USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume II > Part 16
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A few words respecting military affairs in the county seem to be called for, in this connection. The want of preparedness for war was one of the arguments adduced by those who opposed its declaration. Though the weight of this argument, which depended upon its truth, was fully acknowledged by the leaders of the war party, they claimed that the natural bravery of the people and their military enthusiasm would compensate for the absence of organization and discipline, and that their patriotism would, from abundant resources, soon supply what was wanted in accumulated munitions and stores. There really was some ground for entertaining these flattering views of the situation of the country. The glories of the Revolution which in the light of its won- derful results in the development of the country, had grown brighter and brighter, and the honors which were heaped upon the participants, living and dead, in that great conflict, were as rewards held out to their successors to invite and encourage them to the renewal of the contest with their old enemy. The long continuance of the Napoleonic wars in Europe had served to infuse into the whole civilized world a military spirit, which longed for the gratification of its impulses. The aggres-
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sions of the chief contending powers, France and England, upon the rights of neutral America had given much exasperation to our people, who were in mental condition, ready to resent any injury or insult, real or imaginary, intentional or inadvertent, by a resort to arms. In 1798 Talbot shared with the rest of the country, the indignation which had been aroused by the insults of the French Directory, and the injuries inflicted by the French cruisers. This indignation was shown by the prompt organization of military companies, under the inspira- tion of General Benson, who published a most spirited address to the citizens of Talbot. But it was in 1807 that the military ardor which had been for years smouldering blazed out with great fury being ren- dered more intense than ever before or since by the attack upon the United States ship Chesapeake by the British ship Leopard, the cul- mination, as it were, of a long series of outrages upon American ship- ping. Soon after this affair, the whole country was placed under mili- tary organization. A great number of companies were formed and officers appointed by the Governor and Council of the State. These companies were united, at least nominally, into regiments and brigades, and the whole was placed under the command of General Perry Benson, an officer of the Revolution, whose ardor, age and wounds had not extinguished.4 Although actual war did not exist, the two nations
4 As many of these companies, formed in 1807 and 1808 retained their organi- zations down to and after the war of 1812-15 and as some of them actually took part in the military operations of that war, within the county, a few brief memo- randa of them may be presented. There appears to have been two regiments or parts of regiments in Talbot, the 4th and the 26th, and these apparently were a part of the 12th brigade of the Maryland Militia, commanded, as above stated by the venerable General Benson. The colonels of these regiments were Perry Spencer, of the 4th and William Hayward of the 26th. William Lamdin became Lieut. Colonel of the 26th in 1808. Solomon Dickenson was commissioned Brigade Major, and Henry Johnson, William Smith majors of the 4th regiment and Robins Chamberlaine and William Caulk majors of the 26th regiment. It is believed Doctors Ennals Martin and Tristram Thomas were chief surgeons, and it is known that Doctors John Kettle and Joseph Nicols were surgeons' mates. Samuel Stev- ens was Adjutant, and Thomas Perrin Smith was Paymaster of the fourth regi- ment. The Paymaster of the 26th has escaped notice. The first company of which an account has been transmitted was formed in and around Easton in July, 1807, and of this Charles Gibson was Captain, David Kerr, Jr., First Lieutenant, and Thomas A. Fisher, Ensign. About the same time a troop of Horse was formed in the same neighborhood, the officers of which are not known. It was intended that these companies should make a part of the forces raised under an act of Congress, and were not to be of the militia. Of the fourth regiment, the companies had these officers: Capt., William Jordan; Lieut., James Denny, and Ensign, John Arringdale, in whose stead James Seth was afterwards placed. (II) Capt.,
