Delaware in the War of 1812

United States   War of 1812    Delaware Military    Delaware in the War of 1812



Introduction
The declaration of war in June 1812 caused the Delaware government to take action. In November 1812, it activated the militia and began ordering military supplies.

On 26 December 1812, the British declared a blockade of the Delaware and Chesapeake bays though the British Fleet did not arrive in the area until 4 Feb 1813. The British did not start activities on the Delaware Bay until March 1813.

On 6 April 1813, the British ship, Pocitiers, bombed the town of Lewes, Delaware. Several houses were destroyed, but no one was killed. Until the end of the war, one or more British ships were in the area and destroyed a few smaller American boats.

During the war, Delaware furnished 3,316 infantry men, 147 cavalry men, 318 artillery men, and 57 men in miscellaneous units for a total of 3,838 men.

State Records
The Delaware Public Archives and the Delaware Historical Society have records of soldiers who served in this war.

Service Records

 * Ancestry, War of 1812 Service Records ($), (accessed 11 May 2012) this database gives name, company, rank at time of induction and at time of discharge of 600,000 men mustered from all states into the armed forces between 1812 and 1825. Search using keyword "Delaware" for exclusive alphabetical list of all Delaware veterans or Search using veteran's name and keyword "Delaware" for list of veterans with that name with Delaware men listed first.

Pension Records

 * Fold, Digital images of Delaware War of 1812 Pension Files. Alphabetical by surname.Incomplete as of 5/2012 ($)

Rosters

 * Peden, Henry C. Jr. The Delaware Militia in the War of 1812, (Lewes, Delaware: Colonial Roots, c2003), 353 pages;.