tial co-operation by sea, I considered that an attack on the enemy's strong position by the army only, with such disparity of force, though confident of success, might risk a greater loss than the possession of the town would compensate for, while holding in view the ulterior operations of this force in the contemplation of his Majesty's Government; and, therefore, as the primary object of our movement had been already fully accomplished, I communicated my observations to Colonel Brook, who, coinciding with me in opinion, it was mutually agreed that we should withdraw. The following morning the army began leisurely to retire; and so salutary was the effect produced on the enemy by the defeat he had experienced, that notwithstanding every opportunity was offered for his repeating the conflict, with an infinite superiority, our troops reembarked without molestation; the ships of war dropped down as the army retired. The result of this demonstration has been the defeat of the army of the enemy, the destruction, by themselves, of a quantity of shipping, the burning of an extensive rope-walk, and other public erections, the causing of them to remove their property from the city, and above all, the collecting and harassing of his armed inhabitants from the surrounding country; producing a total stagnation of their commerce, and heaping upon them considerable expenses, at the same time effectually drawing off their attention and support from other important quarters. It has been a source of the greatest gratification to me, the continuance of that unanimity existing between the two services, which I have before noticed to their Lordships; and I have reason to assure them that the command of the army has fallen upon a most zealous and able officer in Colonel Brook, who has followed up the system of cordiality that had been so beneficially adopted by his much lamented chief. Rear Admiral Cockburn, to whom I confided that part of the naval service which was connected with the army, evinced his usual zeal and ability, and executed his important trust to my entire satisfaction. Rear Admiral Malcolm, who regulated the collection, debarkation, and re-embarkation of the troops, and the supplies they required, has merited my best thanks for his indefatigible exertions; and I have to express my acknowledgments for the counsel and assistance which in all our operations, I have received from Rear Admiral Codrington, the Captain of the fleet. The Captains of the squadron who were employed in the various duties afloat, were all emulous to promote the service in which they were engaged, and, with the offi cers acting under them, are entitled to my fullest approbation. I beg leave to call the attention of their Lordships to the report Rear Admiral Cockburn has made of the meritorious and gallant conduct of the Naval Brigade; as well as to the accompanying letter from Colonel Brook, expressing his obligations to Captain Edward Crofton, who commanded, and Captains T. B. Sullivan, Rowland, Money, and Robert Ramsay, who had charge of divisions; and I have to recommend these officers,together with those who are parti cularly noticed by the Rear Admiral, to their Lordships' favourable consideration. Captain Robyns, of the Royal Marines, who commanded the marines of the squadron on this occasion, and in the operations against Washington, being severely wounded, I beg leave to bring him to their Lordship's recollection, as having been frequently noticed for his gallant conduct during the services on the Chesapeake, and to recommend him, with Lieutenant Sampson Marshall, of the Diadem, who is dangerously wounded, to their Lordships' favour and protection. First Lieutenant John Lawrence of the Royal Marine Artillery, who commanded the rocket brigade, has again rendered essential service, and is highly spoken of by Colonel Brook. Captain Edward Crofton, who will have the honour of delivering this dispatch, is competent to explain any further particulars; and I beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships' protection, as a most zealous and intelligent officer. I have the honour to be, &c. ALEXANDER COCHRANE, Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief. To John Wilson Croker, Esq. &c. &c. &c. His Majesty's ship Severn, in the Patapsco, Sept. 15 1814. Sir,-In furtherance of the instructions I had the honour to receive from you on the 11th inst. I landed at day-light on the 12th with Major General Ross and the force under his command, at a place the General and myself had previously fixed upon, near to North Point, at the entrance of the Patapsco; and in conformity with his wishes, I determined on remaining on shore, and accompanying the army to render him every assistance within my power during the contemplated movements and operations; therefore, so soon as our landing was completed, I directed Captain Nourse, of this ship, to advance up the Patapsco with the frigates, sloops, and bomb ships, to bombard the fort, and