenry served as one of the largest military hospitals in the nation. A staff of 1,000 doctors, nurses, medical corpsmen and aides ran the 3,000-bed hospital from 1917 until 1923. Aides made use of cutting-edge therapeutic techniques at the bedside, teachers practiced occupational therapy with the disabled, and a team of surgeons performed miracles in maxillofacial surgery. Nurses and corpsmen worked tirelessly with civilian organizations and local businesses to care for over 20,000 servicemen. The sight of the 48-star American flag waving over the fort provided reassurance and comfort to the healing veterans who fought "to make the world safe for democracy." " ... it was we, who had to recreate out of the wreckage of war -- clean and useful men..." -- Nurse Emile Raine Williams
10. FTMCEX_131027_100.JPG: United States Army General Hospital No. 2 Fort McHenry, MD
11. FTMCEX_131027_103.JPG: 1922: In 1922, President Warren G. Harding visited the soldiers of General Hospital No. 2 to dedicate a huge bronze statue of the Greek hero Orpheus in honor of Francis Scott Key. A new era of national memory for Fort McHenry had begun. The following decade saw the demolition of the hospital, restoration of the grounds and refurbishment of historic structures. The declaration of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the official national anthem of the United States in 1931 gave the park nationwide significance, and the US Army transferred Fort McHenry to the National Park Service in 1933. In 1939 Congress again honored Fort McHenry by re-designating it a National Monument and Historic Shrine, the only site in the National Park Service with this dual designation. Visitation continued to rise during the 1930s in spite of the Great Depression, but the start of a second World War would give the fort a new mission. From Active Post to National Monument and Historic Shrine, 1925-1939
12. FTMCEX_131027_109.JPG: 1942: Semper Paratus ... Fort McHenry in World War II: When the storm of World War II broke upon the United States with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans turned to Fort McHenry for inspiration and service. Although the fort remained open to visitors, the United States Coast Guard established a fire control and port security training facility on the adjacent grounds. During the course of the war, over 26,000 men and women trained here. Port security was a top priority. Coastguardsmen patrolled nearby dry docks where ships were built, guarded ammunition dumps, and performed security duties on foreign ships. As the war progressed, training in shipboard firefighting, damage control, and fire safety took precedence. Many of these techniques are still used today. The fort and its flag acted as a beacon of inspiration throughout the conflict. The first captured Japanese flags were displayed here as war trophies in 1942. Enlistment ceremonies, recruiting drives, and special radio broadcasts all stressed the importance of the birthplace of the National Anthem. "I remember raising the flag over the fort for morning colors. That was a big honor for me." -- Peter Mozzo, US Coast Guard
13. FTMCEX_131027_123.JPG: Throughout our nation's history, Fort McHenry and the American flag have had many meanings. In 1814, they represented the honor of a young republic fighting to preserve its freedoms. During the Civil War many Americans viewed them as symbols of liberty while others saw them as representing despotism. As Americans confronted totalitarianism and global wars in the 20th century, the role of the fort and symbol of the flag expressed a people's commitment to democracy at home and abroad. Although no longer a military post, the flag still flies at dawn' early light each morning "o'er the ramparts." Fort McHenry possesses power of place. Seeing the American flag waving over the Fort today, what meanings and impressions come to your mind? You are making history today by visiting the fort
14. FTMCEX_131027_129.JPG: Fighters for Freedom With over one million people held in bondage, the "Star-Spangled Banner" did not truly wave over the "land of the free" during the War of 1812. Thousands of enslaved African-Americans saw the British as liberators. Escaping as individuals and as families, over 4,000 fled to the British who offered them freedom and resettlement. In 1814 the British recruited enslaved African-Americans for military service in the Colonial Marines. Approximately 200 served in this unit. During the year, the Colonial Marines launched raids against tobacco plantations throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and fought in the Battle of North Point. " ... the Conduct of our new raised Corps, the Colonial Marines, who were the first time, employed in Arms against their old Masters on this occasion, ... behaved to the admiration of every Body." -- Admiral George Cockburn, June 25, 1814
15. FTMCEX_131027_140.JPG: The Battle Key did not see... North Point, September 12, 1814 Before bombarding Fort McHenry, the British fought a bloody engagement with American militia six miles from Baltimore known as the "Battle of North Point." From a truce ship four miles away, Francis Scott Key heard the distant gunfire and saw the British casualties returning to the fleet. This battle and Key's anger at the British invasion is commemorated in the third stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner." -- " ... their blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution. No refuge could save, the hireling and slave from the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave..." Although a portion is preserved, most of the battlefield became a housing development in the 1950s.
