1814	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	304

latter place he shipped a considerable quantity of tobacco, and visited several houses in different parts of the country ; the owners of which living quietly with their families, and seeming to consider themselves and the neighbourhood to be at his disposal, the rear-admiral caused no further inconvenience to them, than obliging them to furnish supplies of cattle and stock for the use of his forces, for which they were liberally paid.

On the 2d of August the squadron dropped down the Potomac, near to the entrance of the Yocomico river, which the rear-admiral entered on the following day, with the boats and marines, and landed with the latter. The enemy had here collected in great force, and made more resistance than usual, but the ardour and determination of the rear-admiral's gallant little band carried all before it ; and, after forcing the enemy to give way, the marines followed him 10 miles up the country, captured a fieldpiece, and burnt several houses, which had been converted into depots for militia arms, &c. Learning afterwards that General Hungerford had rallied his men at Kinsale, the rear-admiral proceeded thither; and, although the position of the Americans was extremely strong, they had only time to give the British an ineffectual volley before the latter gained the height, when the Americans again retired with precipitation, and did not reappear. The stores found at Kinsale were then shipped without molestation; and, having burnt the storehouses and other places, with two old schooners, and destroyed two batteries, the rear-admiral re-embarked, bringing away five prize schooners, a large quantity of tobacco, flour, &c., a field-piece, and a few prisoners. The American General Taylor was wounded and unhorsed, and escaped only through the thickness of the wood and bushes, into which he ran. The British had three men killed, and as many wounded. Thus 500 British marines, and 200 seamen and marine-artillery, penetrated 10 miles into the enemy's country, and skirmished, on their way back, surrounded by woods, in the face of the whole collected militia of Virginia, under Generals Hungerford and Taylor ; and yet, after this long march, carried the heights of Kinsale in the most gallant manner.

Coan river, a few miles below Yocomico, being the only inlet on the Virginia side of the Potomac, that the rear-admiral had not visited, he proceeded on the 7th to attack it, with the boats and marines. After a tolerably quick fire on the boats, the enemy went off precipitately, with the guns. The battery was destroyed, and the river ascended ; in which three schooners were captured, and some tobacco brought off. On the 12th the rear-admiral proceeded up St.-Mary's creek, and landed in various parts of the country about that extensive inlet ; but without seeing a single armed person, although militia had formerly been stationed at St.-Mary's factory for its defence, the inhabitants of the state appearing to consider it wiser to submit, than to attempt opposition. On the 15th of August the rear-admiral

^ back to top ^