threaten the water-approach to Baltimore, and I moved on with the army and seamen (under Captain Edward Crofton) attached to it, on the direct road leading to the above-mentioned town. We had advanced about 5 miles (without other occurrence than taking prisoners a few light horsemen), when the General and myself, being with the advanced guard, observed a division of the enemy posted at a turning of the road, extending into a wood on our left; a sharp fire was almost immediately opened upon us from it, and as quickly returned with considerable effect by our advanced guard, which, pressing steadily forward, soon obliged the enemy to run off with the utmost precipitation, leave ing behind him several men killed, and wounded; but it is with the most heartfelt sorrow I have to add, that in this short and desultory skirmish, my gallant and highly valued friend, the Major Gene ral, received a musket ball through his arm into his breast, which proved fatal to him on his way to the water-side for re-embarkation. Our country, Sir, has lost in him one of its best and bravest soldiers, and those who knew him, as I did, a friend most honoured and beloved; and I trust, Sir, I may be forgiven for considering it a sacred duty I owe to him to mention here, that whilst his wounds were binding up, and we were placing him on the bearer, which was to carry him off the field, he assured me the wounds he had received in the performance of his duty to his country caused him not a pang; but he felt alone, anxiety for a wife and family dearer to him than his life, whom, in the event of the fatal termination he foresaw, he recommended to the protection and notice of his Majesty's Government, and the country. Colonel Brook, on whom the command of the army now devolved, having come up, and the body of our troops having closed with the advance, the whole proceeded forward about two miles further, where we observed the enemy in force drawn up before us (apparently about six or seven thousand strong); on perceiving our army, he filed off into a large and extensive wood on his right, from which he commenced a cannonade on us from his field pieces, and drew up his men behind a thick paling, where he appeared determined to make his stand. Our field guns anwered his with evident advantage, and so soon Colonel Brook had made the necessary dispositions, the attack was ordered, and executed in the highest style possible. The enemy opened his musketry on us from his whole line, immediately as we approached within reach of it, and kept up his fire till we reached and as entered the wood, when he gave way in every direction, and was chased by us a considerable distance with great slaughter, abandoning his post of the Meetinghouse, situated in this wood, and leaving all his wounded and two of his field guns in our possession. An advance of this description against superior numbers of an enemy so posted, could not be effected without loss. I have the honour to enclose a return of what has been suffered by those of the naval department, acting with the army on this occasion; and it is, Sir, with the greatest pride and pleasure I report to you, that the brigade of seamen with small arms commanded by Captain Edward Crofton, assisted by Captain Sullivan, Money, and Ramsay, (the three senior commanders with the fleet) who commanded divisions under him, behaved with a gallantry and steadiness which would have done honour to the oldest troops, and which attracted the admiration of the army. The seamen under Mr. Jackson, master's mate of the Tonnant, attached to the rocket brigade, commanded by the First Lieutenant Lawrence, of the marines, behaved also with equal skill and bravery. The marines landed from the ships under the command of Captain Robyns, the senior officer of that corps, belonging to the fleet, behaved with their usual gallantry. Although, Sir, in making to you my report of this action, I know it is right I should confine myself to mentioning only the conduct of those belonging to the naval department; yet I may be excused for venturing further to state to you generally the high admiration with which I viewed the conduct of the whole army, and the ability and gallantry with which it was managed and headed by its brave Colonel, which insured to it the success it met with. The night being fast approaching, and the troops much fatigued, Colonel Brook determined on remaining for the night on the field of battle; and on the morning of the 13th, leaving a small guard at the Meeting-house to collect and protect the wounded, we again moved forward towards Baltimore, on approaching which it was found to be defended by extremely strong works on every side, and immediately in front of us by an extensive hill, on which was an intrenched camp, and great quantities of artillery, and the information we collected, added to what we observed, gave us to believe there were at least within their works from 15 to 20,000 men. Colonel Brook lost no time in reconnoitering these