The University of Delaware athletic teams derive the moniker Blue Hens from a legendary piece of state history dating back to the American Revolutionary War. Troops from Kent County, Delaware, commanded by Captain John Caldwell, gained a fierce reputation for their unmatched bravery and combat prowess. Soldiers fighting alongside them reportedly compared their spirited, aggressive fighting style to gamecocks—specifically the famed brood of blue hens raised in Kent County—leading to the official adoption of the Blue Hen as the state bird and university mascot.