Kent County, Delaware Militia

The Light Infantry Company of Dover, a part of the 1st Battalion of Kent County, mustered in on 2 April

1776. Each militia volunteer was uniformly armed,

equipped, and wore a standard military coat of green

faced with red lapels, cuffs, and collar. From 14

December 1776 to 14 January 1777, Captain Thomas

Rodney, youngest brother to Declaration of

Independence signer Caesar Rodney, and his light

infantry company responded to General George

Washington's Call to Arms for militia during the

darkest days of the American Revolution. Members of

the company who volunteered for this perilous

mission marched from Dover, crossed the Delaware

River into New Jersey, and as part of Brigadier

General John Cadwalader's Pennsylvania Brigade,

played key military roles in Washington's decisive

victories against British and Hessian forces at the

Second Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton.

For distinguished service, Washington appointed the

Light Infantry Company of Dover "to be his own

guard." This memorial is dedicated in remembrance

of these patriots who served "in the Defense and

Protection of American Liberty."

Marker is on Liberty Street just from Duke of York Street.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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