Bermuda Militia 1813 facts for kids

The War of 1812 was a big conflict between the United States and Great Britain, which also involved British colonies like Bermuda. During this time, Bermuda's local army, called the militia, played an important role. This militia was made up of regular citizens who could be called upon to defend their home.

Bermuda's Militia During the War of 1812

In 1813, as the War of 1812 continued, Bermuda's military was reorganized. An important law, called the Act of 1813, changed the local army, known as a "regiment of foot" (meaning soldiers who fight on foot). This regiment was split into two "battalions" (smaller groups of soldiers).

At this time, the militia was supposed to have about 450 men. However, many Bermudian men worked at sea, so the actual number of available soldiers was often much lower, sometimes only half. Also, the militia no longer included any Black Bermudians, whether they were free or enslaved. The new governor, Lt. Colonel Francis Gore, thought it would be a good idea to add a "colored corps" (a group of Black soldiers) to make the militia stronger, but this plan was never actually carried out.

Responding to Emergencies

Even though the militia had its challenges at the start of the war, the people of Bermuda showed great courage. When an emergency was declared, like when strange ships were seen near the coast, the colonists quickly gathered. They stood watch all night, ready to defend their island. This showed their strong spirit and loyalty.

Doubts and Loyalty

At the beginning of the war, the War Office in London (the British government department in charge of the army) wasn't sure if Bermudians were completely loyal. This was mainly because of an event during the American Revolutionary War in 1775. A large amount of gunpowder had been stolen from a storage building in St. George's. This gunpowder was sent to the American rebel army, led by General George Washington.

The British were also worried because Bermuda and Virginia (one of the American colonies) had very close ties, including family connections and a shared history.

Bermuda's Performance Impresses

However, the War Office was very pleased with how Bermudians acted during the War of 1812. They were impressed by the islanders' performance and their strong sense of patriotism. Because of this, the Governor was encouraged to ask the Colonial Assembly (Bermuda's local government) to create a permanent militia.

Throughout its history, the strength of Bermuda's militia had gone up and down. It usually grew stronger when wars were declared and weaker when many men were away at sea. The British Generals wanted a more reliable and steady force.

The Militia's Decline

The Colonial Assembly wasn't very keen on making the militia permanent. They didn't see a strong reason for it, and they might have been worried about having to pay for an army that would become less and less under their control as the "Regular Garrison" (the permanent British army stationed in Bermuda) grew. So, they only agreed to provide money for the militia for a short time.

After the war ended in 1815, people's interest in the militia also faded. The militia's strength slowly decreased until it almost disappeared. The Militia Act of 1813 was allowed to end, and no new militia laws were passed, even though London kept asking and even threatening.

Even though there were some attempts to create militias directly under the governor, without the Colonial Assembly's laws or money, a true militia didn't appear again until volunteer forces were formed in the late 1800s.