More than 200 years ago, residents of Lewes watched as vessels of the British Navy blockaded the mouth of the Delaware Bay during the War of 1812, then bombarded the town.
A cannonball from that 22 hour shelling remains in the foundation of the historic Cannonball House which currently houses the town’s maritime artifacts. Now, rare historic letters donated to the Lewes Historical Society give a more personal glimpse of what transpired in the weeks leading up to the attack.
The three letters, donated by Frances and former three term State Rep Jay Wingate of Rehoboth Beach were written by Lewes merchant Robert West to his son Richard in Philadelphia.
Michael DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Lewes Historical Society says one of the letters describes the mood in town as citizens observed British ships blockading the mouth of Delaware Bay.
"He wrote to his son on March 18th, 'When I last wrote to you we appeared be in safety but the times are much altered. We are blockaded by one 74 gun ship and one frigate. We are in continued alarm night and day more from our disorganized state than from attempts of the enemy to land,'” said DiPaolo.
DiPaolo adds that West's description is valuable because West had a front row seat to the events.
“He had a clear shot across the creek and across what today we call Lewes Beach, which back then would have been just low grasslands, dunes and maybe some shrubby pines," said DiPaolo. "Really he had a first hand view of what was to transpire just a few weeks later on April 6th and 7th when the town was actually heavily bombarded.”
DiPaolo adds the paper documents are in good shape and history buffs will get a chance to view the letters once a year around the anniversary of their writing.
