BOMBARDMENT OF FORT M'HENRY. 145 lay in a little vessel under the Admiral's frigate.. He had visited him for the purpose of obtaining an exchange of some prisoners of war, especially of one who was a personal friend, and was directed to remain till after the action. During the day his eye had rested eagerly on that low fortification, over which the flag of his country was flying, and he watched with the intensest anxiety the progress of each shell in it flight, rejoicing when it fell short of its aim, and filled with fear as he saw it stooping without exploding, within those silent enclosures. At night, when darkness shut out that object of so much and intense interest, around which every hope and desire of his life seemed to cling, he still stood straining his eyes through the gloom, to catch, if he could, by the light of the blazing shells, a glimpse of his country's flag, waving proudly in the storm. The early dawn found him still a watcher, and there, to the music of bursting shells, and the roar of cannon, he composed "The Star-Spangled Banner."* *The scene and the occasion which called forth this beautiful ode, have helped to make it a national one. It requires but little imagination to conceive the intense and thrilling anxiety with which a true patriot would look for the first gray streak of morning, to see if the flag of his country was still flying, while the heart involuntarily asks the question “O, say, can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last glearning? O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, In the morning, Broke not deeming it prudent w assail those intrenchments, manned by brave and determined men,* while the heights around bristled with artillery, resolved to retreat. Waiting till night to take advantage of the darkness, he retraced his steps to the shipping. From the extreme apprehensions that had oppressed it, Baltimore passed to the most extravagant joy. Beaming faces once more filled the streets, and the military bands, as they marched through, playing triumphant strains, were saluted with shouts. The officers were feted and exultation and confidence filled every bosom. O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, On that shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, "Tis the star-spangled banner, O, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." * Senator Smith, who had been appointed general, commanded the 10,000 militia who manned the works. CHAPTER VII. Macomb at Plattsburg-American and English fleets on Lake Champlain-Advance of Prevost-Indifference of Governor Chittenden-Rev. Mr. Wooster-Macdonough-The two battles-Funeral of the officers-British invasion of MaineMcArthur's expedition. THE gallant defence of Baltimore was still the theme of every tongue, when tidings from our northern borders swelled the enthusiasm to the highest pitch, and extinguished for a moment the remembrance of the barbarities committed at Washington. The day before the British landed at North Point and received their first shock in the death of General Ross, the double battle of Plattsburg was fought. Izard, when he started on his tortoise-like march, to the relief of Brown, left Colonel Macomb in command of three thousand men, not more than half of whom were fit for service. Their defeat he considered certain, and the result would have justified his prognostications, had Macomb, like him, sat down to brood over his troubles and gaze only on the dif ficulties that beset the army, till his confidence was gone and his energies paralyzed. But he was made of sterner stuff-difficulties only roused and developed him. Were the well men under his command few then his defences must be the stronger, and the labor of those able to work, the more constant and exhausting. Calling on New York and Vermont for militia, he toiled night and day at the works, and soon found himself strongly intrenched. In the mean time, Prevost, at the head of a disciplined army of twelve thousand men, began to advance on Plattsburg. The ulterior design of this. invasion of the States has never been disclosed. It is hardly possible that the British General meditated a movement similar to Burgoyne's, hoping to reach Albany. The object may have been to get entire command of Lake Champlain; and, pushing his land forces as far as Ticonderoga, there wait the development of events on the sea-coast, or by conquests along the northern boundary, create a claim to the lakes, to be enforced in the negotiations for peace. Prevost marched slowly, cumbering the road with his heavy baggage and artillery trains as he ad PREVOST AT PLATTSBURGH. 149 vanced, and did not arrive at Plattsburg till the 7th of September. This town is situated on the Saranac River, a deep and rapid stream, crossed at the time by several bridges. Abandoning that portion of it on the north shore, as untenable, Macomb withdrew his forces to the southern bank. Prevost, after a sharp action with the advance of the American army, was allowed to erect his batteries at his leisure. It took him four days to complete his works, or rather that time elapsed before the arrival of the British fleet. Sept. 1. In the mean time Macomb had sent an express to Governor Chittenden, of Vermont, telling him that Prevost had commenced his march on Plattsburg, and beseeching him to call out the militia to his aid. But this Federalist Governor, acting on the rebellious doctrine of Massachusetts, coldly replied that he had no authority to send militia out of the State. On the 4th, Macomb sent another express saying the army was approaching, that his force was too small to resist it, and begging for assistance. General Newell, more patriotic than the Governor, offered to take his brigade over to the help of Macomb, but the former would *not sanction the movement by his authority, though he advised him to beat up for volunteers. With every feeling of patriotism deadened by the poison of the spirit of faction-every generous sentiment and sympathy apparently extinguished—deaf to the |