William Jones, New Secretary of the Navy

From "Inside the U.S. Navy of 1812-1815"  

When William Jones became Secretary of the Navy, he discovered he had inherited from his predecessor, Paul Hamilton, several burdens.  One was the Navy Department's posture in regard to  the concerns of citizens for the safety of their ports and shipping with the increasing British threat as forces were transferred from Europe to North America after the fall of Napoleon.

One of his earliest was an order for the reduction in the number of gunboats in service.  He believed  This would save funds on maintenance and put available seamen to better use.  Only 50 of the approximately 150 gunboats were sufficiently serviceable to remain active; the rest would be laid up and available in case of emergency.

Of those gunboats in service, Jones assigned 15 to New York, 5 to the Delaware River, 6 to the Georgia coast and 10 to New Orleans.  Fourteen remained  active on the Chesapeake Bay (mostly  assigned to Norfolk).

But these measures did not go over very well in several cities whose citizens were not happy with the move.  This was especially in the case of New York City and its new flotilla commander Jacob Lewis.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 5: Mortally Wounded Saving the Lives of His Men

Alexander Williams' had been on the lowlands of the Delaware River for a year (Fort Mifflin) and during that time he had contracted a dangerous fever yet he was so anxious to  share in the honors and perils of campaigning of 1814, and even though a convalescent, he applied and was accepted into the Niagara Army.

He joined just in time to take part in the defense of Fort Erie.  Here, his abilities were so conspicuous that he was selected for the important command of the old work before the assault was made on it.

Three times on the morning of August 15, 1814, he had repulsed the enemy.  As the fourth attack was being made, he perceived  a lighted port fire in front of the enemy, enabling them to direct  their fire with great precision.  Instantly, he sprang forward and cut it off with his sword, and in this act, fell mortally wounded.

He sacrificed his life to save those of his men.

--Brock-Perry

Samuel Smith of Baltimore-- Part 1: Veteran of Two Wars

From the War of 1812 Archaeology blog.

Samuel Smith fought in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  There is a monument in Baltimore honoring him.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION and persevering defense.

On September  23, 1777, Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 24, was ordered by General Washington, to take command of Fort Mifflin in the Delaware River, below Philadelphia.

Washington told him:  "The keeping of this fort is of very great importance, and I rely on your prudence, spirit and bravery for a vigorous and persevering defense."

Forts Mifflin and Mercer were important because they could help starve the British out of their newly captured Philadelphia.

However, Samuel Smith did not succeed in defending Fort Mifflin.  He was attacked and even when it became clear that he couldn't keep Fort Mifflin out of British hands, he refused to surrender.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Delaware in the War of 1812

From Wikipedia.

On Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.

After the island was given to the federal government by Delaware for the construction of a fortification, not a whole lot was done during the war.  What was done was directed largely by Captain Samuel Babcock, who also worked on the defenses of Philadelphia.

A seawall and dykes were built around the island but there was no evidence that an actual fort of any sort was on the island when the war ended.  A martello tower was planned for it.

Construction of a star fort began on the island December 8, 1817.  Chief engineer Joseph Totten designed the fort.

--Brock-Perry

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 1: Closing the Delaware River Ports

From the February 16, 2018, Sahuaitsun.com.  "Geneaology Today:  Truth to town's War of 1812 legend" by Becky McCreery.

In March 1813 British naval ships sailed from the Chesapeake Bay to the mouth of the Delaware Bay with the plan of cutting off the Delaware River ports.

While anchored in the harbor at Lewes, men went ashore to procure fresh provisions.  They were refused.

--Brock-Perry

Delaware in the War of 1812-- Part 3

The Americans had the Fulton torpedo, invented by steamboat pioneer Robert Fulton.  They consisted of gunpowder filled barrels with a timing device, the forerunners of today's naval mines.  This sort of weapon continued to be called torpedoes even through the Civil War.  When Admiral Farragut ordered his fleet "Damn the torpedoes!  Full speed ahead!" he was referring to these mine/torpedoes.

The Lewes bombardment ended up as a stand-off.  The town was not captured, nor did they give the British those 20 bullocks.  But the British fleet went after American shipping in the Delaware River and Bay, destroying about twenty ships.

A month later, Havre de Grace, Maryland, was looted and burned.

Most every Delaware town had some sort of fortifications.

No Bull for You!!  --Brock-Perry