A historian gives cutlass lessons to children at Fort McHenry in Baltimore on Thursday.
Melissa Golden for The Wall Street Journal
Posted on 08/30/2014 5:56:17 AM PDT by Pharmboy
State Has Awarded $5.5 Million in Grants for Celebrations, Research and Education
A historian gives cutlass lessons to children at Fort McHenry in Baltimore on Thursday.
Melissa Golden for The Wall Street Journal
BALTIMORE—Maryland officials are on a campaign to elevate the profile of the War of 1812, a historically unpopular conflict that ended in a draw with Britain and has long been overshadowed by the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
The state is planning a weeklong festival next month to mark the 200th anniversary of the city's defense in 1814, which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the poem that later became the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem.
State officials also have awarded $5.5 million in grants for celebrations, educational programs and research, hoping to generate a lasting patriotic buzz about Maryland's starring role in a war that largely has been written off as a historical footnote.
"This is not just about having a party and shutting it down for another hundred years," said Bill Pencek, executive director of Maryland's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. He said the state is counting on an enduring tourism boost.
If it is recalled at all, the War of 1812, which ended in 1815, is most often remembered for the British burning of Washington and the White House. But some of the lowest and highest points in the conflict actually occurred in nearby Maryland.
The error-filled collapse of American troops in Bladensburg, Md., in August 1814 gave the British easy entrée to the nation's capital. By contrast, the successful defense of Baltimore amid the British bombardment at Fort McHenry helped fuel American patriotism when an oversized American flag stood tall following the siege.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
That was 400 yards.
God save the Old Line!
I think, though, that it was most definitely unpopular when the young US declared war on Great Britain. For example, even Lt. Colonel Reed, who successfully led the militia against Sir Peter Parker’s troops at Caulk’s Field on 31 AUG 1814, had voted against declaring war while he was a legislator.
It was a draw in the sense that no lands exchanged hands and no borders changed.
Without those brave Marylanders (The 400), we might still be singing “God Save the Queen” to this day.
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