I wonder how anyone on this board can state unequivocally that British still didn't refer to America as "the colonies" during the war of 1812.
No one is saying the British still didn't refer to the United States as the colonies. Its the narrator in this "tale" that does. Also...
- The British prevented Key from returning to Baltimore ONLY because he had learned too much about their plans to attack, and he was made to wait until it was over before he would be allowed to return. He was actually on an AMERICAN truce ship during the bombardment, with Beanes, who had already been released to Key and Colonel John Stuart Skinner, who had accompanied him, after they left the British ship. There is no mention of any other prisoners being released to Key anywhere... so there would have been none on the ship with him. Not to mention he could not have been having a conversation with a British officer during the attack... since he was not on the British ship any longer.
- "predominately not a military fort" Another error... it was the main defense of Baltimore during that period in history. If it were "predominately not a military fort", filled with women and children, why bother to bombard it it all... just storm and take it.
- Its not documented anywhere that the British told the Americans to lay down their flag and they would accept their surrender and allow them to return to British Rule.
- It is ridiculous to think the British would have directly targeted "all of their guns" on the flag itself just to bring it down. In fact, long range gunnery at the time was so inaccurate that they were lucky to hit the walls of the fort itself. Neither side did much damage to the other during this battle. The British bombarded the fort for over 24 hours, and had little or no effect on it at all. Unable to subdue the fort from the sea, they abandoned the Naval element of the Baltimore campaign.
- DEAD AMERICAN Bodies were NOT used to hold up the flagpole at Ft McHenry during the assault. Actually, the US suffered very few casualties, with reports as low as 4 or 5 dead, and 20 wounded.
- "To die on their feet rather than live on their knees" was never attributed to be said by George Washington about anyone... it is closer to the quote, "I would rather die standing than live on my knees" by Emiliano Zapata, a leader of the
Mexican Revolution.
As I said... a touching story... but good theatre? I have to disagree. The narrator could have stayed true to history and still made his point. But your point becomes moot when you distort (whether out of ignorance, or deliberately) the facts just to get and emotional rise from the audience.
Its theatrical propaganda. Nothing more.
