WYPR begins a new project today, “Rockets’ Red Glare: The War, the Song and Their Legacies.” It’s a series of stories examining the continued influence of the War of 1812 and the song it inspired. In this installment, WYPR’s Joel McCord joins a group of Baltimore students as they gain hands-on knowledge.
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A group of ninth graders from Baltimore’s Maritime Industries Academy is learning something about a maritime industry of two centuries ago. The chant sets the rhythm to raise the sails on Pride of Baltimore II as it glides out of Annapolis harbor on the lightest of breezes.
“All right, well that’s one, one sail’s up, two more to go. Two more?”
They’re here as part of a program developed by Pride’s owners, the non-profit Pride of Baltimore Inc., the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the Naval Academy to underscore the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.
The day starts in Mahan Hall, the Naval Academy’s museum, where real estate billionaire Bill Koch’s personal collection of War of 1812 memorabilia is on display. The exhibit’s title is “Seas, Lakes and Bay: the Naval War of 1812.”
It traces the war on the Great Lakes and in the Chesapeake Bay. There are portraits of Oliver Hazard Perry, Captain James Biddle and Captain James Lawrence, who commanded “Chesapeake” in its swift, but failed fight against the British frigate “Shannon.” Lawrence’s ceremonial sword is there as well as the sword of Captain Philip Broke, who commanded “Shannon.”
Here’s retired Admiral Guy Shaffer speaking to the students.
“The real critical part of the war that made a big difference was the ability of the Americans to defeat the British on the Great Lakes and on Lake Champlain.”
But, sorry, Admiral, you just can’t compete with a replica of a 19th century schooner. Aboard Pride, crew members Chad Lossing and Andrew Elmaleh explained the difference between pirates—just plain crooks—and privateers, who had government issued hall passes, or letters of marque, to plunder British shipping.
“Privateers were helping their country by invading the enemy and stealing from the enemy. Does that make sense?”
Meredith McKinnon and Melissa Brauner used wooden models and a small tub of sand to demonstrate the superior speed of Baltimore clippers like Pride, which preyed on British shipping in the early 1800s.
“So if you’re cutting through the water better, that means you’re moving faster. And if you’re a privateer you want to move... (Faster) Awesome. Okay.”
In the stern veteran Pride Captain Jan Miles coached Brandon McClary as he guided the vessel back to its slip at the City Dock.
Ok, now, start unwinding those six spokes we put in there (one, two three four) Now, look forward again and see what happened. It’s slowing down, yup that’s the way.”
Brandon said he had a good day because he got to steer the ship and haul on lines.
“Yeah, pull some lines. It was fun, it was hard. I even got to go to the bathroom here, on the ship. It’s small.”
And they even learned a new song.
I’m Joel McCord, reporting in Annapolis for 88.1, WYPR.
“Rockets’ Red Glare” is made possible by a grant from Star Spangled 200, a national bicentennial commission in Maryland.