The Fort McHenry flag Mary Young Pickersgill

star spangled banner flag

in 1813 united states @ war great britain, , baltimore preparing eventual attack fleet of british royal navy had complete maritime control of chesapeake bay. major george armistead, u.s. army commander of infantry , artillery units defended fort mchenry in baltimore, felt fort prepared attack, except lacked flag. in letter head of maryland militia , military commander baltimore, major general samuel smith, wrote, we, sir, ready @ fort mchenry defend baltimore against invading enemy. say, ready except have no suitable ensign display on star fort , desire have flag large british have no difficulty seeing distance. delegation consisting of armistead, smith, brig. general john stricker, , commodore joshua barney, pickersgill s brother-in-law, visited pickersgill, , discussed particulars of desired flag. commissioned pickersgill make 2 flags, 1 american ensign, 30 x 42 feet, first quality bunting , flag 17 25 feet. task large making of these flags beyond capability of 1 person complete, , pickersgill not drew on members of own household help, contracted labor immediate neighborhood. in summer 1813, began job assistance of daughter, caroline, 2 nieces, eliza young , margaret young, free african american apprentice, grace wisher, , elderly mother, rebecca young. additional unnamed african american boarded in house listed helping in sources, additional local seamstresses hired during summer. working late evening, until midnight @ times, pickersgill s team able complete job in 6 weeks. pickersgill s daughter, in 1876 letter georgiana armistead appleton, daughter of major armistead (later breveted lieutenant colonel), wrote these particulars flag:

the flag being large, mother obliged obtain permission proprietors of claggetts [sic] brewery in our neighborhood, spread out in malt house; , remember seeing mother down on floor, placing stars: after completion of flag, superintended topping of it, having fastened in secure manner prevent being torn away (cannon) balls: wisdom of precaution shown during engagement: many shots piercing it, still remained firm staff. father (col. armistead) declared no 1 maker of flag should mend it, , requested rents should merely bound around.

pickersgill s star spangled banner flag displayed in 1873 @ boston navy yard

the large flag contained on 400 yards (366 meters) of fabric, , included 15 stripes , 15 stars, 1 each of 15 states of union. stars made of cotton , stripes , blue canton of english wool bunting. each stripe 2 feet (60 cm) wide , each of stars measured 24 inches (60 cm) across tip tip. women did of work in evening after brewery closed, working until midnight, , pickersgill delivered flags fort mchenry on august 19, 1813, full year before battle of baltimore.

the main flag weighed 50 pounds (23 kg), , took 11 men raise onto 90-foot (27-meter) flagpole. result enormous american flag seen several miles fort. on october 27, 1813 receipt given pickersgill , niece eliza young in amount of $405.90 larger flag, , $168.54 smaller 1 (which used @ fort mchenry storm flag). small flag may have been flying when british attacked fort mchenry during battle of baltimore on september 13, because of inclement weather night driving rainstorm (which have made woolen bunting material soggy , heavy blow out in breeze). however, pickersgill s large flag flying on fort @ daybreak on september 14, 1814, after british had ceased firing on fort. diary entry british sub-altern on board ship , returned north point battlefield, george glebe, described sunny morning when americans @ distant fort fired ( wake-up ) morning gun salute , raised splendid ensign on battlements. while negotiating prisoner exchange aboard british ship, francis scott key saw flag, , inspired him pen words poem defence of fort mchenry later became national anthem of united states in 1931.

after 1814 battle, george armistead took possession of large flag, , after death in 1818 widow, louisa hughes armistead, kept it. during 4 decades of ownership, allowed displayed on few occasions, , removed pieces of given gifts, common practice of day. following death in 1861 flag went daughter, georgiana armistead appleton, , later grandson, eben appleton. flag moved various locations on 40-year period until 1907 when eben appleton loaned smithsonian. in 1912 loan became permanent, , flag underwent variety of restorations. beginning in december 1998, flag began $18 million conservation treatment (not restoration) , flag hand crafted pickersgill , helpers in 1813 1 of important artifacts, , centerpiece of redesigned national museum of american history.