Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-05-24
The Blue Hsn,s chickens.

1no Illt I1bu y OuACh6hos
At the commencement of the Revolution
AIRY war, there resided in Sussex county,
Delaware, a gentleman of fortune, urbanity
of manners, and great popularity, in that and
the adjoining counties of Maryland, named
Caldwell, in the language of the county, call
ed Kilwell. He was sportsman, whose
breed of horses and game cocks, obtained
wide celebrity and his judgement Of the
points of horse or the make of a fowl none
venturedto dispute His tavorite axiom was,
the character of the progeny depends more,
ON the mother than ON the father, and hence
his reply to all questions respecting the breed
Of game fowls was be your COCK ever so
game you cannot depend on his progeny, but
must look TO the hen. My observation has
led me to select blue hen, and in no in
stance have failed to hatch good game
cock from blue hens egg. In consequence
of such an opinion expressed by such man,
Mt all matches and cock-hghts, the tirst ques-
ton was Ms to the color of the hen, and ne
| uuently a certificate sworn to before Mag
istrate, accompanied the fowls. Such ques-
tons engaged the time of the peaceful men
of Delaware, when the news reached them
of the battle of Lexington, fought on the 18TH
dav of April, 1176 between the Royal troops
and the militia of Massachusetts This
reused the people to arms, and nowhere was
there more martial spirit displayed than III
the State of Delaware In very snort time
n full regiment was raised and Il day ap-
pointed TO organize on Dover green. the
} morning of that ever-memOrable day Il tull
company from Sussex county was the Irst
to enter the field under the command OF
, CAPTAIN Kilwell Peering above the loaded
baggage wagon, was coop OF fowls, the IA
d NOUS Blue hens chickens, growing Justify.
= Having been the first on the ground Capt.
Kilwells company was assigned to the right,
G and before the regiment took up the line OF
|. march the Jovs were already called the game
d cocks, who retorting on their comrades called
. them the Chickens. After their gallant con-
u due, in covering the retreat on Long Island
e the whole army saluted the whole regiment %
a the "Blue Hens Chickens
~ HISTORY TELLS US or THEIR DEEDS.
ID They were on Long Island and covered the
"A retreat; they were ut Trenton and Princeton,
~ at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth
d in the North; and when the tories in the Ca
- rolnas had made their peace with CORVALLIS
and driven the wings to the mountains, low
er Virginia oyer-run, her Governor and Legis-
lature fled to Carters Mountain. force was
hastily gathered ut the North, under Genera
Gates, and pushed South TO these were at
tached the troops of Delaware and Maryland
forming brigade under the Baron De kalb.'
On the "fatal field of Camden" kilwell fell
re there the game cock fought his last round
ut Lee in his memoirs OF the Southern wal
Gu tells us.
ms aThe regiment of Delaware was nearly an
lst initiated, and Lieutenant Colonel Vaughan
~ and Major Patton bengtakcn, its remnant, les
nl than two companies, were afterwards place
r under the orders Of kirkwood, senior captain
nd Contrary to the usual course Of events and th
r. general wish, the Virginians (whO broke an
me fled on the first FIRE, and who set the injuriou
Il example which produced the destruction
me our army,) escaped entirely
I'VE But the spirit of Delaware was not TO
5ly subdued; fresh recruits soon joined and agai
we find the "Chickens' fighting under Gree
ol; at Giliord-and finally present at Yorh
lad town on TIE 10th of October, 1881, when Corr
ew wallis surrendered and the war of the revolu
md ton closed in triumph.
'ie VOLUNTEERS OF DELAWARE
ler The fire kindled on the 10th of April III
ow at Lexington, blazed in the breasts of you
/ a sires. Above you have II brief record Of the
" deeds
70 The FIRE on Sumpter, on the 18th Of Apri
ere lsel-where it took seven thousand of the d,
ne scendents of the tories of the Revolution
M overcome seventy half-staryed defenders
our glorious fag-has reused you to arms
cal Soon you will be in the field Garry with yo
me the remembrance of the deeds performed l
inc your fathers.
nj When you enter Virginia, remember
IL ayenge Camden, where Virginias own histor
rad an tells you They escaped entirely having fle
Inn on the first fire.
Ike Let the word be-FoRwARpl Until you So
fes the stars ana stripes again hoatlng over SUM
Q il ter ana every otner tort IN the harDor, az
the every house top in the city of Charleston, L
there be no rest to the soles of your feet +
ian Deaware's honor is in your hands. With ha
the her present population, she kept her regime
N in the field for six years Of the Revolutions
iast Can you doubt her ability to do so now 2
yer BLUE HENS CHICKENS, TO THE rRoNT Fol-
site WARD MARCH
ion NorE.--Baron DeKalb fell mortally woundi
try at Camden Kirkwood fell at ST. Clairs d.
feat by the Indians, in 1871, "IIaving thirt
aud three times risked his life for his country.
IRE Lees Memoirs,