By the Dawn's Early Light

On the deck of the sloop, soaked to the skin, squinting in the rain, the Americans, Key, Skinner, and Beanes, stood at the rail, transfixed, watching the British warships rain destruction on the fort as never before in history. They saw the yellow fire trails of the rockets and the white bursts of bombs over the fort, and they listened to the continuous roar of the big guns, staring, unable to believe that Armistead had not surrendered rather than face total destruction. Key stood frozen to the rail as the dull light strengthened in the rain, and he could see the dime outline of the fort.Something fluttered above the black outline, and then it took form and shape, and Key gasped when he understood it was the flag!Key's heart was pounding in his chest. He wiped at his eyes and then reached inside his coat for an envelope and a pencil, and began to write the thoughts that came flooding from deep within.