The daily gazette., 1876-02-22
DELAWARE DURING 1878.
THE BOMBAPDMENT OF LEWES.
Threatened Invasion of the State


ADELPHiA-PREPARAT FOR DE-
FENsE-lNTEREsTING SCRAPS OF Lo-
CAL HISTORY.
la the last chapter of Thompson
Westcott's "History of Philadelphia,
now in course of publication in the
Sunday Dispatch. a number of interes-
ting local incidents are given, descrip-
tive of interesting military and naval
events in Delaware during the year
1913. The most pertinent portions of
the chaptec are given below:
In the beginning of March British
squadron arrived at the mouth of the
Delaware and took up position for
biocknding purposes. 1t was comman-
ded by Commodore Sir John P. Beres-
ford, and consisted of the Poictiers,
seventy four; the Belvidcra frigate,
Captain Bryon; the schooners La Paz
and Ulysses. They commenced to
capture small craft, and to burn or
destrop them also. committing depre-
dations on both sides OF the Delaware
On the 10th of March, Commodore
Beresford made demand upon the in
habitents of Lewes, near Cape Henlo-
pen, for twenty live bullocks, with
proportional quantity of vegetables
and hay, promising to pay reasonable
prices Tor the same, but threatening
destruction to the town in case of noa
compliance. TO this demand a def
ancc was Immediately returned. The
intelligence of this transaction caused
much excitement in theStates of Della
ware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Militia began Immediately to pour
into Lewes; and at Dover, Smyrna,
New Castle, and wilmington, meas
ures of resistance were determined
upon. Batteries were erected at the
two last named towns. The specie of
the banks of New Castle and Whining
ton was removed to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia was also greatly excited
at this threatening menance to her
municipal safety, and measures of re-
sistance were promptly adopted:--
Military companies were Immediately
organized. and the City Councils ap-
propriated $50, 600 for the defence of
the city and river.
In the meanwhile, matters in Della
ware Bay were exciting a strong feel
ing. The schooner Fanny, of Charles
ton, was chased by a British vessel off
Lewist0wn and was run ashore. The
crew, endeavoring to remove the cargo,
were assisted by seventy five militia
men, whe took bales of cotton from
the vessel and erected breastwork,
from whence they annoyed the enemy,
who were endeavoring to destroy the
vessel-in which they were successful
| of hnu I "a p,Fnrnl
the 23d, Governor Hazlett, OF Della
ware, arrived at Lewes, and sent let
ter to Commodore Beresford, ,inquiring
| If he was still determined to destroy
the town, To this reply was made
| that the conditions were not hard, nor
, opposed to the law of nations, nor dis
| trcssing, nor unusual, and that, if
denied, whatever suffering would fall
on the town or people must be attri-
buted to their own obstinacy in not
complying with request so easily ac-
quiesced In.
The bombardment of the town of
Lewes, which was threatened, did not
take place until the 9th of April. On
the evening of that day the Belvidera
and two small vessels approached the
town and commenced the attack by
firing thirty-two-pound shot, after
which flag was sent on shore. renew
ing the demand for bullocks, provisions
and supply of water. Colonel Sam.
uel b. Davis, who commanded the
troops in the town, replied that neither
demand would be complied with
Captain Byron, of the Belvidera,
answered that the refusal was unusual
and that it was cruel to the inhabitants.
especially to the women and children,
whom Captain Byron requested might
be removed. To this intimatiOn the
answer was returned: "Colnnel Davis
is a gallant mao, and has already taken
care of the ladies'" The cOmbardment
then commenced, and was replied to
by an American battery on shore. The
firing was kept up for twenty-five
hours. About one thousand eighteen
and thirty-two pound shot were fired,
beside bombs and rockets. The shells
fell short, the rockets passed over the
town. Many houses were damaged by
the balls. but the injury was tritiing,
considering the length of time con-
sumed in the attack. On the after.
noon of the 7th, preparations were
to land by the British. Several boats
full of men approached the shere; but
ere they could disembark they were
recalled by signal from the squadron.
On the 18th of May, in the after
noon. the first detachment of volun-
lteers marched from Philadelphia to
the State of Delaware, under the COM
mand of Colonel Lewis Rush. 1t con-
sisted of the Philadelphia Blues, Capt.
Henry Myers; the Independent Volun-
teers, Captain Samuel Borden; and the
Washington Guards. Each of these
companies consisted of one hundred
privates, fifteen officers, and two mu-
sicians. They encamped for the night
n short distance below Gray's Ferry,
and in four days reached Stanton, on
the Baltimore road, six miles below
Wilmington. Here permanent en-
campment was formed under the di-
rcction of Gen. Bloomfield.
In the meanwhile change had
taken place in the blockading forces
Commodore Beresford, " ith bis squad
ron. sailed for Bermuda. In their