The Delaware Blues
The Delaware Blues is a name historically associated with the First Delaware Regiment, a Continental Army unit organized in January 1776 during the American Revolution. The regiment earned its distinctive nickname from the color of the soldiers' coats, which set them apart visually on the battlefield and gave rise to an identity that has endured in Delaware's cultural memory for centuries. From their role in George Washington's pivotal 1776 military campaign to their influence on modern Delaware culture, the Delaware Blues represent a formative chapter in the story of American independence and the heritage of the First State.
Origins and Formation
The First Delaware Regiment was organized at the request of the Continental Congress in January 1776, making it among the earliest formal military units raised by the nascent American republic.[1] The regiment was raised from the small but strategically positioned colony of Delaware, which, despite its modest geographic size, contributed a notably disciplined and well-organized fighting force to the Continental cause.
The soldiers of the regiment were distinguished by their uniforms, which were considered especially fine for the period. The blue coats that gave the unit its popular name were more than a sartorial choice — they marked the Delaware soldiers as a cohesive, professional fighting force at a time when many colonial militias lacked standardized dress. The nickname "Delaware Blues" arose naturally from this visual identity, and it stuck with the regiment in both official records and popular memory.[2]
Colonel John Haslet and Leadership
The regiment was commanded by Colonel John Haslet, whose leadership gave the Delaware Blues much of their tactical reputation during the Revolutionary War. Haslet's regiment, formally referred to as Haslet's Delaware Continental Regiment, became closely associated with the broader fortunes of Washington's Continental Army in the difficult early years of the conflict.[3]
Colonel Haslet maintained a firm command structure and trained his soldiers to a standard that earned them recognition among the ranks of the Continental Army. The regiment's discipline and distinctive appearance set them apart, and their role in multiple engagements during the 1776 campaign demonstrated that the small colony of Delaware could field soldiers capable of standing alongside units from much larger and more populous states.
The period of enlistment for Haslet's Delaware Regiment ended on December 31, 1776, marking the formal conclusion of the regiment's initial service.[4] This endpoint came after a year of intense campaigning that had tested the regiment's endurance and resolve under some of the most difficult conditions of the early Revolutionary War.
Role in Washington's 1776 Campaign
The Delaware Blues played a pivotal role in George Washington's 1776 campaign, a series of military operations that proved critical to the survival of the Continental Army and the broader American cause.[5] The year 1776 was marked by significant hardship for Washington's forces, who faced a better-equipped and more experienced British military. In this context, the discipline and reliability of the Delaware Blues made them a valued component of the Continental Army's operations.
The regiment's participation in Washington's 1776 campaign placed them in proximity to some of the most consequential military actions of the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army's efforts during this period, including the famous crossing of the Delaware River and the subsequent engagement at Trenton, New Jersey, were shaped in part by the quality of units like the First Delaware Regiment. The Delaware Blues' involvement in these campaigns helped cement their place in the historical record of the American Revolution.
The regiment's service during this year illustrated the broader challenge faced by Continental commanders: maintaining an effective fighting force composed of soldiers whose enlistments were limited and whose commitment was tested by defeat, cold, and scarcity. That the Delaware Blues maintained their cohesion and continued to serve through the end of their enlistment period reflected both the quality of Haslet's leadership and the resolve of the individual soldiers who made up the regiment.
Uniform and Identity
The blue coats of the First Delaware Regiment were more than a practical uniform — they functioned as a symbol of unit identity during a period when the Continental Army was still developing its organizational culture. At a time when many soldiers fought in whatever clothing they could obtain, the Delaware Blues' coordinated dress marked them as a professional and well-prepared unit. This visual cohesion reinforced morale within the regiment and communicated to allies and adversaries alike that Delaware's contribution to the Continental Army was a serious one.
