USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 70
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On the 26th of December, 1812, the British gov- ernment, by an order in Council, declared the Ches- apeake and Delaware Bays to be in a state ot blockade, and it was evident that a determined effort was to be made to " cha-ti-e the Americans into sub- mission." Before the close of the year the United States war-vessels and privateers had captured three hundred and nineteen British ships, aggregating a value of $12,650,000. And a regular army of fifty- five thousand men was put in the field, to be rein- forced by volunteers. The country was divided into Dine military districts, each under a district com- mander. Of these, Delaware and Pennsylvania, from its eastern limits to the Alleghany Mountains, com- posed the Fourth. Delaware Bay, having been spec- ially selected by the British for military and naval operations, caused great excitement and anxiety along the coast.
The first commissions issned in 1813 by Governor Haslet, of Delaware, were granted on January 7th to Panter Laws as lieutenant and Thomas Pepper as ensign of a company of light infantry attached to the Fir -: Battalion of the Eighth Regiment. Two hun- dred and fifty stands of arms received from the gov-
"God Some said on, distinguished for his services in the War of 1-12. from injuries received it Brown's sortie de en Test hrie the previous
urt- for-general \pat 2. 1.1;, biz promoted Jub Lith the suur year tu the etho of Hisfeet rgeberd, with the rink of colonel. on hirn.
Fonte iptal putenlily in fis attackon Queelistown Heights, Octuber 11, 1st2, and in do campoQu'on the Niagara troutier mn Isti " Perkins' " Late War, " 1 132.
1 Lowsing's " Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1912," pp 44 -53.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
ernment were sent to Wilmington, the same quantity to New Castle, and one hundred and fifty to Lewis- town ; and equipment- and ammunition for the use of the militia at those places were also forwarded. Collender Irvine, the superintendent of military stores at Philadelphia, al-o held five hundred mus- kets subject to the orders of the Governor, of which one hundred were ordered to New Castle, to the care of Brigadier-General Stockton; one hundred and fifty to Smyrna, to the care of Brigadier-General Davis; one hundred and fifty to Milton, to the care of Brigadier-General Fisher ; and the remaining hun- dred were sent to Milford under care of the Gov- ernor. In Governor ladet's message of January 13th, he informed the Legislature that, in accordance with an act of the Legislature, he had purchased nine hundred stands of arms, and delivered three hundred and twelve to New Castle, two hundred and seventy-six to Smyrna, and the remaining three hun-
CAPTAIN JAMES BIDDLE.
dred and twelve to Milton, the aggregate cost being $14,025. As soon as this was known, applications for the use of arms for companies on training-days were at once received from Captain Kennedy, of Smyrna, Captain Wright, of Milton, Captain Adams, of Milford, and Captain Godwin, at the head of Cedar Creek.
In a report laid before Congress early in February, the entire force of Delaware was placed at seven thousand four hundred and fifty-one men, made up of six thousand four hundred and seventy-five infantry. and the remainder consisting of artillery, cavalry and ritlemen. During the winter, however, this number was largely increased by commissions granted to volunteers. The British squadron which was to do ferred to Governor Haslet.
