The “Other” Star Spangled Banner

 

The following article was submitted to NutleyWatch.com by Michael Perrone, of the Belleville Historical Society:

 

THE “OTHER” STAR SPANGLED BANNER

by Michael Perrone
Belleville Historical Society

 

This week America will celebrate the Bicentennial of the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor and the birth of Star Spangled Banner on September 14, 1814. After burning down Washington DC in August of 1814 and sending America into a panic, the British set their sights on Baltimore and Fort McHenry. The spectacular 25 hour bombardment of the fort by the British Navy, included almost 2,000 bombs weighing 200 pounds each and hundreds of the newly developed weapon: rockets ! This attack was that era’s version of “shock and awe”. The event was witnessed by a young American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, who was being detained on one of the British ships. He watched all night, and like the British, at dawn was stunned to see that “the flag was still there”. greatly inspired he wrote “The Defence of Fort McHenry” the title of which was later changed to the “Star Spangled Banner”,

Spectacular celebrations with parades and fireworks and with everyone from the President, Congress and the Armed Forces, will take place this weekend in Washington and Baltimore to honor the historic battle and the song which it inspired. But very few Americans, with the exception of military scholars, know the full story of that event, the actual reason for the attack on Washington and Fort McHenry. Few are aware that less than 500 miles away another more important, much more critical battle was occurring almost simultaneously. A bombardment with hundreds of cannon roaring away and hundreds of glaring red rockets, and with a much greater loss of American life. And amazingly there too, the American flags on land and sea “were still there”. The battle that saved America as we know it today, the battle that more than a century later Winston Churchill would call “the decisive battle of the war”, and the battle which FDR said “should be celebrated on a national level”. The Battle of Plattsburgh, New York.

In April of 1814 after the British had defeated Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington’s Army was now available to be shipped across the Atlantic. The British Secretary of War Henry Bathurst planned a major invasion of the United States and needed a diversion to draw the attention of the Americans away from this invasion. The ordered diversion was the attack on Washington and Baltimore. The British had no interest in these areas as there was no way to maintain control of this area. The British however were certain that they could easily expand their Canadian border south and easily control New York State and New England. Confident in this strategy, an army of 15,000 British troops, an incredible size at that time (equivalent to a force of over 500.000 when adjusted for today”s population) invaded the United States from Canada in September of 1814. Supported by a large British fleet they attacked Plattsburgh New York on the banks of Lake Champlain. Plattsburgh was the northern headquarters of the United States Army and main ammunition depot. The majority of the troops at Plattsburgh however had just marched west 200 miles believing that a British assault in that area was likely. This left Plattsburgh defended by a small garrison of 1500 troops, including those ill and injured, under the Command of Brigadier General Alexander Macomb. A small American fleet commanded by Commodore Thomas Macdonough prepared to meet the larger British fleet in Plattsburgh Bay. The citizenry of Plattsburgh realizing that the Americans were hopelessly outnumbered left the city for safer quarters. Macomb’s forces were reinforced by largely untrained volunteer militiamen from New York and Vermont and 20 local schoolboys who would heroically defend a bridge.

The British attack on Plattsburgh began on September 6, with the main battle taking place on September 11. Miraculously the Americans won. This was accomplished in large part by the brilliant naval strategy of Commodore Macdonough who after several hours of ferocious fighting defeated the British fleet and accepted their surrender. General Macomb’s troops put up a fierce resistance, with even sick and incapacitated soldiers firing rifles and cannon. Macomb had tricked the British into believing that the American force was larger than it actually was. Without the British Navy to supply the ground troops and fearing the arrival of American reinforcements, the British retreated back to Canada. Thus the United States was left whole and intact, and a peace treaty was signed 3 months later. Sadly the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war had ended as word had not reached Andrew Jackson or the British commanders in New Orleans.

Like the Battle of Fort McHenry’s Francis Scott Key, the Battle of Plattsburgh also had a witness with pen in hand who also was inspired to write a little known poem later to become a song entitled “The Banks of Champlain”, written by Catherine Macomb, wife of General Alexander Macomb.

Almost two hundred American troops were killed at the Battle of Plattsburgh with hundreds more wounded. Four American troops were killed at Fort McHenry.

General Macomb and his wife and children made their home at 125 Main Street in Belleville, New Jersey. Macomb lived in Belleville from the 1790’s until 1816, He and his wife Catherine were married at Christ Church on Main Street in Belleville in 1803, the ceremony was officiated by Rev. Ogden, president of the Newark Academy, where Macomb had attended school. In 1828 President John Quincy Adams appointed Macomb as America’s highest ranking military officer, Commanding General of the United States Army. Macomb died in office at age 57. He received a state funeral. The thousands of mourners were led to the Congressional Cemetery by President John Tyler and former president John Quincy Adams. Macomb’s 13 foot tall grave monument is capped with a Spartan helmet, in tribute to those who courageously stand in battle against an enemy far superior in number, like the Spartans at the ancient Battle of Thermypolae.

To commemorate the Bicentennials of the Battles of Plattsburgh, Fort McHenry, the Star Spangled Banner and Belleville’s own hero General Macomb the Belleville Historical Society will on the morning of September 11, raise the Star Spangled Banner, the 15 star flag, to fly at Belleville Town Hall. On Sunday September 14 at 6pm the Historical Society will raise the Star Spangled Banner at the Belleville Reformed Church cemetery sing the national anthem (both verses) and fire a 21 gun cannon salute. The flags that we will be raising here, were at our request to Mayor Canlon of Plattsburgh, graciously flown over the Battle of Plattsburgh Monument. The Belleville Historical Society has produced a Youtube video tribute: “Star Spangled Banner Bicentennial Belleville” which includes the first recording of the Star Spangled Banner, sung by the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson in 1914 on the Centennial of the Star Spangled Banner. The song “Banks of Champlain” by General Macomb’s wife Catherine can be found online. It was recorded by Pete Seeger.

The Belleville Historical Society is currently in the process of producing a recording of Macomb’s song.

 

Major General Alexander Macomb of Belleville Hero of the War of 1812 Commanding General of the United States Army 1828-1841
Major General Alexander Macomb of Belleville
Hero of the War of 1812
Commanding General of the United States Army
1828-1841

 

 

 

 

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Lee "Griff" Dorry - Founder, watchdog, and public advocate. ♫ They've got strings, but you can see, there are no strings on me. ♫

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