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occupied a hostile relation, and were liable at any time to come into collision. This was calculated to keep alive the military ardor of the people, and, as a consequence, to perpetuate many of the military organizations which had been formed. Accordingly when war was actually declared in June, 1812, the county had a number of companies enrolled, officered and armed. Many of the other companies formed in 1807 and 1808 had but a nominal existence, or had become extinct. Those that took part in the affair at Saint Michael's in 1813 and were called out at Easton in 1814 will be named in the sequel. Others per- formed duty elsewhere in the county, and doubtless would have given a good account of themselves if they had been required to confront the enemy.5
Charles Henrix; Lieut., Parrott Rathell; Ensign Thomas Henrix. (III) Capt., James Dudley; Lieut., Stephen Ryner; Ensign, Isaac Parrott; James Parrott became Ensign in 1808. (Iv) Capt., Hugh Martin; Lieut., William Barton; Ensign, Thomas Harper. (v) Capt., Richard Trippe; Lieut. - -; Ensign, John Merrick. (VI) Capt., Jabez Caldwell; Lieut., William Bush; Ensign, Lang- ford Higgins. (VII) Capt., Edward Martin; Lieut., James Clayland; Ensign, Richard Robinson. In 1808 James Clayland was made Captain and Richard Robinson, Lieutenant. (VIII) Capt., Benjamin Wilmot; Lieut., John Meridith; Ensign, George Wishart Smith. (Ix) Capt., John Edmondson; Lieut., John Merrick; Ensign, Samuel Paddison. (x) There appears to have been another company near Trappe, Capt., W. Chapman; Lieut., -- -; Ensign, Solomon Mullikin. Of the twenty-sixth regiment, the companies had these officers: (I) Capt., Obediah Garey; Lieut., William Tilghman; Ensign, Samuel Garey, after- wards Wm. Tilghman became Capt., Samuel Garey, Lieut., and Dan'l Townsend, Ensign. (II) Capt., Thomas Jones; Lieut., John Turner, afterwards John Seth; Ensign, Samuel Roberts, afterwards Benjamin Benny. (III) Capt., William Dunn; Lieut., Jonathan Spencer; Ensign, William G. Elbert. (Iv) Capt., Josheph Harrison; Lieut., William Merchant; Ensign, Daniel Feddeman, afterwards William Merchant became Capt., Daniel Feddeman, Lieut., and Francis Gorsage, Ensign. (v) Capt., John Dargin; Lieut., William Harrison of James; Ensign, Joseph Kemp. (VI) Capt., William Caulk; Lieut., Thomas Harrison of William; Ensign, Joseph Harrison of Joseph. (VII) Capt., Hugh Auld; Lieut., John Car- roll; Ensign, Robert Collison. (VIII) Capt., John Dawson; Lieut., Nicholas Watts; Ensign, Anthony Banning. The companies thus far indicated were of Infantry. In 1808 these officers of a Troop of Horse were commissioned: Capt., Edward Lloyd; First Lieut., Robert H. Goldsborough; Second Lieut., William Harrison, Jr .; Cornet, Edward W. Hambleton. Of this troop John Bennett was Secretary. In the same year these officers of an Artillery Company were com- missioned: Capt., Samuel Thomas; First Lieut., Clement Vickary; Second Lieut., Thomas A. Fisher. This list drawn from the public journals of the day is necessarily imperfect.
" This armory, which is still standing, but no longer used for the purposes for which it was originally intended, had just been erected. It was built by the
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After the declaration of war by the United States on the 18th of June, 1812, the British Government declared the ports of this country to be in a state of blockade. This blockade was not strictly enforced during the year 1812; but with the beginning of the year following Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, commander-in-chief of His British Majesty's ships and vessels on the American and West India Station, sent detach- ments of his squadron to close effectually the American ports of New York, and those southward, including those upon the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. Vice Admiral Cockburn, who, having achieved honor- able distinction in other parts of the world, was destined to win for himself in this country a detestable notoriety, early in February of the year 1813 entered the Capes of the Chesapeake and taking possession of Hampton Roads, thus effectually closed the ports of Norfolk and Baltimore. Now commenced that system of marauding along the shores of the bay and its tributaries which have affixed an indelible stain upon the British arms. For no military nor strategic purpose, but simply in a spirit of wanton destructiveness, or for the sake of plunder, expeditions were sent out from the fleet from time to time, during the whole period of its occupancy of the Chesapeake, to harass the people, by burning their houses and carrying off their stock, seizing their trading vessels and kidnapping their negroes. The de- struction and plundering later in the year 1813 of Frenchtown, Havre-
State, and was intended to be a repository for arms for the whole Eastern Shore. Under an Act of Assembly these gentlemen were appointed Commissioners to superintend its erection, viz :
General Perry Benson, Captain George Wishart Smith and Captain Benjamin Wilmot.
