midnight
They were placed on board the _ Surprise _ and courteously treated . The fleet sailed up to the Patapsco , and they were transferred to their own vessel , but with a guard of marines to prevent them from landing and communicating with their friends and countrymen . `` Their vessel was anchored in sight of Fort McHenry , and from her deck the Americans watched the fight , oh , so anxiously ! and though it was , as I have said , over before midnight , those anxious watchers did not know until morning how it had ended -- whether by surrender of the fort , or the abandonment on the part of the enemy of the attempt to take it . It was with very anxious hearts they waited for the coming of the dawn , but at last , in the dim light , as the day began to break , their eyes were gladdened by the sight , through their glasses directed toward Fort McHenry , of the beautiful stars and stripes ` still there , ' and to their great joy they soon learned that the attack on Baltimore had failed , that Ross was killed , and the British were returning to their vessels . `` It was while pacing the deck during the bombardment , full of anxiety for the result , that Mr. Key composed that song so dear to the American heart , ` The Star-Spangled Banner . ' '' `` Oh , let us sing it ! ''