[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1803-S1804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SARBANES (for himself, and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 441. A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to designate 
the route of the War of 1812 British invasion of Maryland and 
Washington, District of Columbia, and the route of the American 
defense, for study for potential addition to the national trails 
system; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


   the star-spangled banner national historic trail study act of 1999

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation, 
together with my colleague Senator Mikulski, which will help 
commemorate and preserve significant sites associated with America's 
Second War of Independence, the War of 1812. My legislation, entitled 
``The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail Study Act of 1999,'' 
directs the Secretary of the Interior to initiate a study to assess the 
feasibility and desirability of designating the route of the British 
invasion of Washington, D.C. and their subsequent defeat at Baltimore, 
Maryland, as a National Historic Trail. A similar companion bill is 
being sponsored by Congressmen Ben Cardin and Wayne Gilchrest in the 
House of Representatives.
  Since the passage of the National Trail Systems Act of 1968, the 
National Park Service has recognized historically significant routes of 
exploration, migration and military action through its National 
Historic Trails Program. Routes such as the Juan Bautista de Anza, 
Lewis and Clark, Pony Express and Selma to Montgomery National Historic 
Trails cross our country and represent important episodes of our 
nation's history, episodes which were influential in shaping the very 
future of this country. It is my view that the inclusion of the Star-
Spangled Banner Trail will give long overdue recognition to another of 
these important events.
  The War of 1812, and the Chesapeake Campaign in particular, mark a 
turning point in the development of the United States. Faced with the 
possibility of losing the independence for which they struggled so 
valiantly, the citizens of this country were forced to assert 
themselves on an international level.
  From the period of the arrival of the British forces at Benedict, in 
Charles County, Maryland, on August 18, 1814, to the American victory 
at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, on September 14, 1814, the war took a 
dramatic turn. The American forces, largely comprised of Maryland's 
citizens, were able to slow the British advance through the state and 
successfully defended Baltimore, leading to the retreat of the British.
  The more than 30 sites along this trail mark some of the most 
historically important events of the War of 1812. The Star-Spangled 
Banner Trail, commemorating the only combined naval and land attack on 
the United States, begins with the June, 1814 battles between the 
British Navy and the American Chesapeake Flotilla at St. Leonard's 
Creek in Calvert County, Maryland. It continues to the site of the 
British landing at Benedict, Maryland the starting point of the British 
march to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. The trail follows the 
defeat of the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, the evacuation of 
the United States Government, the burning of the nation's capital, 
including the White House and the Capitol Building, the battle at North 
Point and the bombardment of Fort McHenry, site of the composition of 
our National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, and the ultimate defeat 
of the British.
  The route will also serve to bring awareness to several lesser known, 
but equally important sites of the war, including St. Leonard's Creek 
in Calvert County, where Commodore Joshua Barney's Chesapeake Flotilla 
managed to successfully beat back two larger and more heavily armed 
British ships, the Upper Chesapeke Bay and related skirmishes there, 
Brookeville, Maryland, which served as the nation's capital for one 
day, and Todd's Inheritance, the signal station for the American 
defenders at Fort McHenry. These sites, and

[[Page S1804]]

many like them, will only enrich the story told along the trail. 
Additionally, the attention given to these sites should prove 
beneficial in terms of efforts to preserve and restore them. Mr. 
President, at this time I ask unanimous consent that a more detailed 
list of these sites, as well as a copy of this legislation and a letter 
of support from Governor Parris Glendening, be included in the Record.
  Mr. President, the designation of the route of the British invasion 
of Washington and American defense of Baltimore as a National Historic 
Trail will serve as a reminder of the importance of the concept of 
liberty to all who experience the Star-Spangled Banner Trail. It will 
also give long overdue recognition to those patriots whose 
determination to stand firm against enemy invasion and bombardment 
preserved this liberty for future generations of Americans.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 441

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Star-Spangled Banner 
     National Historic Trail Study Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the British invasion of Maryland and Washington, 
     District of Columbia, during the War of 1812 marks a defining 
     period in the history of our Nation, the only occasion on 
     which the United States of America has been invaded by a 
     foreign power;
       (2) the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail traces 
     the route of the British naval attack on the Chesapeake 
     Flotilla at St. Leonard's Creek, the landing of the British 
     forces at Benedict, Maryland, the American defeat at the 
     Battle of Bladensburg, the siege of the Nation's capital, 
     Washington, District of Columbia (including the burning of 
     the United States Capitol and the White House), the British 
     expedition to and subsequent skirmishes within the upper 
     Chesapeake Bay, the route of the American troops between 
     Washington and Baltimore, the Battle of North Point, and the 
     ultimate victory of the Americans at Fort McHenry, on 
     September 14, 1814, where a distinguished Maryland lawyer and 
     poet, Francis Scott Key, wrote the words that captured the 
     essence of our national struggle for independence, words that 
     now serve as our national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner; 
     and
       (3) the designation of this route as a national historic 
     trail--
       (A) would serve as a reminder of the importance of the 
     concept of liberty to all who experience the Star-Spangled 
     Banner National Historic Trail; and
       (B) would give long overdue recognition to the patriots 
     whose determination to stand firm against enemy invasion and 
     bombardment preserved this liberty for future generations of 
     Americans.

