Myth vs Reality
I recently read one of those “inspirational” nationalist anecdotes that make the rounds in the USA. And at the occasion of the Iraq war, this type of thing is typically combined with a vitriolic hate of France, anything vaguely French or, by now, even anything European. And as the insults fly against Europe ... we look with mild amusement at things like this:
Isaac Asimov speaking:
http://www.purewatergazette.net/asimov.htm
What a wonderful story!
Too bad it doesn’t quite give the flavour of the real story.
What actually actually happened is that, on a fine day in 1812, the USA tried to invade Canada!
Huh?
That's right!
US "War Hawks" wanted Canada added to the USA, imagined that they could easily invade, and tried to do just that.
The escuse for their disastrous attempt at invasion was that British ships had been stopping and searching American ships in order to recover the seamen who were deserting the British navy. They might press-gang the odd American while they were at it. And your typical US history book is thus chock-full of pompous declarations about ... "British violations of American neutral rights"! :) But "in truth (...) the core of the War Hawk agenda was expansion". It was that simple!
us-history.com
"As the record reveals, the Americans wanted more than just maritime rights. What they also wanted was the other half of the North American continent still in the hands of the King of England. In 1778, during the American Revolution, the Yankees had tried to seize Canada, and actually captured Montreal. The expedition however, under Generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, perished in the sub-zero cold beneath the towering walls of the fortress at Quebec. In 1812, Americans were determined to make another attempt at eradicating the British presence in North America, and settle "the Indian question" once and for all. Such a campaign, promised Thomas Jefferson, would be a matter of mere marching. In Congress, the War Hawks took up this position and demanded the United States finalize the independence from Britain they had fought so hard to win".
The war of 1812
With the vast majority of British forces desperately fighting Napoleon Bonaparte in Europe ... the "War-Hawks" figured they would get away with this. Henry Clay was actually so confident of an easy victory that he said at some point: "I trust I shall not be presumptuous when I state that I verily believe that the militia of Kentucky alone are competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at your feet."
War Hawks on Wikipedia
The reason for this "presumption" was simply this:
"From the Detroit River to Halifax there were spread along a thousand miles of border-line less than 5,000 British troops. The population of the whole vast region was only 300,000, men, women and children as against an American population of 8,000,000. The people of Upper Canada, where the bulk of the fighting was to take place, were only 77,000 in number. Eustis, the Secretary of War, declared that "we can take the Canadas without soldiers."
War of 1812 from Quebec-History
Hostilities began in good order. And was indeed with a carefully planned three-pronged offensive. But, though most in the usoA seem to be ignorant of this, it was the U.S. that tried to invade Canada. And it was certainly NOT, as Asimov tries to tell us, the other way around!!!
And so ... the invasion of Canada by the United States of America went ahead:
www.u-s-history.com
1:from Lake Champlain to Montreal;
2:across the Niagara frontier;
3: into Upper Canada from Detroit.
This is what then happened:
1: Along Lake Champlain the forces of the usoA were stopped and forced to retreat by an outnumbered Canadian force.
LacolleMills
Charles de Salaberry
Annals of Congress
2: On the Niagara front U.S. troops were stopped, retreated and lost Queenston Heights.
Queenston Heights
3: As for invading from Detroit ... well let’s just say that Detroit ended up surrendering!
Detroit
Needless to say that the US offensive failed to "place Montreal and Upper Canada at (their) feet". Their attack was so thoroughly beaten that U.S. troops kept falling back ... further and further away from anywhere near Canada. By August of 1814, the US capital city itself, Washington D.C., fell to Canadian forces. Washington D.C was occupied, sacked and most government buildings, including the white house, were burned to the ground. The U.S. president (Madison) had to flee. He hid in Virginia!
All that Canada needed to do is to repel the invasion. The counter-offensive into US territory had to finally stop at some point. And when it did ... in Baltimore ... they just couldn't contain their excitement in the usoA . They just had to burst into song! :)
Oooh say can you seeee ... !
Now, I doubt that the real story of the star-spangled banner would get many standing ovations in the usofA!
Incidentally, another interesting titbit is that "The star-spangled banner" music was "borrowed" from a hymn called "The Anacreontic Song", the real lyrics to which are as follows:
"To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
"Hark", Already they cry,
"In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we'll fly.