Contracts for its building were made in 1811, and during this or the following year it was probably completed. The cannon house attached to the armory was erected about 1823. In the earlier years of the Province and State there was no public depository of arms, which were in the keeping of an armorer, who provided a place, usually his own house. As evidence of the survival of an old custom it may be stated that the armorer for a long time was a blacksmith. From a very early date, however, there was a magazine for the storage of arms and ammuni- tion, in the town of Easton. The old building used for this purpose is still in existence, and stands in the rear of the lot upon which the store of Messrs. Shan- nahan & Wrightson is built. The date of its erection has not been discovered. In 1801 Dr. John Coats, the armorer, advertised in the Maryland Herald that he would attend at the magazine to receive the arms that had been distributed to the militia. This indicated its existence at that time. It was probably built some time after the Revolution. It is a small, curious structure of cobble stones or boulders.
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de-Grace, Georgetown and Frederickton, all upon the Eastern Shore, are matters of general history known of all men. As soon as this sys- tem of warfare was commenced, alarm was created in all parts of the State accessible by the boats of the enemy, and particularly throughout this peninsula so universally penetrated by navigable waters, and at the same time so cut off from assistance from the larger part of the State. The militia of those counties most exposed to attack were kept upon the alert to repel the inroads of these incendiaries and robbers.
Although a commendable willingness had been shown by the citi- zens of this county to enroll themselves in the several military organi- zations then formed, or forming, there existed well grounded appre- hensions in the minds even of those who were disposed to place most confidence in the firmness and courage of a citizen soldiery, that there would be an inability to repel any serious attack that should be made by the enemy. These apprehensions, where they were not suggested by a want of reliance upon militia forces in general, were based upon the fact that there were not arms enough within reach to equip even those volunteer companies which had received some of the advantages of military drill, and upon which most reliance was to be placed in the case of an emergency. This condition of affairs led to the calling of a meeting of the citizens of the county at Easton on the 23rd of March, 1813, at which a committee was appointed to draft a Memorial to the Governor and Council of the State, setting forth the defenceless condi- tion of the county, and praying relief from the authorities. This memorial, as containing much that is interesting from a historical point of view, is here inserted:
To His Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable Council of the State of Maryland:
The Memorial of the inhabitants of Easton, in Talbot county, and of sundry citizens of the neighborhood, most respectfully showeth: That your memorialists are creditably informed and verily believe that a squadron of British ships has been for some time stationed in Lyn- haven bay, at the mouth of the Chesapeake, and that the number of ships has lately considerably increased, thereby proving a design in the enemy to continue a fleet in that anchorage and a probable intention to detach his vessels from thence into the rivers and waters of Maryland, to seize and plunder the persons and property of the inhabitants, or to commit still greater injuries. At least, without vigilance and prepara- tion, he may be tempted to commit them from a belief that the defence- less condition of many parts of the State will enable him to do so with- out any effectual resistance. Your memorialists, in common with the people at large, are sensible of their danger, in such a situation, and are
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animated by a desire to possess the means of resisting it: but though the avenues afforded by the navigable waters of the State furnish oppor- tunities of plunder and invasion, in most of its sections there are, never- theless, certain places containing objects of such importance as become peculiar marks for attack, and where the force and means of defence should be greater, and ought more promptly to engage the public atten- tion. Your memorialists beg leave to represent to your Excellency and Honors that the town of Easton as a place which ought, in their opinion, to be so considered. It contains a public armory, in which arms and ammunition belonging to the State are deposited.5 It contains a bank, in which the State is considerably interested as a stockholder, as well as many individuals, and from which accommodations have been most usefully extended to divers citizens of the Eastern Shore, and the depos- its in which must always be contemplated as an inviting object of pillage by an invading foe,6 and the nearness of the town to the waters of Third Haven, Saint Michaels and Choptank rivers leaves it sur- rounded by so many accesses by which it may be approached that extra- ordinary measures of watchfulness and resistance appear to be necessary. These measures do not, however, exist: the neighboring militia are gen- erally without arms or ammunition, and though the companies in Easton have been heretofore furnished with public muskets for the purpose of exercise and training, and of guarding against possible danger, it has been found, upon examination, that in their present condition few of them are fit for effectual service. No redoubts are provided. The field pieces employed by the artillery company are not in town, but kept in charge of the commanding officer; and it is doubted whether the services of the militia can be controlled by the General of the Brigade where the prospect of danger is not immediate, without the precise orders of your Excellency. Were the weapons of defence in the power of your memorialists, and the danger in view, it ought to be expected that a reliance might be placed on their voluntary and animated exertions; and though they may come forth upon the calls of anticipated danger, and steadfastly perform their duties for a while, yet it often happens, where no object is presented for the employment of their services, that their animation will decline and a reluctance be felt to continue on a duty which no actual necessity appears to require.
