On a gloomy, rainy September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key and 2 other captive Americans on a British ship watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry. All day and into the dank, stormy evening, the noisy rockets and bombs continued. During the night and early morning hours of September 14, there was more intense gunfire near the fort. After more than 24 hours the British stopped their bombardment and quiet settled over the harbor. At dawn, the men were all straining to see the fort and the flag. All three undoubtedly saw the flag flying over the fort.