Many of you know that I have been in a slump when it comes to writing. The current Political situation had me down and I could not get inspired to write. I had an opportunity tonight to watch a History Channel documentary on America’s Forgotten War, the War of 1812. This was one of America’s Darkest hours.

On August 24^th 1814, the British Army under the command of General Robert Ross sacked and burned Washington. The White House and the Capitol building were burned and the city was a firestorm. As the British Army advanced, President James Madison, who was out rallying the troops, sent word to First Lady Dolly Madison to evacuate the White House. Dolly was a spunky lady and would not leave with out saving a portrait of George Washington.

As the British Army was involved with the destruction of the Nations Capitol a strange thing happened. A freak storm came up; a Hurricane! It was so fierce that it put out the fires and drove the British from the Nations Capitol. The Hurricane was so fierce that it killed many of the British troops. When President Madison finally rode back into the city, he rode among the people speaking words of encouragement, though exhausted from four days in the saddle.

The next few days were crucial to America. General Ross marched on Baltimore, Maryland and one solitary man, changed the course of the war. An American Rifleman, whose name has been lost to posterity, (according to Baltimore tradition, two American riflemen, teenagers Daniel Wells and Henry McComas, aged 18 and 19, respectively, were credited with killing Ross.) took careful aim and killed General Ross. The British promptly returned fire and killed this unknown marksman. General Ross was replaced by another officer, a cautious man. A man who’s cautiousness would hurt the British greatly.

The British Army continued on to Baltimore to attack Fort McKinley. Colonel George Armistead, the American Commander at Fort McKinley, felt that he needed something symbolic to rally the people of Baltimore. He commissioned a local seamstress, Mary Pickersgill, to make an oversized American Flag for the sum of $405.90. Meanwhile, an Attorney named Francis Scott Key, who was a prisoner aboard a ship in Baltimore Harbor, witnessed the terrible battle that took place and as the sun rose the next day he penned the following poem.

Originally entitled “The Defense of Fort McKinley” it would be renamed “The Star-spangled Banner”. It inspires us still today. We see how both the Hand of God and the tenacity of the American people won out. Our great country survived these events and we can survive all that are thrown at us now.

You often see the numbers 419 on patriot types blogs. Heck, I’ve even noticed them on my son’s HALO game. What do these three simple numbers stand for? Is it some secret code? A cryptic message that only Patriots know? Yes and at the same time, a resounding No! 419 refers to April 15, 1775. This is a red letter day in American History and for patriots all over the world. That was the day the shot was fired that was heard around the World. The day that the Battle of Lexington and Concord was fought.

For those of you that slept through your American History class in High School, I’ll give you a refresher.  The Militia in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts had been stockpiling weapons and the British Military didn’t like it. 700 British Army Regulars, under the Command of  Lt. Colonel Francis Smith, were dispatched from Boston to confiscate these weapons.

Yes, gun confiscation has happened before in America, and it can happen again.

The word leaked out and Paul Revere and William Dawes were sent out to warn the local Militias. Just as the sun rose that fateful morning the first shots of the American Revolution rang out. The Lexington Militia, badly outnumbered, fell back toward Concord. Word of the battle spread like wildfire and, by the time the British Army arrived in Concord, they were met by several hundred Colonial Militiamen. They clashed again at the Old North Bridge in Concord. Several Hundred Militiamen defeated three companies of the Kings Troops. Farmers defeated the best Army in the world that day.

In the poem “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson it describes the battle like this.

Concord Hymn

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

I’ve often wondered who first fired that shot heard ’round the world. Was it fired by a youthful Militiaman nervous at the prospect facing the British Redcoats? Was it an overeager British Infantryman? I have a friend who believes that somebody slammed a door and all hell broke out. I have my own theory and If you don’t like it then tough; its my theory and I like it. I am a Christian and I believe that America is a land ordained by God to be a bastion of Freedom for all faiths where they can worship, How, Where, and What they may!

I have been accused of taking the Bible to literal at times, so bear with me. Do you remember John the Apostle of Jesus who desired to tarry on the earth until Jesus returns again. I can imagine him standing in the background, watching the events unwind. He can see the Militia wavering. He knows that America needs to be free for Christians to worship freely, so he draws a flintlock pistol from his waistband and pointing it skyward…fires. The rest is history. You don’t need to believe my theory; but it is kind of fun.

Remember Lexington and Concord!

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