The state’s National Guard commander will join British officials in a ceremony marking the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Caulk’s Field.
In a reprise of last year’s ceremony, Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins, the state’s adjutant general, will be joined by Lt. Col. Colby Corrin, of the British Royal Marines, in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Caulk’s Field monument at 11 a.m., on Aug. 31.
The battle was fought in the late night of Aug. 30 and early morning Aug. 31, 1814, when about 150 British Royal Marines and sailors, under the command of Capt. Sir Peter Parker, clashed with 174 American militiamen of the 21st Regiment, under the command of Lt. Col. Philip Reed. Fourteen British soldiers, including Parker, were killed. The remains of a dozen British soldiers are still buried somewhere on the battle site.
The ceremony, open to the public, is expected to include flag-raisings for both countries. Flags for both nations now fly at the monument, located at the Tulip Forest Farm property on the side of Caulk’s Field Road off Route 21.
A National Guard color guard is expected to be on hand, led by Jari Villenueva. Last year Villenueva played first one then the other national anthem with a bugle.
Following the ceremony, participants from both nations are expected to make their way to the Inn at Mitchell House, across from the county fairgrounds for Caulk’s Field Remembered at the Inn at Mitchell House will be under way. In what may be a first of its kind event, at about noon, Adkins is scheduled to review as many as 18 dedicated members of the Eastern Shore Militia, comprised of professional re-enactors.
The militia, funded by state and National Park Service grants and organized as part of the bicentennial, participates in activities throughout the Shore, offering the public glimpses of what life was like for the state militia units, such as Kent’s 21st Regiment, that fought in the War of 1812.
Caulk’s Field Remembered runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Admission is free. Paid parking, benefitting the Kent 4H Club, is available at the county fairgrounds with free shuttles from there to the Inn at Mitchell House.
For more information, check the website https://kentcounty1812.org.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.