Evening journal., 1901-02-19
Town WithStOOd BOInbard-
mORt and No Lives Lost
COMMANDER AFTER PROVISIONS
When Governor lIaslit Refused to
Supply BeTesiOrd'S PerCmptOry
Order lie Opened Fire

What proved possibly the most inter
testing historic paper ever heard by the
Historical Society Of Delaware, was
that read by william M. Marine, a
member OF the Baltimore city bar, be-
fore the society last evening.
The subject Of Mr.. Marines paper was
the British Bombardment OF Lewes.
April and 2. 1873" After introduc-
tory remarks he said I'VE know about
the guns and the men behind them;
of the twenty-five hours bombardmmt.
because bullocks. hay, vegetables and
water were not forthcoming. These
statements are narrated briefly in
/ Commodore HeresfOrd's, Colonel Davis
and Governor Haslits interchange OF
dispatches which with a few meagre
accounts from the papers OF that day.
now inaccessible TO the masses, COM
plete the generally accepted history
of the British assault and the Amcri-
can defence OF Lawes; occurring on the
9Th. and 9TH. days OF April 1918.
"lhep urest diamond in the tiara Of
Delaware. worn by her during the war
OF 1912, IN historical adornment, is the
assault OF the British on Lewes and
the defence made by its garrison The
story has feversh interest When
the Delaware bay and the Atlantic
Ocean unite and sing in chorus. Lewes
uplifts her head and looks forth over
that magnificent stretch OF water. In
the inland distance spread the fertile
plains Of Sussex. The mention OF
Lewes and Sussex suggest their origin
In the British island. from whence they
come associated with ancestral men,
lories OF the past Cape Honlopan has
had since 1913, more than a light
house TO fash its rays abroad whose
future influence cannot become less
significant, since II will ever prove a
beacon burning steady and luminous"
The speaker gave a sketch Of Bewes
and in Connection with il said, "Counr
D'Eetoign. in the war of independence.
arrived from France with fleet on the
Virginia coast and sailed for and an-
chored in the Delaware. where he was
saluted by the fort at Pilottown, when
reaching there on the Sth day OF July,
177S.
"The defence works at Lewes we're
simply entrenchments. An account of
these constructions. have taken from
the Republican OF Frederickburg.
Maryland March 81. 1913: as follows.
'On Saturday last the fort for the pro-
lection OF this borough was com
menced. It is we understand to be ir-
ished by the citizens who have volun-
tarily undertaken the task w.thour re-
gard to rank or distinction. The fort
was constructed OF rough logs AMI
brush. filled in with earth. sand and
gravel, having a watch tower"
The speaker next gave a sketch of
Col 4.
OF the defenders at Lewes, whose last
days were spent in Wilmington, in
which city he died and where he was
Durled' the blockading Of the Della
ware and the operations of the fleet
were noted in connection with the
alarm which spread throughout tho
State the preparations made in the
towns and countries TO meet the enemy
We're summarized: continuing the
speaker said. THE volunteers were
prompt and their presence assuring.
They varied In length of time Of SER
vice. OF those at Lewes. five. eight
and thirty days were among the per-
iods of their detention. Some OF them
called out when Bgresford made his
demand on Lewes were discharged be-
fore the bombardment. under the inn
preston that danger was over They
were emergency men returned to their
homes when their services seemed to
be no longer required. Those of them.
who made application infrequently re-
ceived 1G0 acres of land for their SER
vices.
"A letter from General Green to a
gentleman in Baltimore. was read about
ths dcings Of British. and men
ton was made of an engagement over
a captured vessel within 200 yards of
the shore. The general was on his
way to LeWes where We're 600 men
under arms, in want of ammunition.
which was expected in n few DAYS.
"Captaia Warner with his Whining
ton troop Of horse, forty members. ac-
companied by fifty volunteers rode TO
Lewes. Along were Captain Hunter.
OF Philadelphia, and Major Robert
Carr, OF the U. S. V. A company of
troops from Laurel and its vicinity.
under Captain Thomas Rider. besides
a company commanded by CAPTAIN
Samuel Iams. also presented them
selves at the threatened town. Tie
compan es named with other rallying
ones were incorporated into repi-
ment whose colonel was Mitcaeii Bar-
show. Captain Hunter was probably
to a post in the batse,v and