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Delaware Facts | Links

What was Delaware's stance on Slavery and Abolition?

Delaware was a state divided on the issue of slavery. By 1810, 13.5% of the total population of the state consisted of free blacks, higher than free states such as New York or New Jersey. Delaware slave owners felt a good deal of pressure to free their slaves. In 1860, even though there were over 20,000 free blacks and only 1,798 slaves in the state, Delawareans were not yet willing to give full rights to these citizens. Even so, abolitionists still felt strongly about freeing slaves and allowing them to lead productive lives. Delaware almost passed a law for abolition in 1847, but it was vetoed by the Senate. While a few Delawareans were afraid of the free blacks and wanted to create a colonization project in Liberia, abolitionists fought the movement. By the time of the Civil War, it was obvious that Delaware was divided about slavery, but loyal to the Union. Delaware became one of the border states between the Confederacy and the Union, and many soldiers from Delaware fought in the Union Army.

What was Delaware's role in the Civil War?

Although Delaware voted not to secede from the Union, many Delawareans were secessionists. Even before the attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, these citizens searched the state armories to collect weapons for the war. When President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops, the governor of Delaware, William Burton, was unsure about forming regiments. Instead, he encouraged those citizens who wished to fight to join Pennsylvania's regiments. In May 1861 the governor appointed Henry du Pont as the Major General of Delaware's militia and reluctantly ordered the secessionists who had taken weapons from the state's armories to return them for the Union army. He shortly revoked the order because of severe pressure from pro-South companies. Many towns in Delaware smuggled supplies from their state into Virginia to help the secessionists fight. It wasn't until July that Washington agreed to provide weapons for loyal troops. Over 13,000 Delawareans (almost 10% of the total population) fought for the Union, but several hundred sided with the Confederacy. Delaware produced nine regiments of infantry and several companies of cavalry and artillery during the War. Delaware also produced almost one-half of the gunpowder used by the Union Army.

What was Delaware's role in the Underground Railroad?

Delaware was an important link in the Underground Railroad, a system of safe houses and assistance for slaves trying to escape to freedom. In Delaware there were 19 known safe houses for runaway slaves to stop in, rest and get supplies before heading to Canada. Many of the families who helped with the Underground Railroad in Delaware were either Quakers in Camden, or Free Black families in Star Hill. These families were an important part of saving the lives of many fugitive slaves.

Who were some of the important people involved in the Underground Railroad in Delaware?

Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland in 1820. Having married a freed slave, John Tubman, Harriet escaped slavery in 1849. Known as the "Moses of her people," Harriet spent her life helping fugitive slaves from the South to Canada where they could be free. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet is thought to have helped as many as 300 other slaves reach freedom. During the Civil War she served as a scout and spy for the Union army.

Thomas Garrett was a Quaker living in Wilmington, Delaware before the Civil War. His house was the last stop for fugitive slaves before they reached the free North. Over four decades, starting in the 1820s, Garrett is believed to have helped more than 2,000 slaves reach freedom. Garrett was fined for his actions with the Underground Railroad. Although he was fined everything he owned, Garrett made an economic recovery and continued to help slaves reach freedom.

John Hunn was another Quaker who helped fugitive slaves reach safety. During the 1840s and after, Hunn used the Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House in Odessa, Delaware as a safe house for escaping slaves before they reached Pennsylvania. Hunn was turned in to local officials by neighbors, and sued by slave owners for loss of property under the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793.

Who are the Quakers?

(George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends)
The Quakers are religious group who believe in equality for all people and in human goodness. Formally the Religious Society of Friends, the Quakers began in Europe during the Reformation, immigrating to America in the 1660s. Leaders such as William Penn of Pennsylvania helped make a home free of persecution in America. Although some Quakers owned slaves, most believed that to take away the basic human rights of slaves was morally wrong. Most Quakers were abolitionists, and many, including John Hunn and Thomas Garrett, helped fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad.

Who are the du Ponts?

The du Pont family settled on the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware in 1802. Eleuthere-Irenee du Pont, surprised by the high price of American gunpowder, built a plant on the River. His successful venture into gunpowder production was a great asset to the United States in both the War of 1812, and the Civil War, where the plant supplied Union troops with much needed gunpowder. The E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, as the business was called, became a great success, allowing the family to branch out into other fields; wool, farming, and chemical production.
Eleuthere-Irenee's grandson, Henry Algernon du Pont was a West Point graduate, like his father, Henry du Pont, and a Medal of Honor winner in the Civil War.
Eleuthere-Irenee's brother, Victor-Marie du Pont also moved to the United States in 1800 and came to work with his brother in the mills in Delaware. Victor-Marie's son, Samuel Francis du Pont, was a U.S. naval officer and served in the Mexican War and the Civil War. He commanded squadrons for the Blockade of the South as rear admiral of the Union Navy. Unfortunately, his attack on Charleston, South Carolina in 1863 was unsuccessful and he was relieved of duty.
The du Pont family still owns 15% of the Du Pont Company's stock. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of synthetic materials, such as cellophane, synthetic rubber, paint, explosives, and chemicals.

Some Delaware Facts:

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Delaware in the Civil War