Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sunday Bible Verse
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
3 Haikus for Autumn
The change of seasons,
What a wonderful feeling,
The cool days of Fall.
The Summer has left,
Now Autumn is Beginning,
And leaves are falling.
The sounding of leaves,
Crunch, they say, under my shoes,
The brown leaves of Fall.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Sunday Bible Verse
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Saturday, September 13, 2014
The Battle of Fort McHenry
Thank you for choosing to read about how our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was created.
I researched this historical event, and hope that this is a close recount of happened. With any historical event, some liberties must be taken, as no one can be sure of what actually happened that day.
September 13th, of this 2014 year, is the 200th anniversary of our National anthem.
And now, without further ado, The Battle of Fort McHenry.
In the War of 1812 much happened. But, today, I will tell you a story about what happened in 1814. The War of 1812 actually lasted from 1812 to 1815.
At that time, the British fleet was under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, but we will call him Admiral Cochrane.
The Americans, at Fort McHenry, were protecting Baltimore, Maryland, under the command of Major General Armistead.
A lawyer, Francis Scott Key, was on his way to release a civilian prisoner of war, from the British fleet.
"Colonel John Skinner, I need your help," Francis Scott Key said to Colonel Skinner, "Doctor William Beanes has been taken prisoner by the British."
"What has your doctor friend done, to be taken?" Colonel Skinner asked.
"I am not a hundred percent sure," Francis Key answered, "I believe it may have been Dr. Beanes, arresting British sailors."
Francis Key then pulled out some envelopes and continued, "I have here, however, letters from the British's own men telling of how well they had been treated by Dr. Beanes."
Colonel Skinner felt like this would definitely help in securing the doctor's release, and said, "Very good! We'll find your friend, Dr. Beanes, and see if we can get him back home safely."
And so, Francis Scott Key and Colonel John Skinner, found out that Dr. Beanes was on a British ship headed up the Patapsco River. Francis Key and Colonel Skinner then boarded the ship.
"I say!" Francis Key complained, while pacing the deck, after much waiting, "What is taking them so long to see us?"
"Patience, Mr. Key," Colonel Skinner chuckled, "they will see us soon enough."
Francis Key sat down beside Colonel Skinner, just outside the captain's cabin, and said quietly, "I do not like being here on an enemy ship, where it seems as though everyone is watching my every move."
"I don't like it any more than you," Colonel Skinner replied.
Inside the captain's cabin, Admiral Cochrane spoke with one of his British officers.
"I have just received word," he said, "that Major General Robert Ross has been killed in action at Northpoint, and Colonel Arthur Brooke has assumed command of our forces on land. I want you to go to Colonel Brooke and inform him not to engage the enemy, unless victory is assured, or until we have captured Fort McHenry!"
"Yes, Sir!" the British officer saluted, then walked out the door.
"Colonel Skinner," Francis Key quickly whispered, "did you hear that? They're planning an attack on Fort McHenry!"
Before Colonel Skinner could answer, the British officer saw the Colonel and Key sitting just outside the captain's cabin.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked with aggravation, "You heard our plans, didn't you? Come in to see Admiral Cochrane right this second!"
The three men walked into the captain's cabin.
"Sir," the British officer started, "I found these two men snooping just outside your door."
"Oh, these must be the men I was told about," Admiral Cocrane replied, "Thank you, you may deliver your message, now."
The British officer left the ship, then Admiral Cochrane turned his attention to Colonel Skinner and Francis Key.
"Well, what is it?" the Admiral asked, "What do you want? I am very busy right now."
"Sir," Colonel Skinner answered, "we have come to secure the release of one Dr. William Beanes."
"Oh, you mean the man who arrested three of our men?" Admiral Cochrane said, with displeasure.
"Yes, Sir," Colonel Skinner replied.
"Well, you can forget it," the Admiral sternly returned.
Francis Key grew frustrated and said, "But I have here, letters from those men, telling of their treatment... Sir."
