The Friends of Kent County War of 1812 Committee announced plans at this week’s Kent County Council meeting for the installation of two orientation kiosks and eight interpretive panels to commemorate the bicentennial of what many consider the nation’s second war of independence.
So far, signs are planned for Eastern Neck Island, the Inn at Mitchell House, Swan Creek, Fairlee Creek, Turners Creek, Worton Creek, Christ Episcopal IU Church Cemetery, and Memorial Park. Content for the signs will detail the significance of each Kent County location to the outcome of the war.
The orientation kiosks will be located at the Chestertown Visitors Center and at the Kitty Knight House in Georgetown.
Currently in the process of becoming a 501c-3, the committee has been working closely with the Kent County Office of Tourism and Economic Development and the Historical Society of Kent County to prepare the region for the bicentennial-related activities, which, like the war itself, will be celebrated over the course of the next two years.
The committee expects that achieving non-profit status will help fundraising efforts necessary to realize activities over the next two years.
Because the locations at Fairlee Creek and Turner’s Creek are public landings, the committee sought approval from the county commissioners to put in the signs. The commissioners granted permission, adding with a chuckle that the “land belongs to the people of Kent County”.
“What is really great about this program is that people don’t know a lot about this war,” said spokeswoman and secretary Tracy Stone.
The committee hopes that its event planning will attract significant tourism, which could work to give local businesses in Chestertown and Georgetown a second wind. The town of Rockhall and the Sultana Project are also listed as partners with the committee.
One of the events planned for the bicentennial is a reenactment of the Battle of Caulks Field on Aug. 30 2014, exactly two centuries from the original date when 174 Kent County militia repelled a British force of 300, killing 15. According to committee chairman Steve Frohock, all but one—who was exhumed back to England— of these men remain buried under the field outside Fairlee.
Gren Whitman says
Interesting also about Caulks Field is that, according to Mr. Frohock, it’s considered perhaps the best-preserved battlefield in the U.S.
In other words, Caulk’s Field was being farmed; there was a battle on August 30, 1814; then the field continued to be farmed for another two centuries, until the present day — same open space, same tree lines, etc.
Joe Diamond says
Hi Tracy,
“What is really great about this program is that people don’t know a lot about this war,” said spokeswoman and secretary Tracy Stone.
Better be careful there. The War of 1812 is studied widely and used as an historical precedent for almost any other political or executive act of the US government. The whole business would have never happened with faster communication. I have seen many misrepresentations of the 1812 war……..because, as you correctly stated, people don’t know a lot about this war.
My favorite one was: JOIN THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD, TRADITIONAL DEFENDERS OF THE NATION’S CAPITOL…..but if they are talking about the Battle of Bladensburg in about 1814…..the British celebrated that one by burning the White House.
Also, don’t forget Sir Peter Parker, the British commander. He was killed in the battle and spent the winter stuffed in a barrel of brandy ( maybe rum) before being shipped back to England. Sailors often go ashore and get pickled but he spent the winter in the churchyard at St Paul’s Episcopal (not Anglican) Church down the road from the battlefield.
Looks like fun. “History is tricks we play on the dead.”
Joe
Steve Frohock says
According to the Master’s Log on the Menelaus, Parker’s body was indeed returned to the ship after the battle. The log of September 1, 1814 reports his body being “embalmed” on board.
Marge Fallaw says
See “Sir Peter Petrified” (perhaps should be “Pickled”), by early American poet Philip Freneau.
https://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924021971118#page/n373/mode/2up
Joe Diamond says
Hey Marge.
I was looking for a citation that Peter did end up at St. Paul’s over some time before being shipped first to Bermuda and then England. Any idea? Sure I saw that somewhere.
Also found: I was whiskey they pickled him in………………Lord Byron also composed something because Peter was a bud. And apparently the “Sir” refers to knighthood……Peter here was a young British officer but his father was the Sir Peter.
Joe
Diane Garey says
After working on a PBS documentary on the War of 1812 for four years, I’ve found that generally Americans today don’t know much about the war, but that there are many individuals and groups who’ve studied it and really know their history well. In the documentary we looked at four perspective: American, British, Native nations and Canadians.
More at http://www.florentinefilms.org as well as the website above.
Joe Diamond says
+Diane,
Nonetheless, I think there will be great interest here because this is the place where a very insignificant action in an insignificant war took place. The plan to attach some of Canada would have worked except England defeated Napoleon a little too soon. The official reason for the war, impressment of sailors had been accomplished…England said they would stop what they denied doing…very much. The United States Army got some practice. America got a song. England did not invade (much.) And the hero of New Orleans fought a great victory after the Treaty of Ghent ended the war (without mentioning impressment)……..but Jacksonian Democracy under Andrew Jackson was launched.
It was a nice little war. Tourists with tourist dollars need to hear the story………………….board a replica of the Menelaus in the inner harbor………..cross the Bay…….march to Caulks Field………..hear a little presentation……pick some corn……..and do what the commander of the British Army never survived to do…………have dinner in Chestertown…………return to Baltimore from Chestertown down the river by captured tax frigate, Sultana.
Should be fun, You can’t understand Fort McHenry without Caulks Field!
Joe
Marge Fallaw says
Joe,
Have you read/studied the quite recently published book (2011? 2010?) by Ralph Eshelman, Scott Sheads, and one other whose name I can’t recall on the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay (perhaps published by the Hopkins Press)? If not, the public library and the college library have it, though I don’t know whether it circulates. It’s comprehensive, detailed, and probably already considered the best authority on the topic.
Joe Diamond says
Thanks Marge,
I’ll take a look……………I have a British history of the period around here somewhere. Always interesting to see hoe the same events can mean so many different things. I see a Wind Ensamble concert devoted to music of the period on the horizon.
Joe