The War of 1812 in Beaufort

· During the War of 1812, with the ports of Charleston and Baltimore blockaded by the British, Beaufort assumed importance as a port for privateer operations. Carteret’s Captain Otway Burns, on his ship Snap Dragon, was one of the major privateers

· In July, 1814, British forces landed at Cape Lookout and partially destroyed the lighthouse there. When the British attempted another landing on July 16, they were repulsed by troops from Fort Hampton and Beaufort. The first Cape Lookout lighthouse continued to serve until Nov. 1, 1859, when the present lighthouse was first lit.