Presentation Pieces in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper No. 47 [Smithsonian Institution]Klapthor, Margaret Brown
History
Presentation Pieces in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper No. 47 [Smithsonian Institution]
Klapthor, Margaret Brown
Silverwork
During the defense of Fort McHenry Colonel Armistead had under him about
1,000 men, including soldiers, sailors, and volunteers. It is said he
was the only man aware of the alarming fact that the powder magazine was
not bombproof. During the night of September 13 the fort was under
constant bombardment by the enemy, but the attack failed. Discouraged
by the loss of the British general in land action, and finding that the
shallow water and sunken ships prevented a close approach to the city by
water, the British fleet withdrew. Fort McHenry was but little damaged
and loss of life was small.
[Illustration: Figure 5.--TUREEN presented to Com. John Rodgers by the
citizens of Baltimore for his part in the defense of the city against the
British in 1814. Bequest of Gen. M. C. Meigs. In Division of Political
History. (Acc. 25386, cat. 5863; Smithsonian photo P-64357-A.)]
Closely related to this punch set is a covered tureen (fig. 5) that the
citizens of Baltimore gave to Commodore John Rodgers, U.S.N., for his
part in the defense of Baltimore in September 1814. During the battle of
North Point and the attack on Fort McHenry, the naval forces under
Commodore Rodgers defended the water battery, the auxiliary forts
Covington and Babcock, and the barges of the naval flotilla.
The oval-shaped tureen is mounted on a square base that stands on four
winged feet. The piece is 15 inches high. The handles at each end are
supported by eagles' heads. An applied design of flying horses and
winged cherub heads makes an attractive border around the edge of the
tureen. The knob on the cover of the tureen is a stylized bunch of
grapes. On the inside of the bottom of the base is inscribed:
Presented by the citizens of Baltimore to Commodore John Rodgers
in testimony of their sense of the important aid afforded by him
in the defense of Baltimore on the 12th and 13th of Sept'^r,
1814.
This piece too bears the mark of Philadelphia silversmiths Fletcher and
Gardiner.
[Illustration: Figure 6.--GOLD SNUFFBOX presented to Maj. Gen. Jacob
Brown by the City of New York in recognition of his services in the War
of 1812. Gift of Mrs. Susan Brown Chase. In Division of Political
History. (Acc. 116682, cat. 37664; Smithsonian photo 57009.)]
The gold snuffbox presented to Major General Jacob Brown by the City of
New York in recognition of his services in the War of 1812 does not fall
strictly within the province of this article, but it is included because
it is similar to the silver pieces just described. The exterior of the
box (fig. 6) is beautifully chased in a line design. The inside of the
lid is inscribed as follows:
The Corporation of the City of New York to Major General Jacob
Brown in testimony of the high sense they entertain of his valor
and skill in defeating the British forces superior in number, at
the battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater on the 5th and 25th of
July, 1814.
FOR PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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