Sea Fencibles - United States Sea Fencibles, 1813-1815

United States Sea Fencibles, 1813-1815

"... within the five cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk, there are a large number of seafaring men, who from their hardihood and habits of life, might be very useful in the defense of the seaboard, particularly in the management of the great guns...."

(Report, U.S. Senate Naval Affairs Committee, June 1813)

On July 26, 1813, during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, the United States Congress passed "An act to authorize the raising a Corps of Sea Fencibles ... not to exceed one year, and not to exceed ten companies who may employed for the defense of the ports and harbors of the United States..."

At Baltimore, two companies were raised under the command of Captains Matthew S. Bunbury and William H. Addison. Though generally mariners by trade, the Sea Fencibles were equipped and organized under the authority of the War Department. Officers received the uniform, pay, and rations of the Army, while the balance of each company (boatswains, gunners, and privates) received the uniform, pay, and rations of the Navy.

A company consisted of 107 officers and enlisted men.

Both companies at Fort McHenry were considered part of the regular garrison. Records indicate that Captain Bunbury's company was quartered at Fort McHenry, while Addison's men were quartered at Fort Covington. Their duties consisted of manning the barges, maintaining the chain-mast boom, providing guard duty, and manning the great guns of Fort McHenry's water batteries. On February 27, 1815, Congress repealed the act establishing the Corps of Sea Fencibles.