War of 1812

Backwoods Connections to a War against a Global Superpower
 

The story of James McHenry provides a meaningful historical link between the remote highlands of what is now Garrett County, Maryland and one of the most iconic moments in American history. After serving as Secretary of War under Presidents Washington and Adams, McHenry retired to his estate in the “Glades” region of Western Maryland, an area that would later become part of Garrett County. Though far removed from the coastal centers of power, his presence in the region ties the county to the early national period and the shaping of the United States military establishment.

McHenry’s legacy is most famously carried through Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which was named in his honor. During the War of 1812, the fort became the focal point of the British attack on Baltimore in September 1814. Its successful defense during the Battle of Fort McHenry prevented the British from capturing the city and marked a turning point in the Chesapeake campaign. The fort’s endurance under bombardment became a powerful symbol of American resilience.

It was this moment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that would become The Star-Spangled Banner. Observing the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry after a night of intense shelling, Key captured the emotion of the moment in words that would later define the nation’s anthem. In this way, the quiet mountain residence of James McHenry in the Glades connects unexpectedly to the defense of Baltimore and the creation of a national symbol—linking Garrett County to the broader story of American identity and perseverance.

From Meshach Browning:

I went home and prepared two pairs of new, strong buckskin moccasins, saying to my wife, “‘ I can, with these on, outrun any British devil that has crossed the sea; and if I have to run after him, I can catch him; but if he chases me, he never can overhaul me. So I am ready for a race either way, according as either offers the best chances.”

1. National Park Service.
   Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine – History and War of 1812.
   https://www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm
2. Maryland State Archives.
   War of 1812 in Maryland – Historical Overview and Records.
   https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/war/html/war1812.html
3. Browning, Meshach.
   Forty-Four Years of the Life of a Hunter: Being Reminiscences of Meshach Browning, a Maryland Hunter. 1859.
   https://archive.org/details/fortyfouryearsof00brow