16. FTMCEX_131027_148.JPG: 1814 September 12 Mission Accomplished The Battle of North Point pitted the citizen-soldiers of the Maryland Militia against a professional army made up of British subjects. Led by Brigadier General John Stricker, the 3rd Brigade's mission was to delay the British advance on Baltimore, determine the size and strength of the enemy and inflict as many casualties as possible. The battle began at approximately 2:30pm on Monday, September 12, 1814. Each side traded murderous artillery fire and a half of bullets for an hour and a half. The Americans lost over 150 men. Outnumbered and outflanked, the 3rd Brigade finally withdrew. The American citizen-soldier had stood toe-to-toe with the British and earned their respect. The British claimed victory, but Stricker's brigade had accomplished its mission. "I feel a pride in the belief that the stand made on Monday, in no small degree, tended to check the temerity of the foe, daring to invade a country like ours and designing the destruction of our city..." -- Brigadier General John Sticker, September, 1814
17. FTMCEX_131027_161.JPG: The Fog of War: Combat in 1814 could be both personal and impersonal. The short range of weapons meant that you would often be close enough to see the individual faces of the enemy at which you aimed. The tremendous amount of smoke produced by muskets and cannon, on the other hand, would at times completely obscure the other side, and each side would then fire blindly in the direction of the enemy. The fog of war made it difficult to assess the true nature and outcome of a battle. In his after-action report, Colonel Arthur Brooke wrote that the British had faced over 7,000 Americans, when less than 1,500 had fought. "... such was the denseness of the smoke, that it was only when a passing breeze swept away the cloud for a moment, that either force became visible to the other." -- Lt. George Gleig, 85th Regiment of Foot
18. FTMCEX_131027_165.JPG: A British General Is Killed Before the Battle of North Point, both sides traded 'light' fire, or skirmished, in order to determine the position and strength of the opposing force. Major General Robert Ross, commanding the British forces, heard the skirmishing at Gorsuch Farm and rode ahead to survey the terrain and direct the upcoming battle. As the gunshots rang out, Ross fell mortally wounded. Respected by his men for leadership and bravery, his death proved a blow to British morale. Although the British won a tactical victory at North Point, the death of General Ross, fierceness of the Maryland militia and loss of 300 casualties made the British high command reluctant to attack the American entrenchments on the outskirts of Baltimore the following day. " ... my gallant and highly valued friend, the Major General, received a musket ball through his arm into his breast, which proved fatal to him... Our country sir, has lost one of its best and bravest soldiers..." -- George Cockburn, Rear Admiral, 1814
19. FTMCEX_131027_171.JPG: Battle-Hardened Veterans: From the British perspective, the Battle of North Point represented a small action in a relatively minor war. Before coming to America, three of the four regiments engaged, the 4th, 44th, and 85th had fought against French forces for several years. In Europe, under the leadership of the Duke of Wellington, they participated in battles involving over 90,000 soldiers in campaigns lasting months. Discipline, endurance, and steadfastness under fire marked a professional soldier during the Napoleonic era. With the collapse of the French Empire in 1814 many British subjects looked forward to an era of peace and a quick conclusion to the war with America. " ... march, I say, over the hills and far away -- over the hills and o'er the main, to Flanders, Portugal and Spain[,] King George commands and we'll obey, over the hills and far away." -- Traditional British army song, "Over the Hills and Far Away"
20. FTMCEX_131027_185.JPG: 1814 Enlisted Men's Barracks, No. 2: Of the 60 soldiers in Captain Frederick Evans' company, US Corps of Artillery, 16 soldiers occupied this room, sleeping four to a bunk. To enhance an esprit de corps, the color yellow, signifying the artillery service, was used on the wood trim and on the soldiers' uniforms. The soldiers, whose names were inscribed on the bunks, served for five years or the duration of the war, and received $8 per month. Recruiting Notice: Of these "reputable young men" who garrisoned Ft. McHenry, only a third were born in America. In addition to the land bounties that had encouraged them to enlist, others served with a sense of patriotism defending their new home.
