Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-22


finishing up of the Revolution. What
brought II about was Great Britain
claiming to be the mistress of the seas.
In fact, prior to this time she held
that position as the mistress Of the seas,
but the American people were not going
,toiallowh her the privilege to board our
vessels and remove any men they
thought were injuring them. The
English were not satisfied with hoard
ing merchantmen but boarded one of
our frigates, the Chesapeake, off the
coast of Virginia. Commodore Barron
had charge Of her, and, just going up to
sea, he was not prepared for her defence.
] might further say her hemp cables
were piled away on her guns, and he
thought it might be better for him to
yield to the search than resist against
such disadvantages.
The Revolution itself was defence
of our rights and think the declaration
of war declared by our government
against Great Britain in 1912 was justand
right, While England was struggling
to give it up she was forced to yield.
While our government was weak, she
was strong, but right appeared to pre-
vail in behalf of the United States. and
shesgained he point in not allowing
England to board her ships.
Our "reminiscences will be more par
ticularly connected with Wilmington,
yet we will take into our brief history
other things which are germane to the
subject. The people of Delaware, and
especially of Wilmington, were ready
= % help our government in her struggle
Knight enumerate now few men who
were officers in the war of 1912, which
continued to 1915. They We're; Cap
tains David @. Wilson, Allen Thomp-
son and Captain Warner, who each had
company. Having been ordered 10
move towards Baltimore, they got as far
as Eikton. The attack of the English
on Baltimore was failure. General
Ross was killed. The war vessels de-
feated in the Patapsco, with Cockburn
and Cohern, who had charge after Ross
was killed, concluded to withdraw from
the fight. Colonel William H. Sellers,
. who was a halter by trade, had his
place OF business on the west side of
Market street, between Second and
Third. He was well known to all the
people of Wilmington. He was presi-
dent of the City Council. When boy
of IL he was connected with the soldiers
here and rode express horses from
Maryland to Philadelphia every day.
Going back little on what we have
said, there were three encampments near
Wilmington. One was Camp du Pont on
tue BrandywIne, near the "brick meet
ing" about mile and half from
Scrabbletown. This encampment was
composed of Philadelphia volunteers,
and three of her captains were Cadwal-
adler, Paterson and James Page. Then
there was an enCampment at Hare's
Corner, and Il speak pretty much from
memory of what have been told y Cap
tain Alexander Porter with his company
was there. Again, there was another en-
campment, off the Philadelphia road on
the highland near the Shellpot, on
Henry Beason's farm.
A little incident occurred at the camn
at Hare's Corner which was told me by
Captain Porter. The soldiers would
pull up the potatoes of farmer
there. AS they simply pulled the tops
great many potatoes were wasted, and
in order not to deprive the soldiers OF
the potatoes the farmer presented them
with a hoe, telling them not to take
them up by the tops but to begin at tho
head Of the row and dig, when they
could have as many as they wanted
And, strange as it may appear they
never took any of his potatoes after
wards. If they did they paid for them
Sometime between 1872 and 1915 there
were two English ships came up the
Delaware. One was called the Roebucl,
Both were large ships Of the line, carry
ing "a guns, and drawing great dea,
of water. Both of them fetched up OF
what is called the Cherry Island flat
and couldn't get any further. When tn,
tide fell, the Roebuck lifted off, ant
showed her broadside to some gunboat.
belonging to the Americans, which wer,
lying in the mouth OF the Christiana
And further, when she gifted oil" he
guns pointed upwards, and the Ameri
cans took the opportunity TO attack her
The crews of these gunboats saw u goo,
chance TO introduce themselves to tn
Roebuck, which seemed to be crippled
Making sail they went out as near a
practicable and applied their sion.
Toms" sharply to the Roebuck, borini
good many holes in her. The captaii
had to order out his men to plug up tn
holes, thus exposing them to the bullet
of the enemy. The other ship could no
come to the Roebuck's assistance, sh
drawing too much water. When til
tide raised and they got the ship re
paired as well as they could, the com
manders of these ships thought the
were far enough up the Delaware an,
would go down the river and up til
Chesapeake. In his daily report tn
captain Of the Roebuck had to state hoy
he had received the holes in his vessel.
Great Britain made great effort +
break down and carry her point +
search our vessels, to the great disad
vantage Of the American people. Tn
7 war was extended from the lakes I
New Orleans, moro or less on the coas
She took possession of our seat Of gov
eminent and burned our Capitol
Wilmington, in connection with til
State, sent men to the lakes,
Captain Stockton, who had yolur
teer company, with his men went ont /;
the lakes opposite to where the BIRTHS
were encamped. Two of his men wer
John Hardy of this city and Il ma
named Steward, both priyates. Slewar
got the title OF "captain" from hayfn
been a captain of a light-ship hero. II
show how men will risk their lives fc
liquor the following incident is TOLD
Soldiers, in those days liked whisky,
do not know how it is now. Stgwar
was GU picket duty one night. lie lei
his post. The penalty Of this was dealt
lie went to q place near by where ligut
was sold and bought quart uf wMslu
He returned 70 his post uIain tAia..in
it not much harm. but having taken to
much Of the "aTdcnt" he found htmscl
drunk, Tie whisky was too strong an
"throwcd' him. steward, in this liH
Guilty, drank the remainderof tic iiIur