History of Talbot County Maryland 1661-1861 Vol II, Oswald Tilghman
War of 1812-15 in Talbot
As many of these companies, formed in 1807 and 1808 retained their organizations down to and after the war of 1812-15 and as some of them actually took part in the military operations of that war, within the county, a few brief memoranda of them may be presented. There appears to have been two regiments or parts of regiments in Talbot, the 4th and the 26th, and these apparently were a part of the 12th brigade of the Maryland Militia, commanded...by the venerable General Benson...The first company of which an account has been transmitted was formed in and around Easton in July, 1807... About the same time a troop of Horse was formed in the same neighborhood. It was intended that these companies should make a part of the forces raised under an act of Congress, and were not to be of the militia....
The rolls of the several militia companies, and the rosters of the regiments, or battalions, formed within this county during the war of 1812-15 are not, to the writer, accessible, if indeed they be in existence: but from such imperfect memoranda as have been recorded, and from the recollections of persons participating in the military events of the time, the following account of the militia organizations had been compiled. It is proper to say that it is necessarily imperfect, and doubtless in some instances incorrect. Of artillery, there seems to have been but one regularly organized company in the county. This was known as the Talbot Volunteer Artillerists, and was commanded by Clement Vickars...In the town of St. Michaels there were artillerists, but it does not appear they were organized as a distinct company. They were probably members of an artillery corps, and had assigned to them the charge of those cannon which were at the town.... Of cavalry, three companies are known to have been organized in the county. The Independent Light Dragoons was formed of citizens of Easton and its vicinity...This is the same company of which, under the name of the Talbot Patriot Troop, Edward Lloyd was captain...The second troop of horse was formed at St. Michaels and its vicinity. The name which it assumed has escaped notice...The third troop in the county, of which the name has not survived, was formed at Trappe...If there was a troop of horse in the upper part of the county, as is not unlikely, its name and the name of its officers have escaped mention...
Of infantry there were many companies in the county, either in skeleton or fully organized. The list following may be regarded as full and as accurate as can be compiled from such imperfect memoranda as have thus far been collected. In and near Easton were companies commanded by Captains George Wishart Smith (the Light Infantry Blues); John Leeds Kerr (the Easton Fencibles); and Amos Hale (the Mechanics Volunteers). These were all uniformed companies, and the first two mentioned maintained their organization for years after the close of the war. Captain William Jordan commanded a company composed chiefly of residents of Miles River Neck, and Captain Jonathan Spencer and his company were from the neighborhood of Wye Landing. Captain Joseph Kemp.. drew his command from the town of St. Michaels and vicinity, which assumed the name of the St. Michaels Patriotic Blues. This company...was uniformed. Captain Thomas Wayman drew his company (the Hearts of Oak), from the neighborhood of the Royal Oak....Below St. Michaels, in the Bayside and in Broad Neck Creek, companies were formed under Captains Oakley Haddaway, John Carroll and Daniel Feddeman. In the lower part of the county, within Trappe district, Captains Nicholas Goldsborough, Samuel Stevens, John Merrick and James Newman enrolled companies. In the eastern and northern portion of the county, or chiefly in the Chapel district, were the companies commanded by Captains Henrix (Thomas or Charles), Thomas Jones and George Parrott.
Footnote: In June 1813 an effort was made to form a more regular body of soldiers, which should be kept constantly under arms for the defense of the country. It was then proposed to raise a company or companies of mounted Infantry, to be called the Volunteer Rangers, which should be officered and paid by the State and which should serve during the continuance of the war, but should not be required to go beyond the limits of the State. There is no certain evidence that this company was ever formed.