"British Corps of Colonial Marines (1808-1810, 1814-1816)" Topic

"During the first two decades of the 19th Century, escaped American slaves formed a military cadre called Britain's Royal Navy Corps of Colonial Marines. After the War of 1812 these former soldiers established Trinidad's "Merikin" communities. These black marines in the British Navy were first organized in 1808 to garrison Britain's Caribbean bases but they were disbanded in 1810. During the War of 1812, British Rear Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane formed the Corps of Colonial Marines. Although they were of African descent and many were formerly enslaved, these troops received the same training, uniforms, pay, and pensions as their Royal Marine counterparts.

The Corps of Colonial Marines saw extensive military action from Canada to Georgia in the years 1814 to 1816. These former slaves often had extensive local knowledge of tidal creeks and riverine routes of the US South during that period. Because of that knowledge they participated in numerous battles, skirmishes, and raids during the War of 1812. They supported the British forces who burned Washington, D.C. in 1814 and who were later repulsed by US troops at Baltimore, Maryland. The Colonial Marines assisted Britain's Southern Coastal Campaign by guarding the British Army's right flank during the invasion and subsequent Battle of New Orleans in 1815. When the 1814 Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812, the Corps of Colonial Marines was transferred to British bases in Bermuda…."
See here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Some new information (for me) re the defence of Spanish Forts in Florida by the Colonial Marines versus Andrew Jackson's Army.

Many thanks 'Armand'.

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)…

Amicalement
Armand