Old Doc Beanes was missing. Well, not exactly missing. Everyone in Georgetown knew where the much-loved doctor was. It's just that his neighbors and patients couldn't get to him. He had been captured by the British during the War of 1812.

It wasn't enough that British troops had invaded and captured Washington. It wasn't enough they had set fire to the Capitol and to the White House. Now His Majesty's land and sea military were poised to take Baltimore. At least, that's what they thought.

It was September, 1814. Dr. Beanes was held captive on the British ship Tonnant, accused of unfriendly acts toward British soldiers. People in nearby Georgetown were frantic. They were sure the British would hang the old man. The townspeople needed a lawyer to negotiate with the British. They called on a respected local lawyer with a thriving law practice: Francis Scott Key.

At the time, Key had successfully argued several cases before the United States Supreme Court. He was a good lawyer who knew when he needed expert help. Recognizing he needed help to negotiate with the British, Key and a well-known negotiator went to Baltimore to plead for old Doc Beanes.

As it happened, Francis Scott Key couldn't have picked a worse time to try to free the doctor. The British military were planning their attack on Baltimore. Once aboard ship, Key and his colleague overheard too many details about the impending attack on Baltimore and its Ft. McHenry. Even though they had successfully negotiated Dr. Beanes' release, all three were detained aboard a British ship. The military could not risk intelligence leaks.

The attack on Baltimore's Fort McHenry started the night of September 15th. Aboard the British ship, Key watched the attack. The British were using a new type of military "rocket" that produced red streaks in the night sky.

Ft. McHenry held on through most of the night. Key could see its fifteen-star flag as the rockets lit up the sky. It was a huge flag, measuring thirty by forty-two feet. It was made especially for Ft. McHenry so the "British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance." Key could see it from a distance too.

The continued shelling, between both sides, gave Francis Scott Key hope. He figured as long as there was shelling, Ft. McHenry was resisting the attack, and Baltimore would be saved.

But then, sometime during the night, the shelling stopped. All was quiet. Had McHenry fallen? Did the British break through to Baltimore? Key did not know. He could see nothing. At dawn's first light, though, he saw the huge flag. It was still flying over Ft. McHenry. Baltimore was safe.