Then Francis Key put forth the letters.
"Yes, well," Admiral Cochrane said after reading the letters, "your doctor may be released. But! You two and Dr. Beanes will have to stay here on the ship until our plans are complete. We do not want you warning the Yankees of our attack."
So, on September 13th at 6:30 in the morning, being forced to stay on the British ship and watch from afar, Francis Scott Key, Colonel John Skinner, and Dr. William Beanes stood in the pouring rain, as the British opened fire on Fort McHenry.
At the Fort, as the bombs began flying in the sky, Major General Armistead called out, "We are under attack! Fire the guns!! Aim at the ships!! FIRE!!!"
The Americans fired at the British with no impact. The British fleet was out of range for the Fort's guns, but the British guns were not doing much better.
"Move the ships closer to the Fort!" Admiral Cochrane ordered, "We need to make more of an impact!"
When the ships moved closer to the Fort, they were in range of the Fort's guns.
"Pull back!!" Admiral Cochrane reordered, "We must draw back to our original position!"
The battle raged on, all through the day and into the night.
Key and his companions watched as the bombardment continued.
"This is hard to watch," Francis Key stated.
"The flag flying over the Fort is what we must be looking for," Colonel Skinner replied.
"Yes," Dr. Beanes said with enthusiasm, "If the flag is lowered, the Fort is fallen."
"I can barely see the flag, now. It must be 'round 8 o'clock. The only time those Stars and Stripes are visible, is when the bombs explode."
Admiral Cochrane had a change of strategy, "Move the ships around the Fort!" he commanded, "Perhaps we can strike more brutally and still not take heavy blows, ourselves."
It was dark and the British did not know the area very well. So, when they shot off signal rockets, it gave away their position. Two other forts, Fort Covington and Fort Babcock, which were on either side of the river, fired at the British fleet, causing even more damage.
Once again, Admiral Cochrane gave orders to move, "Go back!! This position is worse than the last!!"
The battle went on and on, and eventually, at Fort McHenry, Major General Armistead said, "Lower the flag. Bring out the bigger one!!"
Francis Scott Key cried out from the ship's deck, "The flag!! It's going down!!"
"No, it can't be!" Dr. Beanes replied in despair, "Are you sure?"
"The bombing has stopped, after 25 hours. But it's too dark, I can't see anything!" Colonel Skinner answered.
"We will have to wait... until morning's first light," Francis Key said with somewhat sorrowful suspense.
Key and his companions waited for what seemed like an eternity. And then, there it was, an even bigger American flag than the first one, blowing proudly in the wind, over Fort McHenry. The Fort had endured to victory.
Francis Scott Key was so moved by the sight, that he pulled out an envelope and pen, from his pocket, and started to scribble down a poem. He finished the poem, later that day. And when Key, and his companions, were released from the British ship, he took the poem to be published.
The poem was originally titled "Defense of Fort McHenry," but was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The poem was set to an old drinking song, called "Anacreon in Heaven."
So, both of the attempts of the British, on land and water, were thwarted, and in 1931, congress finally adopted the poem, along with the song, as our National Anthem.
It is estimated that as many as 1,500 to 1,800 bombs were fired at Fort McHenry, and an estimated 400 bombs actually made it into the Fort.
The Americans suffered 4 casualties and 24 wounded.
The British, however, suffered 300 killed, wounded, and captured, mostly in the attempt to go around the Fort.
One of the most dangerous times for the Fort, was when a bomb landed with some unprotected gunpowder, but failed to explode. Some believe it was the rain causing the bomb to go out. Others believe that God was protecting them. The War of 1812 ended a little more than a year, after the battle at Fort McHenry.
And now, here is The Star-Spangled Banner in it's entirety:
"Oh! Say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam;
Its full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh! Long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is the band who so vauntingly swore,
'Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country they'd leave us no more?
Their blood hath washed out their foul footsteps' pollution;
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation;
Blessed with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust":
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
Thank you again for taking the time to read this story, of the founding of our National Anthem.
