"The British have landed!" The alarm sounded along the shores of the Chesapeake in 1814 as entire families, grim and fearful, fled from the path of the despised marauder, Admiral Cockburn. Jed Forrest heard the warning as he hurried home along the dusty Maryland road, but British or no British, he had a job to do—he and Chris Keener must drive the Forrest cows safely to Fort McHenry to supply the men defending Baltimore.

Jed refused to leave without Commodore, his adored pet rooster, despite Chris' objections to adding that to their troubles. And so a boy, a man, four reluctant cows, and un unpredictable rooster set out at dusk on a thirty-mile trek along back roads to Fort McHenry. It was an exhausting, hazardous journey, and Jed was not amused at Commodore's sprightly enthusiasm for it. But later, at Dr. Beanes' house on the night of the doctor's capture by the enemy, Jed had good reason to be proud of Commodore when, in a flurry of disrespect, he flew squawking into the face of Admiral Cockburn himself.

Commodore's dramatic action at Fort McHenry, though, was something even Chris had to cheer. At the height of the battle, through the roar of bursting shells and the glare of rockets, the brave little rooster flew to a rampart, spread his wings, and crowed triumphantly. Commodore—the star-spangled rooster—signaled a moment of glory for Americans under fire.

Bruce Grant has based this rousing, fast-moving tale on a true incident in the War of 1812. It is vividly and accurately illustrated by W. T. Mars.

From the dust jacket