The Star-Spangled Banner received its baptism by fire at the Battle of Baltimore on Sept. 12-14, 1814. That battle was one of a series of clashes between British and American forces during the final year of the War of 1812. British troops first attacked Baltimore, the United States' third largest city, by land. Badly outnumbered by American militiamen, they withdrew. British ships bombarded Fort McHenry, which guarded Baltimore's harbor, for 25 hours. Maj. George Armistead, the fort's commander, refused to haul down the American flag and surrender. Baltimore was spared, and the British, daunted on land and sea, sailed away. The young republic rejoiced in its against-the-odds victory.  War of 1812 During the War of 1812, the Americans successfully defended against British attacks on Baltimore and New Orleans.  Bombardment of Fort McHenry For 25 hours on Sept. 13-14, 1814, American soldiers at Fort McHenry held off British attack. Baltimore was saved!  Maj. George Armistead An instant hero following the Fort McHenry victory, commander George Armistead came to possess the flag he had so vigilantly guarded.  Francis Scott Key A lawyer and an amateur poet, Francis Scott Key immortalized his experiences at Fort McHenry by writing "The Star-Spangled Banner."  Back to top "A View of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry," print by J. Bower, Philadelphia, 1816. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution Baltimore was the home port for a large fleet of American privateers, or privately-owned armed vessels, that sank or captured at least 500 British ships during the War of 1812.