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TO ARMA.
TO ROYAL NAVY.
TO 1812 WAR.
MARINE GUARD RAISED AT THE HM DOCKYARD FROM BLACK AMERICAN REFUGEES DURING THE AMERICAN WAR OF 1812.
  During the American War of 1812, Vice-Admiral Cochrane, who was based in Bermuda, oversaw the succesful blockade of the US Atlantic Ports. Early-on in this activity, he began to encourage Black American slaves to defect to the side of the Crown, together with their families. The only promise made was of freedom, but as increasing numbers of refugees found their way to his ships, and Cochrane began to collect them together at the new Dockyard in Bermuda, some decision had to be made as to what to do with them. Fortunately, the new dockyard was at the very earliest stages of its construction, and labour was scarce, thanks to the Colony's small manpower pursuing seafaring occupations, and the high expense of hiring those available to work. The Dockyard was also without a dedicated guard, and the Admiralty considered insufficient for their needs the Military Garrison of Regular and Militia troops, that was largely concerned with the Capital of St. George's at the opposite end of the colony, and with the individual parishes.
   As no other plans existed to provide for a Dockyard guard, a Company of Marines was raised from among the manpower of the American refugees collecting at the dockyard. Their wives and children found employment in the yard, primarily caring for ropes.
   This was only a temporary answer to the problem created by the collection of these refugees at the Naval Base. The Colonial assembly was quite adamant that it wanted none of them settling in Bermuda. this resulted in the Navy informing the refugees that they were not to move off of the Admiralty lands with the intent of settling on the colony. It was eventually decided to re-locate and to merge the Marines into one of the West Indian Regiments. Many were reluctant to agree to this, as it would have meant less favourable conditions of service, but those who did were sent to the West indies and transferred from the Navy to the Army.
   With the opening of the British campaign in Louisiana, West Indian Regiments were despatched there. The former Marines from Bermuda were part of that campaign, finding themselves back in America, fighting for the Crown against their former countrymen.
   Those of the refugees in Bermuda who did not remain in Government service were relocated to British territories in the West Indies, where they were given land and allowed to settle.
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