War of 1812: A Nation Forged by War

By Paul Vincent, Contributing Researcher

T his year marks the 210th anniversary of the War of 1812, when a young, developing nation declared war on one of the dominant global powers of the day. In recognition of this anniversary year, the Museum of the Albemarle will display War of 1812: A Nation Forged by War , a traveling exhibit curated and produced by the National Museum of the United States Navy.

North Carolina was just one of the dozen-and-ahalf states that formed this budding Union at the time war broke out in June 1812. Men from all over the Old North State, including our Albemarle region, volunteered for duty in the regular army to help the war effort against British forces.

THIS REGIMENTAL MUSTER NOTICE TYPIFIED THE WAY MANY MILITIAS AND OTHER TROOPS WERE MOBILIZED IN PREPARATION FOR THE WAR.

Courtesy Edenton Gazette

Born in 1788, noted Edenton native James Iredell Jr. served as a 24-year-old captain in the Chowan County Militia as troops throughout the state were soon mustered into service. Attached to the First Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Duncan McDonald, Iredell’s outfit defended the city of Norfolk, Virginia, in the months following the burning of the nation’s capital in August 1814. While Iredell saw no active combat, the Edenton attorney was promoted to brigadier general upon his discharge in 1815. His political career proved highly successful when he ascended to the North Carolina governorship in 1827 and, later, the US Senate.

The traveling exhibit War of 1812: A Nation Forged by War will open to the Museum of the Albemarle visitors in April 2022.