African Americans and the War of 1812

An excerpt from the proclamation issued on April 2nd, 1814, by British Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane.

(NPS Graphic/CLaBarge)

 

On April 2nd, 1814, British Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane issued a proclamation. Any Americans, enslaved or otherwise, who want to leave the United States would be welcomed by the British. The news of this proclamation spread widely throughout the Chesapeake region. Enslaved African Americans had a choice to make: would they stay where they were? Or, would they escape to the British?

A future free of enslavement floated within reach...

On August 30th, 1814, brothers Nace and Henry Colbert walked past the ruined Fort Warburton down to the shoreline of the Potomac. As they looked out over the river, they saw their future, a future where they would no longer be enslaved.

In the weeks leading up to the British attack on Washington, DC, things were tense. Many people feared for their families, for their homes and property, and the fate of their nation. Some, however, saw the impending British military as an opportunity. For those held in bondage, the British ships might be a saving grace.

Nace and Henry traveled to the Maryland shore of the Potomac and waited by the rubble of the destroyed Fort Washington for the HMS Anna Maria. The smallest ship of the British squadron, the Anna Maria had been making trips to the shoreline to retrieve freedom seekers. Looking for an enslaved person that had escaped him, Walter Edelin recalled seeing the brothers:

“By the aid of a spyglass [he] distinctly saw and recognized two negro men (among others that he knew), the property of Henry Hatton, the one named Henry about 19 years of age; the other named Nace about 22 or 23 years of age—these slaves absconded and were not taken capture.”

- Claim of Walter Edelin, Maryland State Archives

Colonial Marines

Once behind British lines, freedom seekers had another choice to make. Would they start anew as settlers in British colonies, or would they fight for the British. Nace and Henry Colbert were resettled in Nova Scotia. Those that chose to join the British Navy became the British Corps of Colonial Marines.

Many British officers were very pleased with the Colonial Marines, impressed by their bravery, strength, and determination. Sir George Cockburn wrote of the troops:

“They have induced me to alter the bad opinion I had of the whole race & I now really believe these we are training, will neither shew want of zeal or courage when employed by us in attacking their old masters.”

- Cockburn to Admiral Cochrane, May 10

In addition to these skills, the Colonial Marines often had intimate knowledge of the area and of their former enslavers. To top it off, arming the Marines capitalized on a widespread American fear of a slave insurrection. Somewhere between 550 and 700 African Americans joined the Colonial Marines. At the end of the war, they were given land in the British Canadian provinces or in Trinidad.

Many enslaved people bravely sought this path to freedom, knowing that they could be separated from their families, sold south, or even executed if caught. Over 3,000 escaped bondage from the Chesapeake region. The names and backgrounds of 65 of those individuals have been connected to the Potomac Squadron, though the real number is likely higher. As the British brought destruction to Washington, they brought freedom to thousands.