defences, after which he made his arrangement for storming, during the ensuing night, with his gallant little army, the entrenched camp in our front, notwithstanding the difficulties which it presented. The subsequent communications which we opened with you, however, induced him again to relinquish the idea, and therefore yesterday morning the army retired leisurely to the Meeting-house, where it halted for some hours to make the necessary arrangements respecting the wounded and the prisoners taken on the 12th, which being completed, it made a further short movement in the evening towards the place where it had disembarked, and where it arrived this morning for re-embarkation, with out suffering the slightest molestation from the enemy, who, in spite of his superiority of number, did not even venture to look at us during this slow and deliberate retreat. As you, Sir, were in person with the advanced frigates, sloops, and bomb vessels, and as, from the road the army took, I did not see them after quitting the beach, it would be superfluous for me to make any report to you respecting them. I have now, therefore, only to assure you of my entire satisfaction and approbation of the conduct of every officer and man employed under me, during the operations above detailed, and to express to you how paticularly I consider myself indebted to Captain Edward Crofton (acting captain of the Royal Oak,) for the gallantry, ability, and zeal, with which he led on the brigade of seamen in the action of the 12th, and executed all the other services with which he had been intrusted since our landing; to Capt. White (acting Captain of the Albion) who attended me as my Aide de Camp the whole time, and rendered me every possible assistance, to Captains Sullivan, Money, and Ramsay, who commanded divisions of the brigade of seamen; to Lieutenant James Scott of the Albion whom I have bad such frequent cause to mention to you on former occasions, and who in the battle of the 12th commanded a division of seamen, and behaved most gallantly, occasionally also acting as an extra Aide-de-camp to myself. Captain Robyns, who commanded the marines of the fleet, and who was severely wounded during the engagement, I also beg to recommend to your favourable notice and consideration, as well as Lieutenant George C. Urmston, of the Albion, whom I placed in command of the smaller boats, to endeavour to keep up a communication between the army and navy, which he effected by great perseverance, and thereby rendered us most essential service. In short, Sir, every individual seemed animated with equal anxiety to distinguish himself by good conduct on this occasion, and I trust therefore the whole will be deemed worthy of your approbation. Captain Nourse, of the Severn, was good enough to receive my flag for this service; he rendered me great assistance in getting the ships to the different stations within the river; and when the storming of the fortified hill was contemplated, he hastened to my assistance with a reinforcement of seamen and marines; and I should consider myself wanting in candour and justice, did I not particularly point out, Sir, to you, the high opinion I entertain of the enterprize and ability of this valuable officer, not only for his conduct on this occasion, but on the very many others on which I have employed him since with me in the Chesapeake. I have, &c. G. COCKBURN, Vice Admiral the Hon. His Majesty's Ship Tonnant, Chesapeake, Sept. 12, 1814. Sir,-In my dispatch of the 2nd instant, recounting the success of our expedition against Washing ton, I acquainted you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the winds had been unfavourable for the return of the ships which were detached up the Potomac, under Captain J. A Gordon of the Sea-horse, to co-operate against the capital; but that I had heard of their having accomplished the destruction of Fort Washington I have now the honour not only to confirm this report, but to transmit for their Lordships' information, a copy of Captain Gordon's detail of his proceedings, in which his further success has exceeded my most sanguine expectations; having forced the populous city of Alexandria to capitulate, and having brought down the river in triumph, through a series of obstacles and determined opposition, a fleet of twenty-one enemy's vessels. The difficulties which presented themselves to these ships in ascending the river, impeded by shoals and contrary winds, and the increased obstacles which the enemy had prepared against their return, with a confident hope of obstructing their descent, were only to be overcome by the most indefatigable exertions. I trust, therefore, that the resolution and gallantry displayed by every one employed upon this ser vice, which deserve my warmest applause, will be further honoured by the approbation of their Lordships. I have, &c. ALEX. COCHRANE. Vice-Admiral, Commander in-Chief. Seahorse, Chesapeake, Sept. 9, 1814.) Sir,-In obedience to your or |