12th United States Infantry Regiment, 1812-1814

05/06/2026

https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-when-washington-burned

05/04/2026

May 3, 1813 - Cannon and rocket fire shook residents of Havre de Grace from their sleep as British forces attacked at dawn. People ran from their homes. The local militia fled, too, overwhelmed by 19 barges carrying 400 enemy troops. The attackers burned and plundered the town, torching 40 of the 62 homes.

The British then raided Bell's Ferry and crossed into Cecil County to destroy Principio Iron Works before re-boarding their ships that same day. The Principio Foundry produced cannon for Maryland privateers and the U.S. Navy. As "one of the most valuable Works of its Kind in America," it was an important British objective in the Upper Bay.

This is just a small part of the story, to learn more: https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/historyculture/attack-on-havre-de-grace.htm

📸illustration of the British soldiers destroy Principio Furnace; © Gerry Embleton


Explore Havre de Grace
The Historical Society of Harford County Inc
Cecil County Tourism

04/30/2026

04/16/2026

Members of the 12th were involved in this shoot!

04/09/2026

Members were on set at the Lewes Historical Society shooting a new video on the bombardment of the town during the War of 1812

04/01/2026

During the , the British raided small towns up and down the Chesapeake Bay, including Georgetown, Maryland (located on the eastern shore on the Sassafras River).

The British had set most of the town aflame when Catharine "Kitty" Knight persuaded British Rear Admiral George Cockburn to save one house--occupied by an ailing, elderly woman--from destruction. Her pleas also saved the neighboring home, where she rented, and the remainder of the town as well.

Not until after her death in 1855, in her obituary, was there written documentation of her heroism during the raid of Georgetown. The two adjacent houses saved by Kitty Knight have since been combined into one and now house a restaurant that bears her name.

To learn more: https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/historyculture/kitty-knight.htm

📸 Kitty Knight persuades Cockburn to spare homes in Georgetown. (c) GERRY EMBELTON]


Kent County, Maryland Tourism; Historical Society of Kent County

02/14/2026

February 14, 1813: The first recorded British raid in the Chesapeake during the took place.

Attacking the Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia, the raiders made a beeline for the keeper’s smokehouse and pantry. A Wilmington (VA) newspaper noted that “with the most undaunted heroism [they] captured his hams, mince pies, and sausages, leaving not a link behind! — after they effected their retreat in the greatest order . . . with flying colors, without the loss of a ham! So much for British heroism and discipline.”

[Image description: Colored illustration with a lighthouse on the left and a line of soldiers wearing red and white military uniforms on the right. The soldier in front is eating as he marches. Caption: Americans ridiculed the raid on Cape Henry. The only "victims" were the meats taken from the smokehouse to supplement the raiders' bland rations. (c) GERRY EMBELTON]

Text from "In Full Glory Reflected: Discovering the War in the Chesapeake."

02/13/2026

02/08/2026

‬ February 7, 1815: Local militia attacked a British raiding party whose vessel was icebound near James Island (Dorchester County, MD). Protected by a breastwork of ice, the Americans continued firing until the crew of 20 surrendered.

The two-hour skirmish, the “Battle of the Ice Mound,” was the last engagement of the in Maryland. Ratification of a peace treaty occurred 10 days later.

The victorious militia took the British crew as prisoners and confiscated the boat, a 12-pounder carronade, and other weapons. Later the militiamen shared $1800, awarded by Congress for capturing an enemy vessel.

I Love Dorchester Heritage & Tourism

[image: illustration of three men on an ice floe who are shooting at a ship; (c) Gerry Embleton]

02/07/2026