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF TRAIL FOR STUDY.

       Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1244(c)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (36) (as added by section 3 
     of the El Camino Real Para Los Texas Study Act of 1993 (107 
     Stat. 1497)) as paragraph (37);
       (2) by designating the paragraphs relating to the Old 
     Spanish Trail and the Great Western Scenic Trail as 
     paragraphs (38) and (39), respectively; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(40) Star-spangled banner national historic trail.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Star-Spangled Banner National 
     Historic Trail, tracing the War of 1812 route of the British 
     naval attack on the Chesapeake Flotilla at St. Leonard's 
     Creek, the landing of the British forces at Benedict, 
     Maryland, the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg, 
     the siege of the Nation's capital, Washington, District of 
     Columbia (including the burning of the United States Capitol 
     and the White House), actions between the British and 
     American forces in the upper Chesapeake Bay, the route of the 
     American troops between Washington and Baltimore, the Battle 
     of North Point, and the ultimate victory of the Americans at 
     Fort McHenry, on September 14, 1814.
       ``(B) Affected areas.--The trail crosses more than 6 
     Maryland counties, the city of Baltimore, and Washington, 
     District of Columbia.''.
                                  ____


              Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

       The Proposed Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail 
     traces the route of the War of 1812 British Invasion of our 
     Nation's Capital and the American Defense of Baltimore.
       Possible sites for inclusion along the proposed Star-
     Spangled Banner National Historic Trail:


                             calvert county

       St. Leonard's Creek--Battles of St. Leonard's Creek.
       Lower Marlboro Fishing Pier--Site of British war graves; 
     British Generals Conference.
       Prince Frederick--British destruction of County Seat.


                             charles county

       Benedict--Site of the British Landing.
       Oldfields Chapel--Burial site of British soldiers.
       Mattingly Memorial Park--Site of U.S. Navy delay of British 
     retreat from Washington, D.C.


                         prince george's county

       Bladensburg--Site of the Battle of Bladensburg.
       Ft. Washington--Formerly Fort Washburton.
       Belair Mansion, Bostwick House, Riversdale, Mount Welby--
     Historic Homes occupied in 1814.
       Pig's Point--Scuttling of Chesapeake Flotilla by Commodore 
     Barney to prevent British advance.


                            washington, d.c.

       White House, Capitol, Treasury Department, Sewell-Belmont 
     House--Burned by the British.
       The Octagon--Madison's residence after invasion.


                           montgomery county

       Brookeville--U.S. Capital for one day.
       Rockville--Site of British Encampments.


                             howard county

       Ellicott City--American march to Baltimore.
       Savage--Home of Commodore Barney.


                            baltimore county

       North Point--Battle of North Point.
       Todd's Inheritance--American Signal Station.
       Methodist Meeting House--American Camp.
       North Point Road--Route of British March.


                             baltimore city

       Ft. McHenry--Site of the American Victory.
       Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & War of 1812 Museum--
     Birthplace Star-Spangled Banner.
       Federal Hill--Site where citizens viewed battle.


                              kent county

       Caulk's Field--Site of the Battle of Caulk's Field.
       Cedar Point--Site of log boom which prevented British 
     advancement.
                                  ____

                                                State of Maryland,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                 Annapolis, MD, February 18, 1999.
     The Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Sarbanes: Thank you for your letter of support 
     to the American Battlefield Protection Program regarding the 
     grant application submitted by the Maryland Tourism 
     Development Board. While reading your letter, I was reminded 
     of how far we can go as a State if we combine our efforts and 
     work together to achieve our goals.
       Additionally, I am aware of and very interested in the 
     National Historic Trail legislation you are re-introducing to 
     Congress this session. The designation of a multi-
     jurisdictional National Historic Trail would have significant 
     impact on Maryland's War of 1812 Heritage Tourism Initiative. 
     My staff and I are ready to assist in the designation process 
     in anyway you deem necessary.
       As always, it was a pleasure to hear from you, I look 
     forward to seeing you soon.
           Sincerely,
                                             Parris N. Glendening,
                                                         Governor.
                                 ______