1814 WAR WITH AMERICA. 227 hope the punishments will be more strictly examined into than they are now, by the late regulation of quarterly returns. The Orpheus' has taken the American Frolick,' but this is no balance for the Epervier,' considering the circumstances of the two captures. Commodore Codrington arrived at Bermuda on July 13 and joined the Flag of Sir Alexander Cochrane, under whom he was to serve in the capacity of Captain of the Fleet. Bermuda: July 14. We got into this intricate harbour yesterday evening, and I shall sleep here in 'Tonnant' until we go to sea. The July 18. Some very brilliant things have been done lately on this station, which, I trust, are but the forerunners of more. most conspicuous is that of Captain Coote, under Capel's orders, which, probably, you have had in the papers by this time, 136 men destroying 2,500 tons of shipping close to the wharves of a populous town, and coming out through a chain of armed forces, which were a whole day preparing for them, and, with the loss of but one man, is very fine; and I trust promotion will attend the conduct of the parties employed. The Major's proposal to Captain C. to surrender is a capital specimen of Yankee writing, and I hope it will be given to the public verbatim et.literatim. Next comes a brilliant affair of the boats of the Superb,' which destroyed 17 vessels, without any loss, and which will be a pleasant wind-up to the command of C. Paget, as well as that of his ally Capel, who will take him home. And the Bulwark' has also been pursuing the same successful warfare. I like my chief (Sir Alexander Cochrane) very much, and I hope I shall make him as contented with me, by pursuing my inclination to meet all his wishes, and to make myself of material use to him. 6 July 21. The physician of the fleet told me just now that he went to get measured by a Colonel Jeremiah Hurst, the principal tailor in the island, who, upon receiving the form of address suitable to his military rank, condescended to undertake making the clothes required, which he declines when addressed merely as a tailor; but he finished by saying, that since he had treated him with the respect due to his station, he would certainly get the things made as soon as he could, but that, as he seemed to be in a hurry, he thought it fair to tell him that he would get them sooner if he sent to England for them. July 27. I can only write a line by 'Halifax,' to say that I never was better in my life, and cannot see anything to annoy me in my situation with the Chief, which is the great point. My heart is very much in this war, as you will see, but for all the duties and purposes of domestic life that heart is yours as ever. I much like General Ross; and his troops, Malcolm says, are glorious fellows for the Yankees. 'Tonnant,' at Sea: August 3. We are now on our way to the Chesapeake (mind you don't tell the Yankees !), and we expect that the troops will come out of Bermuda to-day in order to follow us. The more I see the more I like our two Chiefs and their notions of the warfare on which we are entering; and if the war should continue through the winter, I think we shall turn the time to good account. At anchor off the Chesapeake: August 12, 2 P.M. Wainwright has just been trying the heat of the sun on deck, and his thermometer rose to 133. In my cabin, however, it is only 82. We have just let go our anchor in sight of the Tangier Islands, where we have a fortified port. . . . The fever in this river is not considered dangerous, although it is so prevalent during these two months amongst those who live on shore. The thermometer is 82 in the salt water alongside, and 78 in a bucket of fresh just out of the hold. We are widely separated, and this Chesapeake is like a new world. My heart, however, is not likely to incline to the Yankees, and I feel that it is yours as ever. E. C. 1814 'TONNANT,' IN THE PATUXENT. 229 On board the 'Iphigenia,' near Benedict, in the Patuxent : We got the 'Tonnant' up this river as high as most of them on the night of the 19th, on the morning of which day we entered it. But the Chief wishing to give the General every personal proof of his desire to assist him, thought it best to take up his quarters temporarily with our friend Andrew King, who treats us in good friendly hospitality, as he did you. Commodore Barney and his Baltimore flotilla are, it seems, gone up this river as high as possible, out of harm's way; and our troops will yet have a long march, and Cockburn a long run, to get at them. The sailing up the Patuxent is very pretty; and our numbers all crowded together, without either of us knowing the navigation, made the scene very interesting. It is astonishing how little else than misery is observable in the few habitations which are to be seen on either bank of this river, fitted as it is for commerce, and apparently for delightful residence. In this is the contrast which binds one to old England. I think it may also be considered a comparatively extraordinary circumstance that we have not found an enemy to assail us in the course of about sixty miles that we have explored, although the cliffs which occasionally rise on either bank offer facilities apparently irresistible to a people so disposed to hatred and so especially hostile to the navy of