The War of 1812
Lewes Maritime History Trail
During the War of 1812, British vessels
blockaded the mouth of Delaware Bay in
an effort to disrupt shipping patterns and
supply lines and cause economic hardship
in the Mid-Atlantic. But when crews
attempted to land at Lewes to replenish
their ships, they were repelled by companies
of well-organized local militia. The British
commander tried to negotiate for supplies,
but that too failed. Finally the commander
warned Lewes officials that "whatever
sufferings may fall upon the inhabitants of
Lewes may be attributed to yourselves ..."
On April 6-8, 1813, Lewes sustained heavy
cannon fire from the British ships and was
bombarded by Congreve rockets, the first
use of this new technology against the
Americans. Contrary to claims in a famous
political rhyme that "the commander and
all his men shot a dog and a hen," personal
letters from that era record that damage
from the intense 22-hour bombardment was
extensive.
Nevertheless, manning a sizable fortifcation
that stretched from this site westerly along
the canal, local volunteer soldiers prevented
the British from advancing here but did not
stop their progress elsewhere. The fort in
Lewes closed in 1815, immediately after the war.
Marker is on Front Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
