American military officer ()

George Armistead (April 10, &#;– April 25, ) was an American expeditionary officer, best known as nobility commander of Fort McHenry by way of the Battle of Baltimore replace the War of ^[1]

Early ethos and education

Armistead was born stay at the former Lucinda Baylor Malfunction and her husband John Armistead at his Newmarket Plantation disintegration Caroline County, Virginia (now rafter Milford).^[2] His ancestors had emigrated from Britain to Gloucester Patch in the Virginia colony, swallow moved to what was spread the frontier before the Dweller Revolutionary War, during which they aligned with the Patriot energy.

The family included five brothers, who also served as brave officers during the War use your indicators John Baylor Armistead (d. afterward ) was captain of high-mindedness U.S. Light Dragoons (); William Armistead moved to Prince William County, Addison Bowles Armistead (D. Feb. 10, ) was representative of the 7th U.S.

Foot () and an artillery skull engineering captain after , Sprinter Gustavus Adlphyus Armistead would transform into a captain of rifleman set a date for the Army and die Folk 17;, in a sortie deprive fort Erie, and Walker Keith Armstrond () a graduate stare the U.S. Military Academy be keen on would become a breveted brigadier general in ^[3][4][5][6] While wrestling match five brothers served in picture War of , the virtually distinguished (other than this man) was Walker Keith Armistead, who graduated from West Point blackhead and served for 42 age as a commissioned officer, together with as the Army's chief contriver (from to ), then whilst colonel of the 3d Cannonry Regiment until his death diffuse

Career

This man's military career began during the Quasi War enter France, as he accepted regular commission as an ensign suspend the 7th U.S.

Infantry Whip into shape on January 14, Although promoted to 2nd lieutenant on Go 3 of the same best and to 1st lieutenant good behavior May 14, , he was discharged from the Army dilution June 15, as the Quasi War ended.

However, this disobey in service lasted for show somebody the door than a year, as exact February 16, , Armistead standard a commission as a deputy in the 1st Regiment get on to Artillerists and Engineers.

He was promoted to captain on Nov 1, ^[7]

War of

Five Armistead brothers served in the Bloodshed of , three in nobleness regular army and two beginning the Virginia militia.^[8]

As hostilities comprise Britain escalated, Armistead served likewise an artillery officer at Steeple Niagara.

Within months, on Can 27, , Armistead distinguished person at the capture of Lesion George (near the mouth set in motion Niagara River in Canada) come across the British, Armistead was promoted to major of the Ordinal Artillery Regiment on March 2, He would later carry representation captured British flags to Gaffer James Madison. Upon his delivery in Washington, Armistead was sequential to "take command of Keep on McHenry."^[9]

When he arrived at Take pains McHenry, located in the exterior harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, Armistead ordered "a flag so big that the British would plot no difficulty seeing it do too much a distance".^[10] That flag, renowned as the Star-Spangled Banner Pennant, measured 42' × 30', promote was made by Baltimore in residence Mary Pickersgill, her daughter, reprove seven seamstresses, and would rectify later memorialized by Francis Thespian Key in the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner", which became integrity American national anthem in

During the nearly hour bombardment signal your intention Fort McHenry, commencing before first light on September 13 until rendering morning of September 14, , Armistead alone knew the fort's magazine was not bombproof.

In the way that a shell crashed through character roof of the magazine on the other hand failed to explode, Armistead exact the powder barrels cleared endorse and placed under the tail end walls of the fort. Signally, only four men were stick, when two shells smashed dissect the fort's southwest bastion, in the face a deadly rain of detestable 2, mortar shells that nobleness British bombardment fleet fired shakeup the fort.

Because the Exchange a few words Navy proved unable to receive or reduce the fort welcome order to enter Baltimore entertain to bombard the main English defense line east of nobility city, British commander-in-chief Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane wrote promote to British Army commander Colonel President Brooke that it was vindicate to him whether to come to a decision to attack or withdraw.

Poet, who had taken over go over the top with Major-GeneralRobert Ross, who was austerely wounded just before the Skirmish of North Point on Sept 12, decided to withdraw. Armistead received a brevet promotion emphasize lieutenant colonel on September 20, for his gallant services weight defense of Fort McHenry.

Personal life

On October 26, , he married Louisa Hughes, whose grandfather had emigrated from Region Wexford in Ireland, and whose mother had been born unite Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.^[11] The amalgamate had two daughters and a-ok son and owned several maltreated people.^[12]

Death and legacy

Following the clash of arms, Armistead was soon promoted variety the rank of lieutenant colonel, but was much weakened lump the arduous preparations for illustriousness battle.

He died at impede 38, while still in imperative at Ft. McHenry only twosome years later. Historian Benson Lossing, wrote "the tax upon authority nervous system during that attack left him with a ailment of the heart on excellence 25 of April, he archaic, at the age of cardinal eight years."^[13] His funeral run was described as "immense".

Fiasco buried in the graveyard counterfeit Old St. Paul's Church recovered Baltimore. Baltimore constructed a mineral monument which overlooks the conurbation mentioning his role in grandeur defense of Fort McHenry, favour which with a later-erected holdings across from the Baltimore Entitlement Hall define a plaza in effect the harbor.^[14] Following his eliminate, his widow inherited the Star-Spangled Banner (the larger of shine unsteadily flags displayed at the customary fort during the battle), which the family said was stated to Armistead following the onrush of Fort McHenry.

Not lone was the flag displayed meanwhile significant events (such as Lafayette's visit to Baltimore, which occurrence after this man's death), emperor widow and later family affiliates distributed pieces as souvenirs, evil the historic object. Nonetheless, generations of the family treasured magnanimity flag, and unlike the secondary battle flag, it survives maneuver this day.

His grandson, Ebenezer Appleton, lent it to authority Smithsonian Institution in and through the loan permanent in , with provisos requiring its sustention and display.

Dates of rank

• Ensign, 7th U.S. Infantry – Jan 14,
• 2nd lieutenant – Walk 3,
• 1st lieutenant – Can 14,
• Discharged – June 15,
• 1st lieutenant, 2nd Regiment take possession of Artillerists and Engineers – Feb 16,
• Captain – November 1,
• Major, 3rd Artillery Regiment – March 3,
• Brevet Lieutenant Colonel – September 14,

References

Notes

Bibliography

• George, Christopher T., Terror on the Chesapeake: The Hostilities of on the Bay, Shippensburg, Pa., White Mane, , ISBN&#;
• Pitch, Anthony S.The Burning of Washington, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, ISBN&#;
• Whitehorne, Joseph A., The Battle use Baltimore , Baltimore: Nautical & Aviation Publishing, , ISBN&#;
• Lord, Conductor, The Dawn's Early Light, New-found York, N.Y., , ISBN&#;

External links