Iron County register., 1900-05-10
WONDER AT THE NICKNAME.
Why Natives of Delaware Are 9onu.
Iarly Called Blue Hens
Chickens,

The sobriquet. ''blue hens chicken"
bestowed upon the natives of the lit
tie state of Delaware. meaningless and
absurd as it may seem, possesses no
slight significance. 1t is of military
origin. and is as old as the state itself;
older, in fact, than the United States,
for it originated before the revolution
and in the following manner: A regi
ment of 500 men was formed in Will
mlngton, which was called the Della
ware blues from the blue uniforms
worn by its members. Old chronicles
describe this body of soldiers as being
perfectly drilled and disciplined. par
ticularly in their marching. 1t was
said that their step was so perfect that
when advancing in line bullet might
have passed from one end of the regi-
ment to the other between the ankles
of the soldiers without touching man.
During the war of the revolution this
regiment participated in every action
from Long Island to Charleston. and
as fast as they fell in battle their ranks
were recruited from Delaware alone.
One of their officers used to say that
he could march all day with them from
sunrise to sunset. and when the enemy
was retreating. and everyone else was
tired and sleeping after the days ex-
ertions. his Sussex soldiers would dance
around their campfires to the music
of a fiddle. They were engaged IN 32
pitched battles and were always the
last to retreat. 1t was but natural,
therefore. that they became the pride
and the boast of Delaware-a state
which. small as it was in area, is said
to have furnished 5000 men to the
patriot cause. and in which scarcely
man was left who had not a friend or
a relation in the regiment.
Capt. Caldwell had company in
this regiment which was recruited
from Kent and Sussex counties and was
called by the rest ''Caldwell's game
cocks" and the regiment itself after
a time was in Carolina nicknamed
the blue hens chickens" or 1.-The blue
Chickens as the fun and, fancy of their
comrades dictated. Capt. Caldwell's |
men distinguished themselves in the
south as well as in the north. and their
renown became so great that the name |
of ''the blue hen" was applied to the |
state that sent so many brave men to |
uphold the country's honor. 1t became |
a popular saying whenever the recruit |
ing officers visited Delaware that they |
had gone to get more chickens of her
raising, and those who came from |
Kent were chiefly taken from her for
ests of white oak. Most of the brave |
Delaware soldiers died in the battles |
that marked that long struggle for |
liberty. and those who at length re- |
turned to their homes received but |
small compensation for their devotion |
to the flag, beyond the satisfaction of |
having performed their duty to their
country. They were paid off in con-
money, which was about as
as the confederate money was
in the south at the close of the civil |
war. Their services were appreciat ted,
however, by their countrymen, and
both soldiers and civilians of the rev.
period were untiring in
their praises of the blue hen and her
chickens. Their descendants, too. in
Kent for many years after were accus-
toned to boast that they were cocks
of that brood that had been taken from
the STOPPING white oak.
n IChCuIS anu quarter Has DdSSSu
since the revolutionary patriots met
and conquered the hosts of King
George, and from the scattered col
onies that received their baptism of
blood and fire in that memorable con-
fict has arisen great and powerful
nation. Wars have left their impress
upon the country since then, and the
liberty won by blood has cost many
thousand lives to maintain. But
contending against England
for American rights on land and sea,
fighting the savage foes that were a
continual menace during the infancy
Of the nation; whether at Buena Vista
Or Monterey, Antietam or Gettysburg,
Manila bay, San Juan hill or FL Caney,
or in the Philippine jungles, among
The gallant defenders of the flag have
been found men from Delaware whose
'aliant deeds have amply vindicated
he patriotism and prowess of the