1814	Expedition to the Penobscot	329

On the 26th of August an expedition, under the joint command of Lieutenant-general Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, governor of the province, and Rear-admiral Edward Griffith, consisting of the 74-gun ship Dragon, Captain Robert Barrie, frigates Endymion and Bacchante, Captains Henry Hope and Francis Stanfell, 18-gun ship-sloop Sylph, Captain George Dickens, and 10 sail of transports with troops, sailed from Halifax, Nova-Scotia, bound to the river Penobscot, near the north-eastern extremity of the coast of the United States. On the 31st, when off the Metinicus islands, the expedition was joined by the 74-gun ship Bulwark, Captain Farmery Predam Epworth, frigate Tenedos, Captain Hyde Parker, and brig-sloops Rifleman and Peruvian, Captains Joseph Pearce and George Kippen. From the Rifleman intelligence was now received, that the United States' ship Adams, of 26 guns, Captain Charles Morris, had a few days before put into Penobscot, and, not deeming herself safe at the entrance of the river, had proceeded to Hamden, a place situated 27 miles higher up, where she had landed her guns and placed them in battery for her protection. The original plan of making Machias on the main coast the first point of attack, was now deviated from, and the general and admiral determined to ascend the river and endeavour to capture or destroy the Adams.

Towards evening the fleet, led by the Tenedos, made sail up the Penobscot with a fair wind, and by daylight on the 1st of September was off the fort and town of Castine. At 8 a.m. the men of war and transports came to anchor ; and, after a slight show of resistance, Castine surrendered. The service of capturing or destroying the Adams frigate and the batteries erected for her defence was now intrusted to Captain Barrie ; who, at 6 p.m., taking with him the Peruvian and Sylph sloops, a tender belonging to the Dragon commanded by acting Lieutenant James Pearson, and the Harmony transport, commanded on this occasion, by Lieutenant William Henry Woodin, containing between them about 600 troops under Lieutenant-colonel Henry John, proceeded with the utmost despatch up the Penobscot. Light variable winds, thick foggy weather, and a most intricate channel of which the British were entirely ignorant, made it 2 .p.m. on the 2d before the Peruvian and her consorts arrived off Frankfort. At 5 p.m., having arrived off Ball's head cone, distant about five miles from Hamden, Colonel John and Captain Barrie landed to reconnoitre; and by 10 p.m. the whole of the troops were also landed. The troops bivouacked for the night amidst an incessant rain ; and at 6 a.m. on the 3d the little party began their march towards Hamden. The larger vessels were kept in the rear in reserve ; while the boats, commanded by Lieutenant George Pedlar first of the Dragon, assisted by Lieutenant the Honourable George James Perceval, of the Tenedos, and Lieutenant Francis Ormond, of the

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