service in America in 1813 proceeded first to Ber- muda with a large land force, and a heavy supply of bombe and Congreve rockets. Their first appearance in the waters of the United States was on February 4th, when they were seen in the Chesapeake standing towards Hampton Roads. The feet consisted of four seventy-four-gun vessels, besides frigates, brigs and schooners of less formidable size. The most im- portant of these were the " Marlborough, " 744, Ad- miral Cockburn ; the " Dragon, " 71, Captain Berry . the "Poictiers," 74, Commander sir John P. Bere -- ford ; the " Victoriou-," 74, Captain Talbot ; " Acasta." 44, Kerr; "Junon," 38, Kerr; "Statira," 38, Stack- pole ; " Maidstone," 36, Burdett; "Belvidera," 36, Byron; " Narcissus," 32, AyImer; " Lauristin-, " 21, Gordon ; "Tartaras," 20. Pasco; and others, AH Southern Virginia was thrown into a state of excite- ment and turmoil, fearing that an attack would be made on Norfolk and Hampton. The fleet had ouly been there a short time, however, when the " Poic- tiers," the "Belvidera " and several smaller vessels, including the schooners " La Paz " and "Ulysse-," all under the command of Commodore Beresford were sent to blockade the Delaware. Their work was quick and effective, and early in March Delaware Bay and River were in a state of complete blockade. The enemy began by committing depredations along both sides of the bay, and capturing and destroying the small craft that plied on the river. One of the most notable of their captures was the "Snapper," of Philadelphia, which was said to have received three hundred bullets from the three British frigates before she surrendered. The anxiety was intense in the regions blockaded. The specie in the banks of Wilmington and the branch of the Farmers' Bank at New Castle were sent to Philadelphia for safe- keeping. The invasion was too sudden, however, for the people or State and national authorities to make ample preparation. The blockading fleet burned all the smaller vessels they encountered, plundered and ransacked the houses along the shore and subjected the inhabitants, especially the women, to the most revolting insults. When they had been in the bay but a few days, committing all sorts of outrages upon a defenseless people and fixing buoys at various places, Commodore Beresford forwarded the following letter to Lewistown :
" Hi- Britannie Majesty's ship ' Poictier-,' " In the month of the Delaware, March 1+ "Su - As soon as you receive this, I sonst i quest you will send two ufs live huller los with a productionate quantity of vegetables and hay to the " Pois ther-" Bog the use of for- Butamine Majesty's squadron, how at this anchorage, which shall be inmediately paid for at the Plubule Ip.hits prices. If you rela-e to comply with this request, I shall be under the free -- ity of destroy thợ yoin town.
" I have the landing to be, sur, your uit servant,
"Commanding the British squadron th Hoe month of the Delow ite. " The first Magidate of Lewistown."
The receipt of this letter seemed to fire every bratt in Delaware into a blaze of patriotism. Berestord's demand was defiantly refused and his letter wat- re- He subscribed to the
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THE WAR OF :>12-15.
patriotic position taken by the people of Lewistown and transmitted one of his characteri-tie letters to the commodore on March 23d, in which he said . " I have only to observe to you that a compliance would be an immediate violation of the laws of my country and an eternal stigma on the nation of which I am a citizen. A compliance, therefore, cannot be acceded to." The commodore was also informed that the people of Delaware could not hold any corre- -pindence with the enemy without subjecting them- selves to the penalties of treason. To this the com- modore replied that his request was no more than "magnanimity " demanded should be observed by one nation at war with another, and added, " it is ir: my power to destroy your town, and the request I have made upon it as the price of its security is neither distressing nor unu-nal. I must, therefore, persist, and whatever suffering, may fall upon the in- habitants of Lewistown must be attributed to your- selves, by not complying with a request so easily ar quiesced in." But the people of that heroie town silently prepared for the defense of their homes and laconically replied, " We solemnly refuse to commit legal or moral treason at your command. Do your worst." From Philadelphia to the orean men and women worked with zeal and ardor to repel the attacks of the enemy.' Along the Jersey shore there was less activity than elsewhere, owing to the fact that thickly-settled towns were rare; but whenever an opportunity presented itself for defending their prop- erty, the citizens were eager to seize it.
At Philadelphia the necessary preparations for de- fense were enthusiastically made and volunteers gladly enlisted to man Fort Mifflin, the regular force having been taken to the West under Colone! Izard and Lieutenant-Colonel Winfield Scott, only fourteen invalids remaining behind.
Throughout the entire State the people rose in their might to protest against the insolence of the British and to give material form to their protests by shouldering arms in defense of their country. On the Sunday following the receipt of Commodore Beresford's letter, the citizens of Dover asembled in response to the drummer's call to arms. Every able- bodied man, of all ages and opinions, religious and political, responded, and nearly five hundred men mustered for service. Foremost among them was Jonathan MeNat, who, with many others who had fought in the Revolution and now bent with age,
I Fort " Union," for the defense of Wilmington, was erected in March, Ist &, by the gratintions labur at the citizens of the town and sh intts. James & Bassand with his own hand assisted to its construction. The fort, sopp an old chineseler, commanded the Christian against any force that might comte up the stream An artillery company was torined at Davel Bonton's tavern, at Frunthe and Market, on Wednesday evening, March to, Lai, " for the defence of the Borough." "The arsenal of Wil- minston, then situated out of the borough limits, in what is now Wash- matin Street, above Le htb, was the place et tem zvon- for the military Mar. h 27th, apgunoted Sammel !! Black and Istar Gild . aus-de camp. Sport ith, In American gun-lasts arrived at New Castle for the " pro- tri tion of the river eratt." On Mjad 15th, for the hrs tune, the .teamlust " Delaware " made a trip to Philadelphia, And returned the -alde iny.