21. FTMCEX_131027_200.JPG: The folding camp bed, with the bed curtains and wooden trunk, were popular with military officers. George Washington used a similar one during the Revolutionary War. The tin tankards are copies of one used by Private Solomon Etting, one of four Orthodox Jews in the Baltimore Fencibles. The folding cots, dining table, Windsor chairs and cupboard are all original pieces of the period. The clothing and all textiles are reproductions.
22. FTMCEX_131027_208.JPG: "Every morning at 6 o'clock, a small covered cart left [the city] for the fort with food sent by the families for members of this company ... a large stone jug around which was tightly sewn a cover of carpet ... filled with hot coffee each morning ... always arrived good and hot." -- Private Mendes I. Cohen, Baltimore Fencibles "We could see [our] shot strike the frigates in several instances ... we gave three cheers, the music playing Yankee Doodle ... in our company we had six severely wounded and two killed..." -- Private Isaac Munroe, Baltimore Fencibles, Editor, Baltimore Patriot & Evening Advertiser "We were like pigeons tied by the led to be shot at." -- Captain Joseph Nicholson, Baltimore Fenciblss "At this time [9am, September 14, 1814], our morning gun was fired, the flag hoisted, Yankee Doodle played, and we all appeared in full view of a formidable and mortified enemy..." -- Private Isaac Munroe, Baltimore Fencibles, Editor, Baltimore Patriot & Evening Advertiser "I give you joy, my dear friend; after a tremendous conflict we got rid of the enemy for the present. Baltimore has maintained it's honor... against the enemy with spirit, bravery and unanimity, all of which have been shown in the memorable days and nights of the 12th, 13th, and 14th of September 1814." -- Private George Douglas, Baltimore Fencibles
23. FTMCEX_131027_218.JPG: The Baltimore Fencibles: 1813-1815: This independent artillery company of 64 officers and men was attached to the 1st Regiment, Maryland Volunteer Artillery, which was part of the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Division of Maryland Militia. The four officers of this citizen-soldier company occupied this room in the summer of 1814. They represented the elite of Baltimore's mercantile society and were well trained in the use of artillery. Many of the company had invested in the profitable privateer and maritime trades and stood to lose a great deal should the British capture the city. They all knew what had happened to Washington DC when the British had captured it in August. "Let us act with one heart, and one hand; let us show to an admiring world, that however we may differ among ourselves about some of our internal concerns, yet in the great cause of our country, the American people are animated by one soul and one spirit." -- Captain Joseph Nicholson, Baltimore Fencibles
24. FTMCEX_131027_222.JPG: Call To Arms The Maryland Militia Law of 1811 states: "All free white male inhabitants of the age of 18 and under 45 years, be enrolled in their respective military districts." The US Constitution, Article I, Section 8, grants the President the power: "to provide for calling forth the militia to... repel invasions." On August 16, 1814 British forces arrived in the Chesapeake Bay. Three days later President Madison acted on those powers and called the militia to arms.
25. FTMCEX_131027_236.JPG: Original Cross Brace: Imagine you are standing in a trench dug by archaeologists in 1958. At your feet you see the actual cross brace that anchored the flag pole during the bombardment. It is a tangible link to one of the most important icons of American history, the Star-Spangled Banner. A second cross brace, represented above, would have secured the flag pole at ground level. The original has not survived. The exhibit case to your left contains artifacts recovered at Fort McHenry, from different historic periods. They are placed in a setting to suggest the 1958 archeological excavation.
