396 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

CHAPTER XI

BROOKLYN’S SHARE IN THE WAR OF 1812.

THE difficulties which had been for some time pending between this country and Great Britain, ripened at length into open hostilities. The Embargo of April, 1812, was followed, on June 18th, by a formal declaration of war, on the part of the United States, against her ancient antagonist, and ere long the papers began to abound with war news, political diatribes and patriotic poetry, all of which served to inflame the already excited popular mind, and to raise the martial ardor of the nation to a “white heat.”

Brooklyn, both from its position, and intimate connection with New York—then, as now, the Metropolis of the Union—could scarcely fail to share the interest, and to catch the enthusiasm which ruled the hour, and filled every heart. The Star, of July 8th, contains the following notice:

“A new company of Horse or Flying Artillery is lately raised in this vicinity, under the command of Captain John Wilson. This company promises, under the able management of Captain Wilson, to equal if not excel any company in the State. The Artillerists of Captain Barbarin are fast progressing in a System of discipline and improvement which can alone, in the hour of trial, render courage effectual. We understand this company have volunteered their services to Government, and are accepted. The Riflemen of Captain Stryker and the Fusileers of Captain Herbert are respectable in number and discipline. The County of Kings is in no respect behind her neighbors in military patriotism.”(1)

1 The Fusileers were uniformed in short green coatees, and Roman leather caps, num bered only about twenty members, and were, at this time, commanded by Captain Joseph Herbert. The Rifles, commanded by Captain Burdett Stryker, were a large company, comprising some fifty or sixty members, and wore green frocks trimmed with yellow fringe, in which originated their their familiar appellation of “Katy dids.”