Soon after his arrival in Baltimore Henry Thompson became a member of the First Baltimore Troop of Light Dragoons, an elite militia group.  In September, 1809 he was elected Captain, thereby making him Captain Henry Thompson for the rest of his life.  At Henry’s suggestion the troop adopted a cap with a leopard skin band encircled with a chain and with a small blue rose behind.  They must have been a dramatic sight as they drilled and paraded in the streets of Baltimore.  “The command of such a corps was my highest ambition and greatest pride,” Henry said.

As the war of 1812 approached, the United States military could best be described as being in a state of extreme unreadiness.  There existed a patchwork of elite militia groups such as Henry’s and “enrolled” militia groups who were forced by state law to serve, often without uniforms or equipment.  With war imminent, the federal government had no choice but to exercise its constitutional right to call up militia units.  Bringing all these militia units together and shaping them into a single military force led to bitter disagreement about commanders, uniforms, supplies and materiel.  For an example, when a younger captain was appointed to lead Henry’s troop, the entire troop decided to disband. 

However, as the British threat moved closer to Baltimore, the troop resumed it active role.  The Battle of Bladensburg turned out to be a disaster for the Americans and left a clear path for the British  to carry out the burning of Washington.  But as the war moved closer to Baltimore, the troop was headed for a real battle and an eventual victory. Henry’s troop had become a part of the Third Brigade which engaged the British after they landed at North Point.  Soon after this the Americans held Fort McHenry, and the British fleet began its retreat down the Chesapeake Bay.  After the war Henry Thompson remained with his troop  and recorded most of their activities in his journal.

As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, interest in this sometimes-forgotten war is increasing.  Nelson Bolton, a descendant of Henry Thompson is currently president of the Maryland Society of the War of 1812 , and he encourages other Thompson descendants to join.  For full information contact him at nelsmott@yahoo.com