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion's banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do it's errand,
And damme I'll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I'll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
Apollo rose up and said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless"--then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitable fulmen' you know!
Then over each head
My laurels I'll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he'd cheerfully join-
"The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh, shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,"
Cry'd Jove, "We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support what's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacreon.html>
PS)
After conquering Moscow … Napoleon suffered great loses … to the Russian winter. Moscow was a hollow victory for the French forces. When at “The Battle of Nations” in Leipzig, soldiers from Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden, with financial backing from the British, went against French troops, the latter could not longer prevail. In the past, Napoleonic France had many victories against similar odds but after the invasion of Russia, they could not hold against a well-equipped alliance of four hostile powers. A third of Napoleon's men died fighting.
Isaac Asimov speaking:
“I have a weakness--I am crazy, absolutely nuts, about our national anthem. The words are difficult and the tune is almost impossible, but frequently when I'm taking a shower I sing it with as much power and emotion as I can. It shakes me up every time.
I was once asked to speak at a luncheon. Taking my life in my hands, I announced I was going to sing our national anthem--all four stanzas. This was greeted with loud groans. One man closed the door to the kitchen, where the noise of dishes and cutlery was loud and distracting.
"Thanks, Herb," I said.
"That's all right," he said. "It was at the request of the kitchen staff."
I explained the background of the anthem and then sang all four stanzas. Let me tell you, those people had never heard it before--or had never really listened. I got a standing ovation. But it was not me; it was the anthem.
More recently, while conducting a seminar, I told my students the story of the anthem and sang all four stanzas. Again there was a wild ovation and prolonged applause. And again, it was the anthem and not me.
So now let me tell you how it came to be written.
In 1812, the United States went to war with Great Britain, primarily over freedom of the seas. We were in the right. For two years, we held off the British, even though we were still a rather weak country.
Great Britain was in a life and death struggle with Napoleon. In fact, just as the United States declared war, Napoleon marched off to invade Russia. If he won, as everyone expected, he would control Europe, and Great Britain would be isolated. It was no time for her to be involved in an American war.
At first, our seamen proved better than the British. After we won a battle on Lake Erie in 1813, the American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, sent the message "We have met the enemy and they are ours." However, the weight of the British navy beat down our ships eventually. New England, hard-hit by a tightening blockade, threatened secession.
Meanwhile, Napoleon was beaten in Russia and in 1814 was forced to abdicate. Great Britain now turned its attention to the United States, launching a three-pronged attack. The northern prong was to come down Lake Champlain toward New York and seize parts of New England. The southern prong was to go up the Mississippi, take New Orleans and paralyze the west. The central prong was to head for the mid-Atlantic states and then attack Baltimore, the greatest port south of New York. If Baltimore was taken, the nation, which still hugged the Atlantic coast, could be split in two. The fate of the United States, then, rested to a large extent on the success or failure of the central prong.
The British reached the American coast, and on August 24, 1814, took Washington, D. C. Then they moved up the Chesapeake Bay toward Baltimore. On September 12, they arrived and found 1000 men in Fort McHenry, whose guns controlled the harbor. If the British wished to take Baltimore, they would have to take the fort.
On one of the British ships was an aged physician, William Beanes, who had been arrested in Maryland and brought along as a prisoner. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and friend of the physician, had come to the ship to negotiate his release. The British captain was willing, but the two Americans would have to wait. It was now the night of September 13, and the bombardment of Fort McHenry was about to start.
As twilight deepened, Key and Beanes saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry. Through the night, they heard bombs bursting and saw the red glare of rockets. They knew the fort was resisting and the American flag was still flying. But toward morning the bombardment ceased, and a dread silence fell. Either Fort McHenry had surrendered and the British flag flew above it, or the bombardment had failed and the American flag still flew.
As dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Key and Beanes stared out at the fort, tyring to see which flag flew over it. He and the physician must have asked each other over and over, "Can you see the flag?"
After it was all finished, Key wrote a four stanza poem telling the events of the night. Called "The Defence of Fort M'Henry," it was published in newspapers and swept the nation. Someone noted that the words fit an old English tune called "To Anacreon in Heaven" --a difficult melody with an uncomfortably large vocal range. For obvious reasons, Key's work became known as "The Star Spangled Banner," and in 1931 Congress declared it the official anthem of the United States.