rame from the surrounding country to render what- ever services were still in their power. MeNat. whose years had told heavily on his strength, threw aside his cane, an !, with a ammisket on bis shouhier, went through the entire drill. Although the day was Sunday and the ohl hoy was "a worthy member and strict observer of the rates of the Methodist Church." he returned to hi. home and spent the afternoon mak- ing ball cartridges. His example served as an incen- tive to the younger me ubers of the community, who enlisted with the greatest enthusiasm. At Smyrna similar demonstrations occurred and the people were soon Fusied in the preparations for defense and the manufacture of munitions of war. The veteran, Cap- tain Bennet, of the famous " Delaware Bhutes," was placed in contro! of measures to be taken at New Castle and the battery that was erveted close to the town. He was made colonel of the militia and soon had a well-disciplined force of infantry and artillery. Wilanngton placed Colonel Allen MeLane in com- mand! of all defensive prorelings. In the mean- time the enemy continued their depredations. The sloop " Eliza and Mary," from Philadelphia, for Lewistown, was burnt near Cedar \'reek, and a packet from Charleston was run ashore at the mouth ot l'own Greek and also burned. The militia of Lewis- town and Milton managed to save a schooner belong- ing to Colonel Payner, which was attacked in the same vicinity. The brig " Concord," Captain Stell- waggon, was boarded by a midshipman and seven men from a tender of the blockading squadron, but he finally secured them and escaped up the bay under a heavy fog. Captain Burton, of the sloop " New Jersey," was captured by the tender of the " Ulysses," but afterwards managed to escape with his vessel.
Governor Haslet at once summoned the militia to defend Lewistown, and in a few hours a thousand men were stationed there under arms. A scarcity of ammunition was soon turned into an abundance by the industry of the citizens. Wilmington sent Cap- tain Warner, of the Wilmington troop of horse, with his company, to assist in the defense of the town. Many volunteers joined them, among them being Cap-
2 The following communcation appeared for the first time in pubhe print March 12, 1815, in an answer to certaint repeats reflecting on the patriotism of Colonel Melone. "Allen M. Lane was apquanted cop- tun in one of the sixteen additional Continental Regements of fot colliers in the beginning of the War of 1777, and by his activity and wministry soon joined the artuy with a full conpany. I pon the dissolu- tion of the Sixteenth Regiment and the incorporation of the att ere and then into other coupe, Captain M. Line was, in July, 17%, appointed to the command of the infantry of Major Lee's partiach legion. Natur M. Lane was early active in the cause of his country, and from the fina of joining the Continental army I can testity that he distinguished him- selt highly as a brave and enterprising ofhver During the son of Yorktown he was matinsted by the Board of War with the delivery of Dispatches of importance to Hi- Fe cheney, dar. Comt De Grasse, which commission be executed with great crienty, and was afterwards way ut- Vi Paddle in recantottering and In ingin_ inte ligence of the strength and dispersion of the Best fleet ed the Chesapeake. On the dissolution of the army, he was rotated ujemy half pay for life.
" Goven mander my hand and read at Philadelphia, December 1, 17-1. " GEORGE WASHINGTON."
Ont Spool With the Committee of Safety appointed Captain Thata. and Black, Caleb Green, Euoch Monte, Paul Medinn and William Shipley to procure " men to want the gunbeats in the harbor at Wil manigton for its detruce.".
