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Guarding the entrance to
Baltimore harbor via the Patapsco River during the War of 1812, Fort
McHenry faced almost certain attack by British forces. Major George
Armistead, the stronghold's commander, was ready to defend the fort,
but he wanted a flag that would identify his position, and one whose
size would be visible to the enemy from a distance. |
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Determined to supply such
a flag, a committee of high-ranking officers called on Mary Young
Pickersgill, a Baltimore widow who had had experience making ship
flags, and explained that they wanted a United States flag that
measured 30 feet by 42 feet. She agreed to the job. With the help of
her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, Mrs. Pickersgill spent several
weeks measuring, cutting, and sewing the 15 stars and stripes. When
the time came to sew the elements of the flag together, they realized
that their house was not large enough. Mrs. Pickersgill thus asked the
owner of nearby Claggett's brewery for permission to assemble the flag
on the building's floor during evening hours. He agreed, and the women
worked by candlelight to finish it. Once completed, the flag was
delivered to the committee, and Mrs. Pickersgill was paid $405.90. In
August 1813, it was presented to Major Armistead, but, as things
turned out, more than a year would pass before hostile forces
threatened Baltimore. |