I researched this historical event, and hope that this is a close recount of happened. With any historical event, some liberties must be taken, as no one can be sure of what actually happened that day.
September 13th, of this 2014 year, is the 200th anniversary of our National anthem.
And now, without further ado, The Battle of Fort McHenry.
In the War of 1812 much happened. But, today, I will tell you a story about what happened in 1814. The War of 1812 actually lasted from 1812 to 1815.
At that time, the British fleet was under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, but we will call him Admiral Cochrane.
The Americans, at Fort McHenry, were protecting Baltimore, Maryland, under the command of Major General Armistead.
A lawyer, Francis Scott Key, was on his way to release a civilian prisoner of war, from the British fleet.
"Colonel John Skinner, I need your help," Francis Scott Key said to Colonel Skinner, "Doctor William Beanes has been taken prisoner by the British."
"What has your doctor friend done, to be taken?" Colonel Skinner asked.
"I am not a hundred percent sure," Francis Key answered, "I believe it may have been Dr. Beanes, arresting British sailors."
Francis Key then pulled out some envelopes and continued, "I have here, however, letters from the British's own men telling of how well they had been treated by Dr. Beanes."
Colonel Skinner felt like this would definitely help in securing the doctor's release, and said, "Very good! We'll find your friend, Dr. Beanes, and see if we can get him back home safely."
And so, Francis Scott Key and Colonel John Skinner, found out that Dr. Beanes was on a British ship headed up the Patapsco River. Francis Key and Colonel Skinner then boarded the ship.
"I say!" Francis Key complained, while pacing the deck, after much waiting, "What is taking them so long to see us?"
"Patience, Mr. Key," Colonel Skinner chuckled, "they will see us soon enough."
Francis Key sat down beside Colonel Skinner, just outside the captain's cabin, and said quietly, "I do not like being here on an enemy ship, where it seems as though everyone is watching my every move."
"I don't like it any more than you," Colonel Skinner replied.
Inside the captain's cabin, Admiral Cochrane spoke with one of his British officers.
"I have just received word," he said, "that Major General Robert Ross has been killed in action at Northpoint, and Colonel Arthur Brooke has assumed command of our forces on land. I want you to go to Colonel Brooke and inform him not to engage the enemy, unless victory is assured, or until we have captured Fort McHenry!"
"Yes, Sir!" the British officer saluted, then walked out the door.
"Colonel Skinner," Francis Key quickly whispered, "did you hear that? They're planning an attack on Fort McHenry!"
Before Colonel Skinner could answer, the British officer saw the Colonel and Key sitting just outside the captain's cabin.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked with aggravation, "You heard our plans, didn't you? Come in to see Admiral Cochrane right this second!"
The three men walked into the captain's cabin.
"Sir," the British officer started, "I found these two men snooping just outside your door."
"Oh, these must be the men I was told about," Admiral Cocrane replied, "Thank you, you may deliver your message, now."
The British officer left the ship, then Admiral Cochrane turned his attention to Colonel Skinner and Francis Key.
"Well, what is it?" the Admiral asked, "What do you want? I am very busy right now."
"Sir," Colonel Skinner answered, "we have come to secure the release of one Dr. William Beanes."
"Oh, you mean the man who arrested three of our men?" Admiral Cochrane said, with displeasure.
"Yes, Sir," Colonel Skinner replied.
"Well, you can forget it," the Admiral sternly returned.
Francis Key grew frustrated and said, "But I have here, letters from those men, telling of their treatment... Sir."
Then Francis Key put forth the letters.
"Yes, well," Admiral Cochrane said after reading the letters, "your doctor may be released. But! You two and Dr. Beanes will have to stay here on the ship until our plans are complete. We do not want you warning the Yankees of our attack."
So, on September 13th at 6:30 in the morning, being forced to stay on the British ship and watch from afar, Francis Scott Key, Colonel John Skinner, and Dr. William Beanes stood in the pouring rain, as the British opened fire on Fort McHenry.
