The New International Encyclopædia/Fort McHenry

FORT McHEN′RY. A United States military post, established in 1794. It occupies a reservation of 35 acres, on Whetstone Point, Patapsco River, Md. The post-office and telegraph station are Baltimore, Md., from the centre of which city it is distant three miles. Its site was first occupied for military purposes in 1775. In 1794 it was established as a permanent fortification, and was named after James McHenry, one of Washington's private secretaries during the Revolution, and Secretary of War, 1798. In September, 1814, it successfully withstood a bombardment by the British fleet under Admiral Cockburn. It was this attack which suggested to Francis S. Key his famous ode, “The Star Spangled Banner.” During the Civil War the fort was used as a rendezvous and military prison. In 1902 there was an artillery garrison of four companies. Forts Armistead and Carroll are subposts.