FROM THE NILES (MucHrGAN) INrELLIeENcER.
THE sTAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
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THE sTAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
One of our contemporaries, IN re-publishing day
or two ago the justly admired and well known po-
etical eusion under this e, stated that its author
Francis S. Key, Esq. was prisoner on board one
Of the British bomb ships IN the Patapsco when he
wrote it. This is mistake. The song in ques-
ton was originally published, in the Baltimore
American ofthe 21st Of September, 1914, a week
= after the bombardment of Fort McHenry, and the
circumstances under which it composed, are
thus stated in the Introductory editorial paragraph
which then accompanied it. Mr.. Key fills the
Office of U. S. District Attorney for the District of
Columbia:


"DEFExcE OF BALTIMoRE.-The annexed song
was composed under the following circumstances ::
gentleman had left Baltimore in flag OF truce
for the purpose of getting released from the British
feet friend of his who had been captured at Marl-
borough. He went far as the mouth of the
Patuxent, and not permitted to return lest the
intended attack on Baltimore should be disclosed.
He was therefore brought up the Bay to the mouth
Of the Patapsco where the fag-vessel was kept un-
der the guns of q frigate, and he compelled TO
witness the bombardment of Fort McHenry, which
the Admiral had boasted that he would carry in
few hours, and that the city must fall. He watch





an anxiety that can be better felt than described
until the night prevented him from seeing it. In
the night he watched the bomb shells, and at early
dawn his eye was again greeted by the proudly
waving flag of his country"


o! say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twllights last


cleaning,


Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro the per-


ilous fight,


Ger the ramparts we watch'd were so galantly


streaming?


And the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air.
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still


there;


Oh! say does the star-spangled Banner yet wave,
Oerth land of the free and the home ofthe brave?
On the shore dimly seen, through the mist Of the


deep,
Where the foes naughty host in dread silence


reposes
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering


steep,
As it itfuIy blows, half conceals, half dscloses
Now it catches CLEAN of the mornings first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream,
IT'S the Star-spangled Banner o! long may wave,



And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battles confusion,
A home and country shall leave US no more7
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps


pollution.


No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror offlight, the gloom oftbe grave
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall


wave,


Ger the land ofthe free and the home of the brave
o! thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between Iheirloved home and the wars desolation,
Blest with victory and peace may the heaven res


cu'd land,
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved


US Nation


Then conquer we must, when cause it is just,
And this be our motto-"IN Con IS OUR TRUST !"
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall


wave,


Ger the land of the free and the home of the brave