The regiment was noted for its distinguished uniforms, a detail recorded in historical accounts of Delaware's participation in the American Revolution.[6] This emphasis on appearance was not merely cosmetic; it reflected the broader efforts of Continental Army leadership to project military professionalism and inspire confidence in the American cause both at home and abroad.
The blue color itself became so closely associated with the regiment that it gave them their lasting nickname, one that has survived in Delaware's historical consciousness long after the regiment's formal disbandment.
Legacy in Delaware Culture
The memory of the Delaware Blues has persisted well beyond the Revolutionary War era, finding expression in various aspects of Delaware's cultural and commercial life. The regiment's name and legacy have been invoked in contexts ranging from historical commemoration to craft brewing, reflecting the broad reach of their identity in the state's public consciousness.
In the craft brewing industry, for example, the Delaware Blues have served as inspiration for tributes to the regiment's history. A product known as Blues' Golden Ale pays direct tribute to the Delaware Blues, the state's first Continental Army regiment, connecting the modern craft beer culture of Delaware to the legacy of the Revolutionary War soldiers who bore the regiment's name.[7] This type of cultural reference illustrates how the regiment's nickname has become embedded in the state's identity in ways that extend beyond formal historical commemoration.
The name "Delaware Blues" also carries resonance in the state's musical culture, particularly in relation to the blues music tradition. Wilmington has hosted blues music events that draw on this broader cultural identity. The Riverfront Blues Festival, held at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park in Wilmington, brings three days of blues performances to two stages, connecting the city's musical present to a broader tradition of blues in the region.[8]
Delaware's connection to blues music has also been embodied in individual musicians. Johnny Neel, a Wilmington native who played keyboards for The Allman Brothers Band, represented a personal link between Delaware and the blues and rock tradition. Neel, who was blind, achieved recognition as a performer before his death on October 6, 2024, at the age of 70.[9] His life and career illustrated the depth of musical talent that Delaware has produced, and his connection to the blues tradition added another dimension to the cultural meaning of the "Delaware Blues" name within the state.
Historical Significance
The Delaware Blues hold a distinctive place in the history of the American Revolution for several reasons. As the state's first Continental Army regiment, they represented Delaware's formal commitment to the revolutionary cause at a moment when the outcome of that cause remained deeply uncertain. Their service during the critical year of 1776 placed them at the center of the military struggle that would ultimately determine the fate of the American republic.
The regiment's legacy is also significant for what it reveals about the nature of Revolutionary War military service. The limited enlistment periods that governed service in the Continental Army meant that units like the Delaware Blues had to accomplish their military objectives within a defined timeframe. The fact that the regiment served through the entirety of its enlistment, concluding its formal service on December 31, 1776, demonstrated a commitment that was not universally shared among Continental forces during this difficult period.[10]
Colonel Haslet's leadership of the regiment during this period established a model of military command that drew on both personal example and organizational discipline. The regiment's performance under his command during Washington's 1776 campaign contributed to the broader effort to demonstrate that American forces could meet and challenge British military power in the field.[11]
Commemoration and Recognition
The Delaware Blues have been commemorated in various forms since the Revolutionary War era. Historical institutions and preservation organizations have documented the regiment's service and the broader context of Delaware's role in the American Revolution. The American Revolution Institute has produced scholarly materials on Delaware's participation in the revolution, including documentation of the First Delaware Regiment's formation, service, and identity.[12]
The Washington Crossing Historic Park, which commemorates Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River, has also recognized the role of Colonel Haslet and the Delaware Continental Regiment in the 1776 campaign, situating the Delaware Blues within the larger narrative of that militarily and symbolically important operation.[13]
Delaware's state government has also preserved historical records related to the regiment's service, contributing to a documentary record that allows researchers and members of the public to understand the regiment's place in the state's history.[14]
The persistence of the Delaware Blues' name across centuries — appearing in historical scholarship, craft brewing, music festivals, and cultural memory — speaks to the durability of the regiment's identity as a symbol of Delaware's contribution to American independence.