Bombardment of Lewes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bombardment of Lewes
Part of the War of 1812
Date 6–7 April 1813 Location Lewes, Delaware Result American victory; British withdrawal; Minor damage to the town of Lewes, Delaware
Belligerents
United States	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
David Haslet Samuel Boyer Davis	John Beresford
Casualties and losses
1 pig wounded 1 chicken killed

The Bombardment of Lewes was a small but interesting battle during the War of 1812. It happened when British ships fired cannons at the American town of Lewes, in Delaware. The town fought back, and the British eventually left.

What Happened at Lewes?

The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain. Britain's navy was very powerful. They tried to stop American ships from moving along the eastern coast. This was called a blockade. As part of this plan, British ships sometimes attacked American towns near the coast.

In March 1813, British ships arrived in the Delaware Bay. They were there to enforce their blockade. This meant they wanted to control who could enter or leave the bay.

The British Arrive

On April 4, 1813, a group of British warships arrived near Cape Henlopen. They were led by Commodore John P. Beresford. His main ship was called HMS Poictiers.

The ships came close to the town of Lewes, Delaware. They found a small, old fort from the American Revolution era. Lewes itself had quickly built a new fort. It was made from pine logs in the middle of town.

A Demanding Letter

Commodore Beresford stopped his ships and sent a small group to the town. They wanted to buy food and supplies from the people of Lewes. But the local Delaware militia arrived and stopped them.

After trying to negotiate, Beresford sent a letter to the town's leader. He demanded "20 live bullocks" (cows) and lots of vegetables and hay. He said he would pay for them. But he also threatened to destroy the town if they refused.

The governor of Delaware was in Lewes at the time. He replied to Beresford. He said that giving in to the demands would break American laws. So, he refused to give the supplies.

The Fight Begins

Because the town refused, the British ships started firing. They bombarded Lewes for 22 hours, from April 6 to April 7. The British used cannonballs and Congreve rockets.

Most of their shots didn't do much damage. A few chimneys in town were slightly hit. The Americans fired back with their own cannons. They even managed to set one British gunboat on fire!

On April 7, Beresford stopped the attack. His ships left Lewes. They continued to blockade the Delaware Bay.

What Were the Casualties?

The battle had very few casualties, especially for the Americans. Records show that one pig was wounded (it broke its leg). Also, one chicken was killed. The British did not have any casualties either.

Legacy

One house in Lewes was hit by a British cannonball. It's now called the "Cannonball House." You can still see the cannonball stuck in its foundation. Today, this house is a museum about Lewes's history with the sea. A copy of Commodore Beresford's demanding letter is kept there.