26. FTMCEX_131027_243.JPG: Fear and Fortitude: The entrance to the fort was through a gate called the Sally Port. Archeology performed nearby has brought to light key features like the Traverse and Flagstaff, that tell stories of the defenders' fears and resolution. A critical weak point: Fears of a land-based attack led to the construction of a "traverse" behind the Sally Port in 1813. It stood only a few feet away from the flagpole. Six feet high, eight feet wide and thirteen feet long and built of solid brick, the traverse was the last-ditch defensive feature if the enemy entered the fort. Never recorded on any map, the existence of the traverse was revealed by archeology in 1982. A strategic location: The flagpole occupied a strategic location inside the fort. It stood near the Guardhouse, where the flag was stored, and in close proximity to the Sally Port, the main entrance to the fort. It was located in the most visible area of the fort and protected in part, by the traverse.
27. FTMCEX_131027_246.JPG: A critical weak point: Fears of a land-based attack led to the construction of a "traverse" behind the Sally Port in 1813. It stood only a few feet away from the flagpole. Six feet high, eight feet wide and thirteen feet long and built of solid brick, the traverse was the last-ditch defensive feature if the enemy entered the fort. Never recorded on any map, the existence of the traverse was revealed by archeology in 1982. A strategic location: The flagpole occupied a strategic location inside the fort. It stood near the Guardhouse, where the flag was stored, and in close proximity to the Sally Port, the main entrance to the fort. It was located in the most visible area of the fort and protected in part, by the traverse.
28. FTMCEX_131027_252.JPG: The Star-Spangled Banner flagpole: This model shows show the historic flagpole was constructed. Deep underground was a massive cross brace, which supported the flagpole and kept it from tipping over in the wind. What was the flagpole made of? During the War of 1812, Eastern White Pine was frequently used for ships' masts and flagpoles. In the early 1800s, New England forests were abundant with Eastern White Pine trees growing over 120 feet tall. Today, the modern flagpole is made of Douglas Fir due to the scarcity of Eastern White Pine at such a size. Living History: The prominence of Fort McHenry's flagpole continues to the present day. The first 49-star and 50-star American flags flew over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine at one minute past midnight on July 4 before becoming official. Even today, visitors bring American flags to the fort to be officially flown over the "Birthplace" or "The Star-Spangled Banner."
29. FTMCEX_131027_258.JPG: What was the flagpole made of? During the War of 1812, Eastern White Pine was frequently used for ships' masts and flagpoles. In the early 1800s, New England forests were abundant with Eastern White Pine trees growing over 120 feet tall. Today, the modern flagpole is made of Douglas Fir due to the scarcity of Eastern White Pine at such a size. Living History: The prominence of Fort McHenry's flagpole continues to the present day. The first 49-star and 50-star American flags flew over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine at one minute past midnight on July 4 before becoming official. Even today, visitors bring American flags to the fort to be officially flown over the "Birthplace" or "The Star-Spangled Banner."
30. FTMCEX_131027_265.JPG: The 1814 cross brace -- lost and found: Where did the Star-Spangled Banner fly in 1814? For a long time, the answer was unclear. Images of the 1814 fort give hints but not definite answer. An 1803 map shows the flagpole was near the Sally Port, but an 1839 map places it on one of the points of "bastions" overlooking the water. In 1958 archeologists explored the area around the Sally Port, using the 1803 map for guidance. They discovered two large timbers, fitted into the shape of a cross with a large rectangular hole in the center, several feet underground. This cross brace was designed to keep the flagpole from tipping over in the wind. This rediscovery of the cross brace is an excellent example of how archeology and documentary history can be combined to learn about the past. A physical link to the Star-Spangled Banner: These oak timbers are the last pieces of the 1814 flagpole that remain here at the fort. The original flag can be seen in Washington, DC, at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. The Maryland Historical Society owns Francis Scott Key's original manuscript.
31. FTMCEX_131027_268.JPG: A physical link to the Star-Spangled Banner: These oak timbers are the last pieces of the 1814 flagpole that remain here at the fort. The original flag can be seen in Washington, DC, at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. The Maryland Historical Society owns Francis Scott Key's original manuscript.
