The pay record in No. 5 above, and this text, suggested to me that the 19th Virginia Militia was only called up briefly,
a couple of times when the threat to Richmond was deemed imminent: This is specifically about the 19th Militia:
Richmond during the War of 1812.
[The" Vigilance Committee," whose minutes have been preserved
in the manuscript collections of this Society, was organized
at the time of one invasion of Virginia in the summer 01
1813, and called into renewed activity by the fear of another,
early in 1814. In June, 1813, a considerable British fleet of lineof-
battle ships and frigates under Admiral Sir George Cockburn,
with a land force commanded by Sir Sidney Beckwith, assembled
in Lynhaven Hay, and on June 22d made an attack on Craney
Island, near Norfolk, which was handsomely repulsed.
Three days later a considerable force landed at Hampton and
occupied that town after a sharp fight with a body of Virginia
militia under Major Stapleton Crutchfield and Major Gawin L.
Corbin (who was wounded). The militia appears to have behaved
very creditably. It was alleged that the British soldiers
committed many atrocities in Hampton. Shortly afterwards a
demonstration was made towards Smithfield, and vessels came
up the river as hig-h as Sandy Point. It was generally believed
that an attempt to captnre Richmond would be made.
The newspapers of the time give the best idea of the excitement
which prevailed. The Enquirer of July 2, 1813, says:
.. The alarm of Wednesday, however, deserves particular mention-
more especially as it will be exaggerated at a distance
from the scene of action. We trace the incidents of the day
with mixed emotions. There was too much panic exhibitedbut
when we consider the spirit which it struck out, the alacrity
with which every man flew to the post of duty, the coolness, the
high and heroic sentiments which it inspired, and the schemes
of precaution and safety which it will produce. it is impossible
not to rejoice that the cause of these effects has occurred.
.• On Tuesday morning we heard of the evacuation of Hampton,
and of the repulsion of the enemy at Smithfield. Our regimental
musters, however, still went on both in the morning and the
evenlllg.
.. On Wednesday we heard of the movements of the enemy in
the mouth of the river-we heard of the inf."lmous and inhuman
conduct at Hampton. A storm of indignation and horror, 01
pily for the sufferers and abhorrence for the monsters succeeded.
"About 2 o' clock an express arrived from Sandy Point, about
~o miles down the river. The bell * was rung, the alarm guns
fired. The most exaggerated reports passed immediately into
circulation; and a degree of alarm immediately ensued among
the women and children. the sick and the slaves, which such a
state of misrepresentation was calculated to produce. \Ve had
been so long reposing in the lap of peace, and the slighest approach
of danger was enough to strike a fillse terror into the
helpless and the weak. Such as were placed in public situations
thought it prudent to take precautions against a danger, the extent
of which they were unable to ascertain. Those who were
in the banks prepared to remon' their specie; those in the public
offices, their papers and records.
"But midst this scene of momentary confusion the spirit of
the citizen was seen arising like the sun amidst the clouds.
Every man flew to the public square with his arms-old men of
60 were seen stepping into the ranks; all classes sought the
scene of duty-and in one hour from the signs of alarm, the
regiment * was displayed in the square in more formidable numbers
than it was ever known to exhibit. Exempts of all descriptions,
strangers, officers and soldiers of the U. S., expressed but
one resolution, and that was, to sacrifice their lives rather than
yield up the metropolis of the State to the Invader. The Rifle
Company obtained many new recruits. The Light Infantry t
overflowed-and in four hours a company of Fl.yillg Arti//er)' of
more than 80 men was organized, who nominated Wm. Wirt
as their Captain, Benjamin J. Harris as their 1st and Edward
"V. Trent as their 2nd lieutenant.
""Ve were ready for action. Everything depended upon the
next express-the Regt. was dismissed until the beat of the
drum. In the mean time additional troops were despatched to
the points below-troops of horse from this City, from Goochland
and Powhatan flew to meet the enemy-and several companies
of infantry were despached in the night.
"No express. however, arrived 'till yesterday-the enemy
were falling down the river.
., The confusion is past and we are safe not only for the present
but against any enterprise which the enemy may meditate.
Several hundreds of men are ready at fort Powhatan 1to breast
the first shock-and at this moment there cannot be less than
4,000* men at the Malvern Hills,t Sandy Point and their immediate
vicinity-exclusive of the troops in Richmond, &c."
Forum Host
Bringing the