On August 24, 1814. British General Ross and his 5,000 troops defeated an American army twice its size in a battle near Washington, D. C. That same night, British troops entered Washington. They set fire to the United States Capitol, the President's Mansion, and other public buildings. The local
militia fled. President James Madison and his wife Dolley barely escaped. The next British target was the city of Baltimore, Maryland - the third largest
city in the young nation. By the morning of September 13, 1814, the British navy was ready to strike Fort McHenry and enter Baltimore Harbor. At 6:30
AM Admiral Cochrane's ships began a 25-hour bombardment of the fort. Rockets whistled through the air and burst into flame wherever they struck
Major Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry and its defending force of one thousand troops, ordered his men to return fire, but their guns couldn't
reach the enemy's ships. When British ships advanced on the afternoon of the 13th, however, American gunners badly damaged them, forcing them to
pull back out of range. All through the night, Armistead's men continued to hold the fort, refusing to surrender
Q1: How would you describe the feelings of the soldiers who fought to protect Fort McHenry, and the city of Baltimore? (Describe at least three (3).)
Q2: After the losses at Washington, what do you think the people of Baltimore thought would happen to them during the British assault? Describe at
least two (2).)