At the Fort, as the bombs began flying in the sky, Major General Armistead called out, "We are under attack! Fire the guns!! Aim at the ships!! FIRE!!!"
The Americans fired at the British with no impact. The British fleet was out of range for the Fort's guns, but the British guns were not doing much better.
"Move the ships closer to the Fort!" Admiral Cochrane ordered, "We need to make more of an impact!"
When the ships moved closer to the Fort, they were in range of the Fort's guns.
"Pull back!!" Admiral Cochrane reordered, "We must draw back to our original position!"
The battle raged on, all through the day and into the night.
Key and his companions watched as the bombardment continued.
"This is hard to watch," Francis Key stated.
"The flag flying over the Fort is what we must be looking for," Colonel Skinner replied.
"Yes," Dr. Beanes said with enthusiasm, "If the flag is lowered, the Fort is fallen."
"I can barely see the flag, now. It must be 'round 8 o'clock. The only time those Stars and Stripes are visible, is when the bombs explode."
Admiral Cochrane had a change of strategy, "Move the ships around the Fort!" he commanded, "Perhaps we can strike more brutally and still not take heavy blows, ourselves."
It was dark and the British did not know the area very well. So, when they shot off signal rockets, it gave away their position. Two other forts, Fort Covington and Fort Babcock, which were on either side of the river, fired at the British fleet, causing even more damage.
Once again, Admiral Cochrane gave orders to move, "Go back!! This position is worse than the last!!"
The battle went on and on, and eventually, at Fort McHenry, Major General Armistead said, "Lower the flag. Bring out the bigger one!!"
Francis Scott Key cried out from the ship's deck, "The flag!! It's going down!!"
"No, it can't be!" Dr. Beanes replied in despair, "Are you sure?"
"The bombing has stopped, after 25 hours. But it's too dark, I can't see anything!" Colonel Skinner answered.
"We will have to wait... until morning's first light," Francis Key said with somewhat sorrowful suspense.
Key and his companions waited for what seemed like an eternity. And then, there it was, an even bigger American flag than the first one, blowing proudly in the wind, over Fort McHenry. The Fort had endured to victory.
Francis Scott Key was so moved by the sight, that he pulled out an envelope and pen, from his pocket, and started to scribble down a poem. He finished the poem, later that day. And when Key, and his companions, were released from the British ship, he took the poem to be published.
The poem was originally titled "Defense of Fort McHenry," but was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The poem was set to an old drinking song, called "Anacreon in Heaven."
So, both of the attempts of the British, on land and water, were thwarted, and in 1931, congress finally adopted the poem, along with the song, as our National Anthem.
It is estimated that as many as 1,500 to 1,800 bombs were fired at Fort McHenry, and an estimated 400 bombs actually made it into the Fort.
The Americans suffered 4 casualties and 24 wounded.
The British, however, suffered 300 killed, wounded, and captured, mostly in the attempt to go around the Fort.
One of the most dangerous times for the Fort, was when a bomb landed with some unprotected gunpowder, but failed to explode. Some believe it was the rain causing the bomb to go out. Others believe that God was protecting them. The War of 1812 ended a little more than a year, after the battle at Fort McHenry.
And now, here is The Star-Spangled Banner in it's entirety:
"Oh! Say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam;
Its full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh! Long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is the band who so vauntingly swore,
'Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country they'd leave us no more?
Their blood hath washed out their foul footsteps' pollution;
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation;
Blessed with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust":
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
Thank you again for taking the time to read this story, of the founding of our National Anthem.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Welcome to my corner in the World Wide Web. This is a new place that I will be posting some of my writings for your enjoyment. Come back tomorrow so you can read my first story to appear on this site, "The Battle of Fort McHenry." Have a nice day!
This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24
Elizabeth :)
Jesus loves ya! <3
This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24
Elizabeth :)
Jesus loves ya! <3
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