1795-1818, 15 stars. The flag known as the Star Spangled Banner or War of 1812 flag, has 15 stars displayed in 5 rows of 3 each on the blue star field and 15 red and white stripes. This is the only stars and stripes flag that carried 15 stripes. It was this garrison sized stars and stripes that flew over Fort McHenry, Baltimore when defending against attack by British Navy ships on September 13, 1814. Francis Scott Key was detained on a British frigate and could only watch the defense of Fort McHenry as the battle continued overnight. At dawn he saw that the flag was still proudly waving and he was inspired to write the words for the "Star Spangled Banner", which later became the National Anthem of the U.S. This is also the flag carried by the American Navy and Marines in war against the Barbary Pirates and which they hoisted over the fort at Derne, Tripoli, on April 27, 1805. It was the same flag under which Commodore Perry won the battle of Lake Erie in September 1813, and General Andrew Jackson signaled victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans in January of 1815, the last major battle of the War of 1812.