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
tain Hunter, of Philadelphia, and Major Robert Carr, were followed by a flag of truce from Captain Byron. of the United States army. The Veteran Corps, of of the " Belvidora," renewing the demands made on March Bith, with the additional request of a supply of fresh water. Colonel Davis, who was in connand of the troops of the town, im mediately repbeda- follow- Wilmington, under the command of Colourl MeLane, were ordered to assemble at the corner of Second and French Streets at three o'clock p. M. on the 24th, to march to the ground where the battery was being erected, near the Christiana and Brandywine, to ex- .So In seply to the tens wat of vong de mail, with the viliti da ercise with balland cartridge at a floating target. In the same town, a " committee of safety" was organized, Tack on the anh datauto of this town is both wanton and ria. I " | hive the honut to be your mast ale dient servant, including among its members Messrs. James .A. Bayard, George Monto, Outerbridge Horsey, Dr. Captain Byron immediately replied to this in the following letter : James Tilton, Carar A. Rodney and William P. Brobson. During the existing emergency they fixed "BELS HORA, off the village of Lewistown, April title "Ser No dishonor can be att. hed in complying with the demand upon the arsenal as a place of general rendezvous, and established a signal in case of alarm, consisting force. I must, therefore, consider your refused to supply the squadtan with water, auml the cattle that the weighbothearl affords, mist tinel on your part to the mbalitants I giose for the distress the wollen att . futfren are telneed to by your conduct, and earnestly desire the may be mistantly temuved. of the ringing of the town bell, two discharges of cannon and the beating of drums at the same time. Another precaution was the extinction of the lights in the light-house on C'ape Henlopen, which was ordered " I have the honor to ho, rte., by the Secretary of the Treasury, through Colonel " N. B .- The cattle will be honorably paid for. Allen McLane, collector of the district of Delaware. " s. B. DAVIS, Col. Com,"1 On April 24th the Philadelphia County Cavalry, Captain James Miles, marched from Philadelphia to Lewes, and the next day other companies and regi- ments were ordered to hold them-elves in readiness to march under the command of General R. Wharton. The British still lay in the Delaware, continuing their petty destruction and going to greater extremi- ties whenever an opportunity presented. About the last of March they captured the "Moute quien" off the Capes, which paid them well for their trouble. The ship belonged to Stephen Girard, of Philadelphia, and had sailed for Canton in ISIo. She was now returning laden with a cargo valned at one and a half millions of dollars. The captain was unaware that war had been declared, and when almo-t at home the vessel was captured. Girard afterwards ransomed it for one hundred and eighty thousand dollars in specie.
On April 6th, Governor Haslet convened the Log's- lature in extra session, and informed them of the particulars concerning Commodore Beresford's de- mands on Lewistown, and the measures taken by himself for its defense. He stated, however, that he had proceeded no farther than the emergency required, and asked the Assembly to take such action as might be deemed expedient. The matter was placed in the hands of a committee of five. On the same day tbe bombardment, which had threatened Lewistown for three weeks, was begun by the British.1 Late in the afternoon the " Belvidera" and two small vessels bore down on the town and began the attack by firing a number of thirty-two-pound shot. These
1 Rev. Dr. Thomas Road, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. was conducting the regular morning sure when the messenger with great speed brought the news-, injusti that the Bestich with about to it- tack the town of beweg AR Wilmington was thrown into camion di. and in response to the summons several military company - stated that Sunday ou the march to meet the cormy. in the alt frodo Hw pa- trafic pastor assembled his congreg thots and press los an spent ser- mon from the following words "And the messenger came to saul, sts- ing, hasto je and comme, for the Platlistines have invaded the land. '
The only reply that Colonel Davis vouchsafed to this was this verbal message that "Colonel Davis is a gallant man, and has already taken care of the ladies." As soon as this reached Captain Byron he began the attack. The fleet consisted of four launches, with twenty-four and eighteen-pounders. two sloops with thirty-two-pounders, and a mottar, a pilot boat with six-pounders, the schooner " Paz" with twelve twelve-pounders and the frigate " Belvi- dera." On the night of the 6th the bombardment was continued until ten o'clock. Colonel Davis di- rected the operations with skill and energy from the position of vantage on which Lewistown was situated. Oneof the enemy's most dangerous gun-boats was soon disabled by the well-directed shot from a thirty-two- pounder. Being ignorant of how long the attack might continue, a dispatch was forwarded by Colonel Davis to the Governor requesting a supply of powder and shot. Governor Haslet at once lett Dover for headquarters to command the militia. Powder was pientifully supplied from Du Pont's mills at Wilming - ton, while the balls from the enemy's guns were dug out of the sand by the boys and returned to theenemy from the shore batterie -. The bombardment con- tinued for twenty-two hours. The British fired nearly eight hundred thirty-two and eighteen-pound shot into the town, in addition to shells and Congreve rockets. The rockets passed high over the houses without effect, while the bombs fell short of their mark, and were equally harmless. A few house- were
50%. Samuel B Davis was born in Less, Much 25. 1726, and .] September s, til He married cloud and saved in the French nass with the bank of captain He pointed to this country life in the right-enth century and settled in New Orleans, where he ansel con att. sed his service to the government, and commanded the ulitis at
to the Fatty - fourth lidtantry and pointed to the . donchy. Ilend- the wiemy in 1914, and settled in Winington He passed to Philadel
Isil, for two trims, and turned to is & to Delaware, where he showed
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THE WAR OF 1812-15.
damaged, but no one was wounded. A few days after the engagement a list of " killed and wounded" was humorously prepared by a wag, and the enunteration consisted of " one chicken killed and one pig wounded, leg broken." The inhabitants of Lewistown con- ducted themselves coolly and bravely. The pilots who were stationed near by were deserving of the highest praise.