32. FTMCEX_131027_277.JPG: Making the fort a home ... An officer's life: Most officers came from well-to-do families. Archeological finds demonstrate that even while preparing for battle, officer enjoyed high-quality dishes, silver utensils, and imported luxury goods like tea and wine provided at personal expense. Tavern Life: Archeology has confirmed the location of the privately-owned tavern that stood just outside the main entrance to the fort from about 1796 to 1837. The tavern was a place where both officers and enlisted men could relax, share news, and imbibe. Archeological finds included fragments of architecture and pieces of wine bottles.
33. FTMCEX_131027_281.JPG: A soldier's life: The soldiers who served at Fort McHenry left behind many traces of their daily lives that archeologists use to tell us what they ate, wore, and used. Daily Rations: In 1814 a soldier's ration included beef, salt port, bread, and liquor. Indigestion was not uncommon, nor was complaining about the food. A military doctor's manual from 1808 states: "salted beef and pork should not have the appearance of having been salted more than one year." Important Buttons: Metal buttons are among the few uniform items that can survive in the ground. 203 buttons were recovered in the 1978 field dig alone. Military and civilian, they range over a 100-year period. Knowing the manufacturer, civilian styles and military regulations allows archeologists to date the button and thus the places they were found.
34. FTMCEX_131027_286.JPG: Traces of Battle ... Fort McHenry in 1814: Originally constructed between 1797 and 1803, the fort Francis Scott Key saw in 1814 is still here. Archeologists have uncovered artifacts and features that paint a picture of the fort and its defenders during the bombardment. "O'er the ramparts we watched..." Archeologists have found the original ramparts of 1814, dated by the discovery of period military uniform buttons and texture of the soil. As the fort was modernized over time, soil was added making the ramparts higher than they were in 1814. The diagram below shows that the ramparts still remain intact under a foot of earth. A Desperate Defense: In 1988 archeologists discovered a previously undocumented tenaille, or defensive trench, along the northwest wall of the fort. Likely dug by the 600 infantrymen on the eve of the battle, the tenaille offered limited protection. In this trench, archeologists unearthed an 1814 British bomb fragment and a soldier's 1814 uniform button.
35. FTMCEX_131027_288.JPG: Daily Rations: In 1814 a soldier's ration included beef, salt port, bread, and liquor. Indigestion was not uncommon, nor was complaining about the food. A military doctor's manual from 1808 states: "salted beef and pork should not have the appearance of having been salted more than one year." Important Buttons: Metal buttons are among the few uniform items that can survive in the ground. 203 buttons were recovered in the 1978 field dig alone. Military and civilian, they range over a 100-year period. Knowing the manufacturer, civilian styles and military regulations allows archeologists to date the button and thus the places they were found.
36. FTMCEX_131027_290.JPG: "O'er the ramparts we watched..." Archeologists have found the original ramparts of 1814, dated by the discovery of period military uniform buttons and texture of the soil. As the fort was modernized over time, soil was added making the ramparts higher than they were in 1814. The diagram below shows that the ramparts still remain intact under a foot of earth. A Desperate Defense: In 1988 archeologists discovered a previously undocumented tenaille, or defensive trench, along the northwest wall of the fort. Likely dug by the 600 infantrymen on the eve of the battle, the tenaille offered limited protection. In this trench, archeologists unearthed an 1814 British bomb fragment and a soldier's 1814 uniform button.
37. FTMCEX_131027_294.JPG: Archeology at Fort McHenry: Archeological excavations have been going on at the fort since the late 1950s. These digs have revealed important information about the fort and the people who have lived and served here. Uncovering the history of the fort: The digs at Fort McHenry have proven that the core of the 1814 fort is still present, although much has changed. An active post for over 100 years after the battle, earthworks have been moved, defenses enhanced, and outmoded structures torn down. You can't tell just from looking around, however, evidence remains underground. What was life like at the fort? One of archeology's main contributions to our understanding of the past is what it can tell us about the everyday lives of the men and women who lived and worked at the fort. Many of the artifacts found tell us what they wore, what they ate, and how they passed their time. The Star-Spangled Banner: The most exciting archeological find at Fort McHenry to date is the cross brace for the flagpole which carried the Star-Spangled Banner during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. Seeing this flag flying inspired Francis Scott Key to write his famous song. This discovery led the National Park Service to move the flagpole to its original location.
