Figure 4. — Punch set presented to Col. George Armistead by the citizens of Baltimore in 

 recognition of his services in the defense of Fort McHenry against the British in 1814. Gift of 

 Alexander Gordon, Jr., great-grandson of the recipient. In Division of Political History. 

 (Ace. 6642, cats. 30914-17; Smithsonian photo P-64357.) 



and Baltimore Harbor. The bowl is marked by 

 Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner, silversmiths 

 who worked in Philadelphia from 1814 to 1838. In 

 regard to the excellence of the work of these silver- 

 smiths, there is an interesting comment in a diary of 

 Philip Hone that is owned by the New- York Historical 

 Society. On February 14, 1838, Hone wrote: 



Fletcher and Co. are the artist who made the Clinton 

 vases. Nobody in this "world" of ours hereabouts can com- 

 pete with them in their kind of work.'' 



' H. Maxson Hollowav, "American Presentation Silver," 

 New-York Historical Society Quarterly (October 1946), vol. 30. p. 

 228. 



In the set are ten silver cups, each 3?^ inches high 

 and 3 inches in diameter. The cups have the same 

 rounded shape as the bowl, without the loop handles, 

 and are marked on the bottom by Andrew E. Warner, 

 a silversmith who was working in Baltimore from 

 1805 until his death in 1870. 



The ladle, in the same shape as the cups, is also 

 marked by Warner. 



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 Septernber 13 the fort was under constant 



86 



BULLETIN 24 1: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



