John Bower BOMBARDMENT of FORT McHENRY 1817 engraving Start Price USD 450.00 Current Price USD 450.00 Time Left 11 days 1 hours 6 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, September 21, 2008 End Time Monday, January 19, 2009 Location Canton, GA See more about 'John Bower BOMBARDMENT of FORT McHENRY 1817 engraving' Description BOMBARDMENT OF FORT McHENRY AND THE FLAG IS STILL THERE! Offered here from our museum is the ORIGINAL 1817 copper plare engraving based on the much beloved engraving by John Bower as painted by William Strickland. This is a dramatic scene of the origin of our Star Spangled Banner, one of the most inspiring battles of the war. The engraving was a reproduction of the painting so that work could be seen by the masses and what what it looked like as seen in the Analectic Magazine of 1817. This very rare piece of our American heritage has been very carefully archived to assure that this historic piece continues for many generations to come long after you and me. Better displayed than in our vault. Major GEORGE ARMISTEAD, Commanding....."A severe indisposition, the effect of great fatigue and exposure, has prevented me heretofore from presenting you with an account of the attack on this post. On the night of Saturday the 10th instant, the British fleet, consisting of ships of the line, heavy frigates and bomb vessels, amounting in the whole to 30 sail, appeared at the mouth of the river Patapsco, with every indication of an attempt upon the city of Baltimore. My own force consisted of one company of United States' artillery, under captain Evans, and two companies of sea-fencibles, under captains Bunbury and Addison. Of these three companies, 35 men were unfortunately on the sick list, and unfit for duty. I had been furnished with two companies of volunteer artillery from the city of Baltimore under captain Berry and lieutenant commandant Pennington. To these I must add another very fine company of volunteer artillerists, under judge Nicholson, who had profered their services to aid in the defence of this post whenever an attack might be apprehended; and also a detachment from commodore Barney's flotilla, under lieutenant Redman. Brigadier general Winder had also furnished me with about 600 infantry, under the command of lieutenant colonel Stewart and major Lane, consisting of detachments from the 12th, 14th, 36th, and 38th regiments of United States' troops-the total amounting to about 1000 effective men.On Tuesday morning, about sun-rise, the enemy commenced the attack from his five bomb vessels, at the distance of about two miles, and kept up an incessant and well directed bombardment. We immediately opened our batteries, and kept up a brisk fire from our guns and mortars, but unfortunately our shot and shells all fell considerably short of him. This was to me a most distressing circumstance; as it left us exposed to a constant and tremendous shower of shells, without the most remote possibility of our doing him the slightest injury. It affords me the highest gratification to state, that though we were left thus exposed, and thus inactive, not a man shrunk from the conflict. About two o'clock PM one of the 24 pounders of the southwest bastion, under the immediate command of captain Nicholson, was dismounted by a shell, the explosion from which killed his second lieutenant, and wounded several of his men; the bustle necessarily produced in removing the wounded and replacing the gun, probably induced the enemy to suspect we were in a state of confusion, as he brought in three of his bomb ships, to what I believed to be good striking distance. I immediately ordered a fire to be opened, which was obeyed with alacrity through the whole garrison, and in half an hour those intruders again sheltered themselves by withdrawing beyond our reach. We gave three cheers, and again ceased firing-The enemy continued throwing shells, with one or two slight intermissions, till one o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, when it was discovered that he had availed himself of the darkness of the night, and had thrown a considerable force above to our right; they had approached very near to Fort Covington, when they began to throw rockets. The only means we had of directing our guns, was by the blaze of their rockets, and the flashes of their guns. Had they ventured to the same situation in the day time, not a man would have escaped. The bombardment continued on the part of the enemy until 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning, when it ceased; and about 9, their ships got under weigh, and stood down the river. During the bombardment, which lasted 25 hours (with two slight intermissions) from the best calculation I can make, from 1500 to 1800 shells were thrown by the enemy. Were I to name any individuals who signalized themselves, it would be doing injustice to others. Suffice it to say, that every officer and soldier under my command did their duty to my entire satisfaction." For an exceptional collection representing the Revolutionary War, or defense of our country in the War of 1812 or the US Navy section, please click on "My Store" and that section. You might espy somrthing you would like. You will also find Colonel GEORGE ARMISTEAD. This very rare piece of our American heritage has been very carefully archived to assure that this historic piece continues for many generations to come. The process is very complex and entails, cleaning, deacidification, and defungiciding (no foxing, which if left unchecked, is not harmful to the piece but could be very much so to you). The engraving is nearly pristine and in better condition than when first struck. It is the finest known and the only one that can be seen outside of a museum. Annd right here you can own it!Any winner assumes the role of custodial protector. Ultimately, it's our legacy which will be the winner. Image size is 4 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches on both not counting the text. Winner to pay $15.00 s&h&i. Please read very carefully. For an additional $55.00 winner may elect having this arrive in one of our 12 x 15 inch museum mounts (as atop) which is an antique gold hardwood frame with matching inner frame (known as a fillet). These are exorbantly expensive to have done custom made (about treble the cost), and are used for our museum endeavor. It will come with the proper hinged hanging mounts and vinyl coated wire & bumpers. All you need is a hammer or a very tough fist. Happy to do it on such an important piece of our American heritage. Available in My Store. SquareTrade © AP6.0 Place a Bid!