England. The army landed yesterday at Benedict, and I went up the river to-day with the Chief to make them a visit at a place called Lower Marlborough, from whence we left them at two o'clock again about to march. Lower Marlborough is on the left bank, however, and the troops on the right; but the Marines of our flotilla land and take post opposite, and the few Militia which the country has make off as fast as they can go. August 22, 9 P.M. An express boat came this evening from Admiral Cockburn to tell us that Commodore Barney had blown up the whole of his gun-vessels at a narrow part of the river above a place called Pig Point, upon our flotilla getting in sight of him. It would have been more suitable to our future object to have got possession of these vessels, but it is at all events satisfactory to have forced him to such a measure, by driving him up to the extremity of such a river, so distant from the Chesapeake into which it empties, and without any previous knowledge of the soundings. We are seldom out of bed after nine, unless something particular arises; and half-past three has been sometimes our rising hour, not later than four generally, and daylight the latest. August 28. Yesterday we got a note from Cockburn to say that our little army met the Yankees, at least double their force, at a place called Bladensburg, posted upon a hill, secured by works, and with ten guns. The battery was so concealed that Col. Thornton, of the 85th, was posting his men to rest a little after a most severe march out of exercise, when it opened a very destructive fire. Tired as they were, our brave fellows turned the position of the enemy, and advanced with fixed bayonets; upon which the enemy flew in all directions. The army then advanced to Washington, the great Federal city, the capital and pride of the Virginians and all other the supporters of the Jefferson and Madison party, and the haters of everything English; the city which secures the Democratic party in power, and in speaking of which the editor of Madison's paper observed lately, in detailing the entry of the Allies into Paris, 'Thank God! our capital is safely beyond the reach of all the powers which can be sent against it!' Upon reaching the town, a paltry set of a few hundred opened a fire from a large house, and scampered away as fast as possible. This house was burned immediately, and afterwards the Capitol, the President's house, the Treasury, the War Office, the National Intelligencer office, and some other buildings. It seems that they themselves had already set fire to their naval yard, to a new frigate just coppering, and to a sloop of war, besides the ropewalk, &c., &c., &c.; and they, moreover, blew up the bridge which crosses the Potomac into Virginia, to secure their retreat. To this we are to add about 50 pieces of cannon, and Fort Warburton or Washington, a bomb proof erected to secure the great city. Our loss in killed and wounded I understand to be about three hundred, and amongst them are Colonel Thornton of the 85th, severely 1814 ANECDOTES OF THE CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON. ... 231 wounded by a musket-ball which has splintered the bone of his thigh high up; he is left at Washington; and we have also left about sixty wounded at Bladensburg, who were not fit to be moved. I have taken a leisure moment to tell you thus much, but of course you will look to the Gazette for particulars. Madison was in the field of battle, and must be rather annoyed at finding himself obliged to fly with his whole force from the seat of Government before twelve hundred English, the whole force actually engaged. Commodore Barney burned his gun-vessels upon the approach of our flotilla, and then took command of eight thousand men to defend the approach to Washington. He was taken severely wounded, and is left at Bladensburg, on parole. I know not yet the probable number of the enemy killed, but they ran away too fast for our hard-fagged people to make prisoners. August 31. We have got our troops all on board again; and King, whose guest I still continue, is just getting his anchor up to go down the river. I find Colonel Thornton's wound is not in itself a dangerous one, and that the fear of his doing ill arises from occasional spasms of great severity, which may be the precursors of lock-jaw. Neither are the wounds of Colonel Wood or Major Brown in themselves considered as dangerous. And it is to be most anxiously hoped that three such brave fellows may live to enjoy the honour they have gained in the eyes of everybody. There is an anecdote of a grenadier of the 21st, which shows the difference betwixt a soldier of this army, and those of our enemy. The poor fellow, fagged by a hard march, was stooping to fill his canteen at a well some distance away from his comrades, when two Yankees leaped upon him, secured his musket, pinioned him, and so forth. After going some little distance he begged to have his arms untied that he might eat a mouthful of biscuit. This was granted; and as they were going on apparently in a very peaceable way, one of the two stepped forward to see if all was safe on the main road, whilst the other kept charge of the prisoner. They had not sat down above five minutes when the sentry fell fast asleep. The soldier watching |