Your memorialists having thus stated to your Excellency and Honors their probable danger and defenceless condition, respectfully submit them to your due consideration, and pray to be admitted to such means of relief as the Executive government shall deem expedient and sufficient; and they respectfully request your Excellency and Honors to consider the subject of their memorial as soon as the public engagements of the Council will permit; and they trust their exposed situation will excuse
. 6 As a matter of precaution the specie of the Bank was removed from Easton and sent under guard to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. An account of this removal was given in the contribution relating to the Bank, published in the Easton Star, July 18th and following, 1871.
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them for urging their claim to a reasonable protection in the terms they have used; and your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
Signed by the subscribers in behalf of the inhabitants as a com- mittee appointed for this purpose at a general meeting of the town. P. BENSON, ROBT. H. GOLDSBOROUGH, JNO. MEREDITH, JNO. M. G. EMORY, Ns. HAMMOND.7
Easton, 23rd March, 1813.
In reply to this memorial Governor Levin Winder stated that the Brigadier General, or other commanding officer, at the place threatened with invasion, had power to call out the militia, but that the Executive of the State was able to take no other step "to give to the inhabitants of that place further security." He, however, referred the memorial to. the Hon. John Armstrong, the Secretary of War, for the United States, who replied: "In a country so intersected by rivers and bays as ours it is impossible to embody troops at all the points an enemy, having a naval superiority, may menace or assail. In this case it might be well to remove the armory." It thus appears this county, and indeed the whole peninsula, was left without any other defence from the maraud- ing parties than could be given by its ill-armed and undisciplined militia. It would seem, however, that by the middle of April 2000 stand of new arms had been received at the armory, though complaints were still made that they were not issued to those willing to use them, for reasons which are not apparent. The fleet at Lynnhaven bay was on the 24th of March joined by Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, in the flag ship Saint Domingo, and a frigate. A few days later, a detachment of the fleet visited Sharp's Island, and held possession several days, carrying off much property belonging to Mr. Jacob Gibson. At this time great alarm was created in Easton by the presence of the enemy at the mouth of the Choptank, and this alarm reached its acme on Sunday, March 28th, when it was announced that vessels from the fleet were approaching the town by way of Third Haven river. The drum beat to arms, and
7 This memorial, which prudence dictated should not appear in the public journals of the day, made part of a communication addressed in 1818 to the Hon. John C. Calhoun, then Secretary of War, by the Hon. John Leeds Kerr, State Agent for the prosecution of claims of the State of Maryland against the General Government for expenses incurred in the war of 1812, and from this source it has been drawn for insertion here. It is not difficult to recognize in this paper the practiced hand of the gentleman whose name stands second in the list of sub- scribers.
