Baltimore, attack on (1814), episode in the War of 1812 that inspired Francis Scott Key to write ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’, belatedly the US national anthem. After sacking Washington, the British fleet bombarded the coastal works of Baltimore on 13-14 September. Hulks had been sunk to prevent the approach of larger warships, so rocket and mortar boats were employed. The ‘banner’ was a huge, specially made flag flying over Fort McHenry, the ‘red glare’ came from the ever-erratic Congreve rockets, while the ‘bombs bursting in air’ were presumably the product of incorrectly cut fuses. Once it was decided not to mount a land assault, the attack was abandoned.
— Hugh Bicheno
