A minor theatre of the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812 resulted from a naval blockade set up by Britain around France. The fledgling United States tried to remain neutral, but the British blockade hindered the U. S. trade with France, which the U. S. objected to as illegal. The War of 1812 was largely staged on the Great Lakes and included the invasion and destruction of the United States capitol at Washington, District of Columbia.
The War of 1812 was ended on 18 February 1815 with the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent. News of the treaty, which was signed on 24 December 1814, did not reach the States until early in the next year. Prior to the news being received, a British invasion of Louisiana resulted in their defeat in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. That battle brought fame to the unconventional General Andrew Jackson.
The War of 1812 is covered very well by the published Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume XII. During the War of 1812, the companies raised within Pennsylvania were not differentiated according to individual counties. The companies raised throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were designated as 'Pennsylvania Militia.' Muster rolls are included in the Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume VII. Muster, pay and pension rolls are also included in the Sixth Series, Volume IX.
The majority of the companies raised within the region that is today Bedford County became part of the Twelfth Division. More specifically, Bedford County was represented in the First Brigade, 128th Regiment Rifle Company; the Second Brigade, 55th Regiment First Flank Company; the Second Brigade, 105th Regiment First Flank Company; the Second Brigade, 124th Regiment First Flank Company; and the Second Brigade, 109th Regiment First and Second Companies. The Twelfth Division is detailed in the published Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume VII, pages 669 through 706.
The War of 1812 is detailed in the History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Co's, Pennsylvania in pages 113 and 114. The roster of only one particular company raised in Bedford County is provided in that volume: Captain Solomon Sparks' Company. That company was raised in the then-Bedford County townships of Hopewell, Providence, Southampton and Woodberry. It might be noted that this company was initially commanded by Captain William Piper. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, at which time the command of the company was assigned to Solomon Sparks.
The same information appears in History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania on pages 129 and 130.
In 2011, Richard A. Hayden undertook a project to identify a second company which had been raised within Bedford County. Hugh Gibson was the Captain of that company which was raised primarily in the then-Bedford County townships of Bedford, Colerain, Cumberland Valley, Greenfield, Londonderry and St. Clair. Utilizing the records maintained in the National Archives, Mr. Hayden was able to identify the following members of Captain Gibson's Company. John Williams served as the Lieutenant and John Myers served as the Ensign. The 1st Sergeant was Andrew Clinesmith. The 2nd Sergeant was Samuel Wertz. The 3rd Sergeant was James Ferguson and the 4th was David Wertz. Thomas Rose was the 1st Corporal. John Wertz was the 2nd Corporal. Samuel Deyle was the 3rd Corporal. John Wirick served as the 4th Corporal. The company had neither a fifer nor a drummer. The Privates included: Joseph Adams, Solomon Adames, William Adames, William Arthers, William Barnes, George Boland, George Bouser, James Bridges, David Carsner, Henry Claar, Jacob Claar, Henry Clapper, Henry Cofman, Moses Dicken, Vincent Daugherty, George Ellinger, John Feather, Jacob Fethers Jun., Jacob Fethers Sr., Michael Fethers, John Funk, Jacob Hardsock, John Hardsock, Frederick Helm, Michael Horner, Daniel Lin, John Ling, William Low, William McFerren, Thomas McGibbons, John Miller, Robert Miller, Daniel Moon, John Murdick, Stephen Ozier, John Pine, Henry Rafsneider, George Reighart, Henry Rine, Robert Rosberry, Joseph Rothrock, Daniel Sliger, Henry Sliger, John Sloan, George Stiffer, Andrew Stiner, John Tawney, Henry Walleck, George Weirick, Samuel Wirick, Valentine Wirick, Alexander Woods, James Woods, and John Wright.
During his research, Mr Hayden also identified the names of twenty-five individuals whose company affiliations were not recorded. They included: Peter Amick, George Arthur, John Bagley, Peter Beaver, Henry Border, Robert Brown, George Burkholder, James Burns, John Chamberlain, Jacob Conrad, Jacob Ewing, Frederick Hill, Jonathan Miller, Leonard Nycum, John F. Oster, John Over, George Rock, Isaac Schooly, Jacob Shuss, Abram Slick, Michael Smouse, Philip Stambaugh, Jacob Weisel, Nicholas Wertz and William Wertz.
The War of 1812 resulted in an estimated 2,260 combat deaths along with 4,505 wounded.