Now that you know the story, here are the words. Presumably, the old doctor is speaking. This is what he asks Key:
Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light ...”
I was once asked to speak at a luncheon. Taking my life in my hands, I announced I was going to sing our national anthem--all four stanzas. This was greeted with loud groans. One man closed the door to the kitchen, where the noise of dishes and cutlery was loud and distracting.
"Thanks, Herb," I said.
"That's all right," he said. "It was at the request of the kitchen staff."
I explained the background of the anthem and then sang all four stanzas. Let me tell you, those people had never heard it before--or had never really listened. I got a standing ovation. But it was not me; it was the anthem.
More recently, while conducting a seminar, I told my students the story of the anthem and sang all four stanzas. Again there was a wild ovation and prolonged applause. And again, it was the anthem and not me.
So now let me tell you how it came to be written.
In 1812, the United States went to war with Great Britain, primarily over freedom of the seas. We were in the right. For two years, we held off the British, even though we were still a rather weak country.
Great Britain was in a life and death struggle with Napoleon. In fact, just as the United States declared war, Napoleon marched off to invade Russia. If he won, as everyone expected, he would control Europe, and Great Britain would be isolated. It was no time for her to be involved in an American war.
At first, our seamen proved better than the British. After we won a battle on Lake Erie in 1813, the American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, sent the message "We have met the enemy and they are ours." However, the weight of the British navy beat down our ships eventually. New England, hard-hit by a tightening blockade, threatened secession.
Meanwhile, Napoleon was beaten in Russia and in 1814 was forced to abdicate. Great Britain now turned its attention to the United States, launching a three-pronged attack. The northern prong was to come down Lake Champlain toward New York and seize parts of New England. The southern prong was to go up the Mississippi, take New Orleans and paralyze the west. The central prong was to head for the mid-Atlantic states and then attack Baltimore, the greatest port south of New York. If Baltimore was taken, the nation, which still hugged the Atlantic coast, could be split in two. The fate of the United States, then, rested to a large extent on the success or failure of the central prong.
The British reached the American coast, and on August 24, 1814, took Washington, D. C. Then they moved up the Chesapeake Bay toward Baltimore. On September 12, they arrived and found 1000 men in Fort McHenry, whose guns controlled the harbor. If the British wished to take Baltimore, they would have to take the fort.
On one of the British ships was an aged physician, William Beanes, who had been arrested in Maryland and brought along as a prisoner. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and friend of the physician, had come to the ship to negotiate his release. The British captain was willing, but the two Americans would have to wait. It was now the night of September 13, and the bombardment of Fort McHenry was about to start.
As twilight deepened, Key and Beanes saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry. Through the night, they heard bombs bursting and saw the red glare of rockets. They knew the fort was resisting and the American flag was still flying. But toward morning the bombardment ceased, and a dread silence fell. Either Fort McHenry had surrendered and the British flag flew above it, or the bombardment had failed and the American flag still flew.
As dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Key and Beanes stared out at the fort, tyring to see which flag flew over it. He and the physician must have asked each other over and over, "Can you see the flag?"
After it was all finished, Key wrote a four stanza poem telling the events of the night. Called "The Defence of Fort M'Henry," it was published in newspapers and swept the nation. Someone noted that the words fit an old English tune called "To Anacreon in Heaven" --a difficult melody with an uncomfortably large vocal range. For obvious reasons, Key's work became known as "The Star Spangled Banner," and in 1931 Congress declared it the official anthem of the United States.
Now that you know the story, here are the words. Presumably, the old doctor is speaking. This is what he asks Key:
Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light ...”
http://www.purewatergazette.net/asimov.htm
What a wonderful story!
Too bad it doesn’t quite give the flavour of the real story.
What actually actually happened is that, on a fine day in 1812, the USA tried to invade Canada!
Huh?
That's right!
US "War Hawks" wanted Canada added to the USA, imagined that they could easily invade, and tried to do just that.
