The Biographical Dictionary of America/Armistead, George

ARMISTEAD, George, soldier, was born at Newmarket, Va., April 10, 1780. He was one of five brothers, all of whom served with distinction in the war of 1812, three being in the regular army and two in the militia. One of his brothers was the third graduate of West Point, and his full length portrait was placed in the library on the academy grounds. His grandfather was a member of the house of burgesses and of the council of the state of Virginia. On his mother's side he was descended from Col. John Baylor, who was with Washington at Winchester. He entered the army as 2d lieutenant in 1799, passed through the regular grades of promotion, and as major of the 3d artillery was present at the capture of Fort George on Lake Ontario, where he distinguished himself by his gallantry. He was in command of Fort McHenry on Sept. 14, 1814, when it was attacked by the British under Admiral Cochrane, and his defence of the fortification not only saved it and Baltimore from capture, but preserved the entire Atlantic seaboard from further invasion. When the foe approached he alone of all the garrison knew that the magazine was not bomb-proof, and he dared not reveal the fact lest his men should refuse to remain. The strain upon his nervous system during the bombardment was extreme, and his death, which occurred some three years and a half later, was due to its effects. The citizens of Baltimore, in token of their gratitude, presented him with a handsome silver vase in the pattern of a bomb-shell, a set of goblets and a salver; he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel by the President, and was given the old flag that waved over the fort during the engagement, and the sight of which "by the dawn's early light" had inspired Francis Scott Key to pen his immortal "Star Spangled Banner." This flag came into possession of Colonel Armistead's descendants, who guard it with jealous care and exhibit it only on rare occasions. Colonel Armistead died at Baltimore, Md., April 25, 1818.