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A large number of citizens, in conjunction with the Easton Light Infan- try Blues under the command of Capt. George Wishart Smith paraded, and showed a determination to resist the landing of the enemy. In- formation, however, soon arrived that the vessels ascending the river were bay craft loaded with lumber from one of the lower counties upon this shore. It is believed, from the testimony of one who was present and participated in the work, that it was at this time the breastworks opposite The Point, upon the plantation then owned by Mr. Henry Hollyday, were thrown up.8 This little redoubt was named "Fort Stoakes" because it was constructed mainly by the workmen in the shipyard of Mr. James Stoakes,9 which was near Easton Point. In this fort were placed the six guns of Captain Clement Vickers' battery, and it was kept in a state of readiness for action during the remainder of the war. There was always a garrison or guard within the fort, for the shelter of which a house was constructed. This guard con- sisted of a very few men except during periods of alarm, when it could be easily increased by the workmen from the shipyard, many of whom belonged to the "Talbot Volunteer Artillery Company" of which Capt. Vickers was the commander, and which was the same company that was originally in 1808 under Capt. Samuel Thomas. At the date of these events there was building at the shipyard of Mr. Stoakes, one of those naval defences which were much lauded at the time, but which soon were proven to be very worthless, and brought ridicule on the projectors. This war vessel was built at the expense of the citizens of Easton and vicinity, who subscribed the amount necessary for its construction. It was a barge, fifty or sixty feet long, and ten feet wide, and propelled by forty-eight oars, twenty-four on each side, and each oar being worked by two men sitting upon the same seat, side by side.10 It mounted a single gun, placed in the bow. This barge
8 Mr. John H. Barrott, son of Sol. Barrott, informed the writer that this earth work was thrown up on a Sunday, when it was thought the enemy was approaching, but he does not remember the date. Mr. Thomas Parrott says it was thrown up when the British were at Castle Haven, in 1814. The statement in the text is probably correct.
9 Mr. James Stoakes was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He carried on ship building at Easton Point, extensively and successfully for a number of years, but ultimately became bankrupt, and died in 1818. He was an enterprising, industrious, courageous and zealously pious man.
10 This description of the barge was received from Mr. Thomas Parrott, a very aged man, yet living, but it is very evident his memory failed him as to the number of oars which could not have been forty-eight in a length of sixty feet. It is probable there were but twenty-four oars.
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was finished early in June, but it does not appear that it was ever brought into requisition for purposes of war, offensive or defensive. After the termination of the war it was decked over, and converted into a vessel of burden. A similar, but heavier barge was built at St. Michaels, at the shipyard of Colonel Perry Spencer. Like that built at Easton, it proved of no service whatever, as a vessel of war; but it too was con- verted into a vessel of burden, after receiving a deck and sailing equip- ment. It may be well enough to say in this connection that whenever there were any of the fleet of the enemy in the waters of Talbot, or near her shores, a guard boat was sent down from Easton, or St. Michaels daily, to report the position of the ships. Nor should there be a failure to note that in addition to the regularly organized companies in the town of Easton, there was a band of the more aged citizens who were known as the Town Guard, the duty of which was to protect the town whenever the companies were absent. Of this band Thomas James Bullitt, Esq., was the Captain.
Towards the middle of April a detachment of the British fleet moved up the bay with the ultimate object of capturing the city of Baltimore. On or about the 12th of this month Admirals Warren and Cockburn took possession of Sharp's Island, making a prisoner of Mr. Jacob Gibson, the owner, who had repaired thither to bring off his stock of sheep, cattle and other property. He was prevented from removing anything that could be of use to the fleet and was finally permitted to return to his home on the main, after receiving partial compensation for what had been seized by Admiral Warren.11 The money paid to him was honorably tendered to the government, Mr. Gibson being unwilling to appear as having profited by the enemy. The squadron at this time was reported to consist of seven sail, two twenty-gun brigs, and five smaller vessels, though according to the statement of Mr. Gibson, Admiral Warren's flagship, the San Domingo, made a part of the fleet on the 15th of the month. At or about the same time Tilghman's and Poplar Islands were taken possession of by the enemy, and Mr. Hemsley and Mr. Sears suffered from the depredation of the enemy upon their cattle. The following letter of John Leeds Kerr, Esq., addressed to a
11 This visit of Mr. Gibson gave rise to much controversy at the time, and was the subject of correspondence between him and the authorities, both State and Federal. It was upon his return from the island that he was guilty of that play- ful escapade, of frightening the citizens and soldiers at St. Michaels of which a full account was given in a contribution published in the Saint Michaels Comet of January 6th, 1877.
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