ders, I proceeded into the River Potomac, with the ships named in the margin, on the 17th of last month; but from being without pilots to assist us through that difficult part of the river called the Kettle-Bottoms, and from contrary winds, we were unable to reach Fort Washington until the evening of the 27th. Nor was this effected but by the severest labour. I believe each of the ships was not less than 20 different times a-ground, and each time we were obliged to haul off by main strength; and we were employed warping for five whole Successive days, with the exception of a few hours, a distance of more than fifty miles.

The bomb-ships were placed on the evening of the 27th, and immediately began the bombardment of the Fort, it being my intention to attack it with the frigates at day-light the following morning. On the bursting of the first shell, the garrison were observed to retreat; but supposing some concealed design, I directed the fire to be continued. At eight o'clock, however, my doubts were removed by the explosion of the powder-magazine, which destroyed the inner buildings, and at daylight on the 28th we took possession. Besides the principal fort, which contained two fifty-two pounders, two thirty-two pounders, and eight twenty-four pounders, there was a battery on the beach of five eighteen pounders, a martello tower, with two twelvepounders, and loop holes for musketry, aud a battery in the rear of two twelve and six six-pound field-pieces. The whole of these guns were already spiked by the VOL. LVI.

enemy, and their complete destruction, with their carriages also, was effected by the seamen and marines sent on that service, in less than two hours. The populous city of Alexandria thus lost its only defence; and, having buoyed the channel, I deemed it better to postpone giving any answer to a proposal made to me for its capitulation until the following morning, when I was enabled to place the shipping in such a position as would ensure assent to the terms I had decided to enforce.

To this measure I attribute their ready acquiescence, as it removed that doubt of my determination to proceed, which had been raised in the minds of the inhabi ants by our army having retired from Washington: this part of our proceedings will be further explained by the accompanying documents.

The Hon. Lieutenant Gordon of this ship was sent on the evening of the 28th to prevent the escape of any of the vessels comprised in the capitulation, and the whole of those which were seaworthy, amounting to 21 in number, were fitted and loaded by the 31st.

Captain Baker, of the Fairy, bringing your orders of the 27th, having fought his way up the river past a battery of five guns and a large military force, confirmed the rumours, which had already reached us, of strong measures having been taken to oppose our return; and I therefore quitted Alexandria without waiting to destroy those remaining stores which we had not the means of bringing away.

Contrary winds again oeca-
R

sioned us the laborious task of warping the ships down the river, in which a day's delay took place, owing to the Devastation grounding. The enemy took advantage of this circumstance to attempt her destruction by three firevessels, attended by five rowboats; but their object was defeated by the promptitude and gallantry of Captain Alexander, who pushed off with his own boats, and being followed by those: of the other ships, chased the boats of the enemy up to the town of Alexandria. The cool and steady conduct of Mr. John Moore, midshipman of the Seahorse, in towing the nearest fire vessel on shore, whilst the others were removed from the power of doing mischief by the smaller boats of the Devastation, entitles him to my highest commendation.

The Meteor and the Fairy, assisted by the Anna Maria dispatch boat, a prize gun-boat, and a boat belonging to the Euryalus, with a howitzer, had greatly impeded the progress of the enemy in their works; notwithstanding which, they were enabled to increase their battery to eleven guns, with a furnace for heating shot. On the 3rd, the wind coming to the N. W. the Etna and the Erebus succeeded in getting down to their assistance, and the whole of us, with the prizes, were assembled there on the 4th, except the Devastation, which, in spite of our utmost exertion in warping her, still remained five miles higher up the river. This was the moment when the enemy made his greatest efforts to effect our destruction.

The Erebus being judiciously

placed by Captain Bartholomew in au admirable position for harassing the workmen employed in the trenches, was attacked by three field-pieces, which did her considerable damage before they were beaten off. And another attempt being made to destroy the Devas tation with fire vessels, I sent the boats under Captain Baker to her assistance: nothing could exceed the alacrity with which Captain. Baker went on this service, to which I attribute the immediate retreat of the boats and fire-vessels. His loss, however, was considerable, owing to their having sought refuge under some guns in a narrow creek thickly wooded, from which it was impossible for him to dislodge them.

On the 5th at noon, the wind coming fair, and all my arrange ments being made, the Seahorse and Euryalus anchored within short musket-shot of the batteries, while the whole of the prizes passed betwixt us and the shoal; the bombs, the Fairy, and Erebus, firing as they passed, and afterwards anchoring in a favourable position for facilitating, by means of their force, the further removal of the frigates. At three p. m. having completely silenced the enemy's fire, the Seahorse and Euryalus cut their cables, and the whole of us proceeded to the next position taken up by the troops, where they had two batteries, mounting from fourteen to eighteen guns, on a range of cliffs of about a mile extent, under which we were of necessity obliged to pass very close. I did not intend to make the attack that evening, but the Erebus grounding within. range, we were necessarily called

into action. On this occasion the fire of the Fairy had the most decisive effect, as well as that of the Erebus, while the bombs threw their shells with excellent precision, and the guns of the batteries were thereby completely silenced by about eight o'clock.

At day-light on the 6th I made signal to weigh, and so satisfied were the whole of the parties opposed to us of their opposition being ineffectual, that they allowed us to pass without further molestation. I cannot close this detail of operations, comprising a period of 23 days, without begging leave to call your attention to the singular exertion of those whom I had the honour to command, by which our success was effected. Our hammocks were down only two nights during the whole time; the many laborious duties which we had to perform were executed with a cheerfulness which I shall ever remember with pride, and which will ensure, I hope, to the whole of the detachments, your favourable estimation of their extraordinary zeal and abilities.

To Captain Napier I owe more obligations than I have words to express. The Euryalus lost her bowsprit, the head of her foremast, and the heads of all her topmasts, în a tornado which she encountered on the 25th, just as her sails were clued up, whilst we were passing the Flats of Maryland Point, and yet, after twelve hours work on her refittal, she was again under weigh, and advancing up the river. Captain Napier speaks highly of the conduct of Lieutenant Thomas Herbert on this as well as on every other of the many trying occa

sions which have called his abilities into action. His exertions were also particularly conspicuous in the prizes, many of which, already sunk by the enemy, were weighed, masted, hove down, caulked, rigged, and loaded, by our little squadron, during the three days which we remained at Alexandria.

It is difficult to distinguish amongst officers who had a greater share of duty than often falls to the lot of any, and which each performed with the greatest credit to his professional character. I cannot omit to recommend to your notice the meritorious conduct of Captains Alexander, Bartholomew, Baker and Kauah, the latter of whom led us through many of the difficulties of the navigation; and particularly to Captain Roberts, of the Meteor, who, besides undergoing the fatigues of the day, employed the night in coming the distance of ten miles to communicate and consult with me upon our further operations preparatory to our passing the batteries.

So universally good was the conduct of all the officers, seamen, and marines of the detachment, that I cannot particularise with justice to the rest; but I owe it to the long tried experience I have had of Mr. Henry King, first Lieutenant of the Seahorse, to point out to you, that such was his eagerness to take the part to which his abilities would have directed him on this occasion, that he even came out of his sick bed, to command at his quarters, whilst the ship was passing the batteries; nor can I ever forget how materially the service is indebted to Mr. Alexander Louthian, the Master,

Douglas, in the rear of it, with orders to secure the isthmus, and to take possession of the heights which command the town; but I soon learned that there were no regulars at Castine, except the party which had blown up the magazine, and escaped, and that the militia which were assembled there had dispersed immediately on our landing.

Rear Admiral Griffith and myself next turned our attention to obtaining possession of the Adams, or, if that could not be done, to destroying her. The arrangement for this service having been made, the Rear-Admiral entrusted the execution of it to Capt. Barrie, Royal Navy, and as the co-operation of a land force was necessary, I directed Lieut.-Colonel John, with a detachment of artillery, the flank companies of the 29th, 62nd, and 98th regiments, and one rifle company of the 60th, to accompany and co-operate with Captain Barrie on this occasion; but as Hamden is twenty-seven miles above Castine, it appeared to me a necessary measure of precaution first to occupy a post on the western bank, which might afford support if necessary to the force going up the river, and at the same time prevent the armed population, which is very numerous to the southward and westward, from annoying the British in their operations against the Adams.

Upon inquiry I found that Belfast, which is upon the high road leading from Hamden to Boston, and which perfectly commands the bridge, was likely to answer both these purposes, and I consequently directed Major General Gosselin to occupy that place with

the 29th regiment, and to maintain it till further orders.

As soon as this was accomplished and the tide served, Rear Admiral Griffith directed Captain Barrie to proceed to his destination, and the remainder of the troops were landed that evening at Castine.

Understanding that a strong party of militia from the neighbouring township had assembled at about four miles from Castine on the road leading to Blue Hill, I sent out a strong patrole on the morning of the second, before day-break. On arriving at the place, I was informed that the militia of the county had assembled there on the alarm guns being fired at the Fort at Castine upon our first appearance, but that the main body had since dispersed and returned to their respective homes. Some stragglers were, however, left, who fired upon our advanced guard, and then took to the woods; a few of whom were made prisoners. No intelligence having reached us from Captain Barrie on Saturday night, I marched with about seven hundred men and two light field pieces upon Buckston at three o'clock on Sunday morning the 4th instant, for the purpose of learning what progress he had made, and of affording him assistance if required. This place is about eighteen miles higher up the Penobscot than Castine, and on the eastern bank of the river. Rear Admiral Griffith accompanied me on this occasion, and as we had reason to believe that the light guns which had been taken from Castine were secreted in the neighbourhood of Buckston, we threatened to destroy the town unless they were delivered up, and