The escuse for their disastrous attempt at invasion was that British ships had been stopping and searching American ships in order to recover the seamen who were deserting the British navy. They might press-gang the odd American while they were at it. And your typical US history book is thus chock-full of pompous declarations about ... "British violations of American neutral rights"! :) But "in truth (...) the core of the War Hawk agenda was expansion". It was that simple!
us-history.com
"As the record reveals, the Americans wanted more than just maritime rights. What they also wanted was the other half of the North American continent still in the hands of the King of England. In 1778, during the American Revolution, the Yankees had tried to seize Canada, and actually captured Montreal. The expedition however, under Generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, perished in the sub-zero cold beneath the towering walls of the fortress at Quebec. In 1812, Americans were determined to make another attempt at eradicating the British presence in North America, and settle "the Indian question" once and for all. Such a campaign, promised Thomas Jefferson, would be a matter of mere marching. In Congress, the War Hawks took up this position and demanded the United States finalize the independence from Britain they had fought so hard to win".
The war of 1812
With the vast majority of British forces desperately fighting Napoleon Bonaparte in Europe ... the "War-Hawks" figured they would get away with this. Henry Clay was actually so confident of an easy victory that he said at some point: "I trust I shall not be presumptuous when I state that I verily believe that the militia of Kentucky alone are competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at your feet."
War Hawks on Wikipedia
The reason for this "presumption" was simply this:
"From the Detroit River to Halifax there were spread along a thousand miles of border-line less than 5,000 British troops. The population of the whole vast region was only 300,000, men, women and children as against an American population of 8,000,000. The people of Upper Canada, where the bulk of the fighting was to take place, were only 77,000 in number. Eustis, the Secretary of War, declared that "we can take the Canadas without soldiers."
War of 1812 from Quebec-History
Hostilities began in good order. And was indeed with a carefully planned three-pronged offensive. But, though most in the usoA seem to be ignorant of this, it was the U.S. that tried to invade Canada. And it was certainly NOT, as Asimov tries to tell us, the other way around!!!
And so ... the invasion of Canada by the United States of America went ahead:
www.u-s-history.com
1:from Lake Champlain to Montreal;
2:across the Niagara frontier;
3: into Upper Canada from Detroit.
This is what then happened:
1: Along Lake Champlain the forces of the usoA were stopped and forced to retreat by an outnumbered Canadian force.
LacolleMills
Charles de Salaberry
Annals of Congress
2: On the Niagara front U.S. troops were stopped, retreated and lost Queenston Heights.
Queenston Heights
3: As for invading from Detroit ... well let’s just say that Detroit ended up surrendering!
Detroit
Needless to say that the US offensive failed to "place Montreal and Upper Canada at (their) feet". Their attack was so thoroughly beaten that U.S. troops kept falling back ... further and further away from anywhere near Canada. By August of 1814, the US capital city itself, Washington D.C., fell to Canadian forces. Washington D.C was occupied, sacked and most government buildings, including the white house, were burned to the ground. The U.S. president (Madison) had to flee. He hid in Virginia!
All that Canada needed to do is to repel the invasion. The counter-offensive into US territory had to finally stop at some point. And when it did ... in Baltimore ... they just couldn't contain their excitement in the usoA . They just had to burst into song! :)
Oooh say can you seeee ... !
Now, I doubt that the real story of the star-spangled banner would get many standing ovations in the usofA!
Incidentally, another interesting titbit is that "The star-spangled banner" music was "borrowed" from a hymn called "The Anacreontic Song", the real lyrics to which are as follows:
"To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
"Hark", Already they cry,
"In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we'll fly.
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion's banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do it's errand,
And damme I'll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I'll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
Apollo rose up and said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless"--then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitable fulmen' you know!
Then over each head
My laurels I'll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he'd cheerfully join-
"The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh, shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,"
Cry'd Jove, "We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support what's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacreon.html>
PS)
After conquering Moscow … Napoleon suffered great loses … to the Russian winter. Moscow was a hollow victory for the French forces. When at “The Battle of Nations” in Leipzig, soldiers from Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden, with financial backing from the British, went against French troops, the latter could not longer prevail. In the past, Napoleonic France had many victories against similar odds but after the invasion of Russia, they could not hold against a well-equipped alliance of four hostile powers. A third of Napoleon's men died fighting.
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