On the afternoon of the 7th the sailors from the British squadron attempted to land in a number of small boats. The militia on the beach gave them such a warm reception, however, that they gladly beat a hasty retreat. On the 8th the enemy withdrew to the Capes.
Defensive measures continued throughout the State. At Wilmington the citizens and those in the vicinity built Fort Union. It commanded the Chris- tiana, and made any approach to the city extremely perilous. Several gun-boats left New Castle for Bombay Hook to patrol the surrounding waters. The Legislature had also been busily engaged in consider- ing the means of defense. The committee, which had been appointed on April 6th to consider Governor Haslet's message, handed in an extensive report on the 9th. They had, during the interval, been informed of the attack on Lewistown, and were influenced by it in their deliberations. Mr. Clayton, who prepared the report, severely reprimanded the general govern- ment " for not having taken greater pains to protect the coast of Delaware, as the State was exposed for a distance of one hundred miles, and liable at any moment to an attack from the enemy." No aid had been furnished, with the exception of the loan of a few hundred muskets. The bombardment of Lewis- town was announced to the President by a dispatch from the Governor of the State, and a request was forwarded for ordnance and ammunition, but, as yet, no response had been received. In view of these considerations, in addition to the probability that the enemy's attacks would be renewed on Lewistown and other exposed places, the committee submitted the following resolutions :
" Be it resolved unanimously by the Senate and the House of Repre- sentatives of the State of Delaware, in General Assembly met, that the President of the L'uited States be requested, and he is hereby requested that immediate means bs taken to and an i assist to defend the State against the common enemy of the United States, and that the militia of the State be supplied with common powder, ball, muskets, bajonets. flints, bullet-moulds, lead, camp-kettle- and all uther munitions of war and provisions necessary for men fighting against the enemy of the United States.
" Resolved, unanimously, that the President of the United States be re- questett to give to the Governor an order to call into service the detarlied imilitia of this State for the defense thereof, and that the pay and subsistence of the mihtia of this State in actual service be put on the Establishment of the U'nited States.
"Is leed, unanimously, that the President of the United States be requested to order to the Delaware a sufficient naval force for the de- fetisu thereof."
These resolutions produced the desired effeet, for when the Assembly met on April 25th, the Governor was able to state that the United States had loaned the State four eighteen-pounders for the defense of Lewistown, and eannon and ammunition for New Castle and Wilmington. He had besides received a
letter from General Bloomfield, in which he mentioned that three hundred and fitty men of the Pennsylvania militia had been ordered to Stanton, from which place they would send daily patrols to New Castle, Wilming- ton and the Maryland line. In consequence of this he discharged the militia employed up to that time in defending Lewistown, with the exception of a com- pany of the inhabitants of that place, who manned the batteries, and a small detachment of cavalry. Arrangements were also made to have these placed in the pay of the United States. It was in this same message that the first suggestion was made to use the Pea Patch as the site for a fort. The Governor ad- vised the appropriation of a sum of money for the erection of fortifications on the island, believing that Pennsylvania and New Jersey would foliow. As the United States would not build a fort on any site not belonging to the general government, Delaware soon ceded the island to the United States.
On April 27th Assistant Adjutant-General C. K. Gardner announced the appointments for the various military districts. Those of the Fourth, consisting of Pennsylvania and Delaware, were Brigadier-General Joseph Bloomfield, commander ; William Duane, adjutant-general; Lieutenant Robert Donn, of the Twenty-second Infantry, assistant adjutant-general ; William Linnard, deputy quartermaster-general ; Captain Henry Philips, Sixth Infantry, district pay- master ; Lieutenant Thomas Clark, Second Artillery, assistant topographical engineer ; John B. Waldron, assistant deputy commissioner of ordnance; Cadwall- ader Irvine, commissary-general of purchases; and Richard Parker, military storekeeper at Carlisle, William C. Bennet at New Castle, and D. Kirkpat- rick at Wilmington.1
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