38. FTMCEX_131027_297.JPG: Uncovering the history of the fort: The digs at Fort McHenry have proven that the core of the 1814 fort is still present, although much has changed. An active post for over 100 years after the battle, earthworks have been moved, defenses enhanced, and outmoded structures torn down. You can't tell just from looking around, however, evidence remains underground. What was life like at the fort? One of archeology's main contributions to our understanding of the past is what it can tell us about the everyday lives of the men and women who lived and worked at the fort. Many of the artifacts found tell us what they wore, what they ate, and how they passed their time. The Star-Spangled Banner: The most exciting archeological find at Fort McHenry to date is the cross brace for the flagpole which carried the Star-Spangled Banner during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. Seeing this flag flying inspired Francis Scott Key to write his famous song. This discovery led the National Park Service to move the flagpole to its original location.
39. FTMCEX_131027_302.JPG: Archeology uncovers the history under your feet: This idealized cross-section of an excavation displays examples of the many kinds of objects recovered from digs at Fort McHenry. All of these objects were found at the fort. An artifact's location in the soil can help archeologists date long-buried structures, as well as to illuminate the lifestyle of the fort's inhabitants.
40. FTMCEX_131027_322.JPG: Powder Magazine: Magazines are structures designed to protect gunpowder and ammunition from moisture, sparks, and impact. In 1814, a much smaller magazine stood here. During the famous bombardment, a British shell crashed into the reef, but miraculously failed to set off an explosion. Immediately after the battle, work began on a stronger magazine -- the one you see today. The brick walls and arched roof are so thick that the space inside used to store powder accounts for only 10% of the building's total volume.
41. FTMCEX_131027_330.JPG: 1814 Powder Chamber: In late August of 1814, Major Armistead was ordered to make 320,000 musket cartridges for Baltimore's defense. The cartridges were stored here, along with other munitions, including artillery cartridges in boxes and loose power in kegs. As you view the chamber, note the various suppliers who provided gunpowder for Baltimore's defense. The Bellona Gunpowder Company and the Aetna Gun Powder Factory were well known. Conditions in the chamber were regulated. To prevent dampness, a rear window provided fresh air. To illuminate the room, a secured window alcove, behind and above you, held a reflective lantern.
42. FTMCEX_131027_352.JPG: Commanding Officer's Quarters: The rooms on the left end of this building stood as a separate structure during the 1814 period. This was the residence of Major George Armistead, commanding officer and "Hero of Fort McHenry." It was Armistead who directed the successful defense of Fort McHenry in 1814. He also ordered the making of a large flag to defy the attacking British -- the same flag that inspired Francis Scott Key. Armistead's wife Louisa and their two-year-old daughter probably did not stay here often. There was little privacy, and the attic bedrooms were too hot to use in summer. We know that at the time of the British bombardment, the family was evacuated to Gettysburg, where Louisa gave birth to a daughter one day after the American victory here. Armistead's tireless efforts at Fort McHenry left him exhausted and unable to regain his health; he died in 1818.
43. FTMCEX_131027_355.JPG: Commanding Officer's Quarters
44. FTMCEX_131027_358.JPG: 1814 Guardhouse
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2013 photos: Equipment this year: I mostly used my Fuji XS-1 camera but, depending on the event, I also used a Nikon D7000 and Nikon D600. Trips this year: three Civil War Trust conferences (Memphis, TN, Jackson, MS [to which I added a week to to visit sites in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee], and Richmond, VA), and my 8th consecutive San Diego Comic-Con trip (including sites in Nevada and California). Ego Strokes: Aviva Kempner used my photo of her as her author photo in Larry Ruttman's "American Jews & America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball" book. Number of photos taken this year: just over 570,000.
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