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Garrisoned by 1000 men under Major Armistead during the War of 1812, guarded Baltimore against an attack by sea. September 13, 1814, Admiral Cochrane with sixteen heavy war-vessels opened bombardment upon the fort. Its guns failed to reach the fleet till some of the British vessels approached nearer. They met so warm a reception that they withdrew, badly damaged. A force of 1000 men, landed to surprise the fort in the rear, was repulsed. At midnight the firing ceased; next day the British withdrew and Baltimore was safe. The only damage was on the American side, four killed and twenty-four wounded. During the bombardment Francis S. Key, a prisoner on board the British fleet, wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner."