1814 - Captain Barrie and Commodore Barney's flotilla

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1814 Boat Attacks, &c. in Chesapeake Bay 301

for shelter into the Patuxent. By way of inducing Commodore Barney to separate his force, Captain Barrie now detached two boats to cut off a schooner under Cove point ; but, not considering that his orders to give protection warranted such a risk, Commodore Barney allowed the vessel to be burnt in his sight.

On the 6th the flotilla retreated higher up the Patuxent : and, being joined on the day following by the 38-gun frigate Loire, Captain Thomas Brown, and 18-gun brig-sloop Jasseur, Captain George Edward Watts, Captain Barrie proceeded up the river with them, the St.-Lawrence, and the boats of the two 74s. The flotilla retreated about two miles up St.-Leonard's creek, where it could be reached by boats only ; but the force of the latter was not equal to the attack. Captain Barrie endeavoured, however, by a discharge of rockets and carronades from the boats, to provoke the American vessels, which were moored in a close line abreast across the channel, to come down within reach of the guns of the ship, brig, and schooner, at anchor near the mouth of the creek. At one time the American flotilla got under way, and chased the boats to a short distance, and then returned to their moorings. With a view to force the flotilla to quit its station, detachments of seamen and marines were landed on both sides of the river, and the American militia, estimated at 300 or 400, retreated before them to the woods. The marines destroyed two tobacco-stores, and several houses converted into military posts ; but still the flotilla remained at its moorings.

On the 15th of June the 32-gun frigate Narcissus, Captain John Richard Lumley, joined the little squadron ; and Captain Barrie, taking with him 12 boats, containing 180 marines, and 30 of the black colonial corps, proceeded up the river to Benedict. Here the men disembarked, and drove into the woods, without a struggle, a number of militia, who left behind a part of their muskets and camp equipage, as well as a 6-pounder field-piece. After spiking the latter, and destroying a store containing tobacco, the British again took to their boats, except five or six men, who had probably strayed too far into the woods.

After quitting Benedict, Captain Barrie ascended the river to Lower-Marlborough, a town about 28 miles from the capital of the United States. The party landed, and took possession of the place ; the militia, as well as the inhabitants, flying into the woods. A schooner, belonging to a Captain David, was captured, and loaded with tobacco. After this, having burnt, at Lower-Marlborough, and at Magruders, on the opposite side of the river, tobacco-stores, containing 2800 hogsheads, and loaded the boats with stock, the detachment re-embarked. The Americans collected a force, estimated at about 350 regulars, besides militia, on Holland's cliffs ; but some marines, being landed,

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