Though New Castle did not see any battles during the American
Revolution, it was the Delaware's Colonial capital, and at it was at the
center of the rebellion in the state. Its village green, still present
today, served as a venue for early forums where colonists aired their
grievances with the British government. Though it was considered more
radical and inclined towards rebellion than the rest of Delaware, the
city was also home to a sizable Loyalist community. When the city was
occupied by the British in 1777, Loyalists from other colonies flocked
to the relative safety of the city. However, after their departure, New
Castle was still plagued by refugees who were essentially Loyalist
privateers that preyed on the coastal communities of the Delaware Bay.
Historian Ted Corbett charts the history of this community in its days
leading up to the Revolution, through the conflict and into the early
years of the Republic when Delaware struggled to set up its new
government.