230     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1813

of sugar, of lumber, of leather, and other merchandise. On this occasion, five of the British were wounded. One of the Americans, who entreated to have his property saved, wore military gaiters; and had, no doubt, assisted at the firing upon the British. Agreeably to his request, however, his property was left untouched.

On his way down the river, the rear-admiral visited a town situated on a branch of it. Here a part of the inhabitants actually pulled off to him ; and, requesting to shake hands, declared he should experience no opposition whatever. The rear-admiral accordingly landed, with the officers, and, chiefly out of respect to his rank, a small personal guard. Among those that came to greet him on his landing, were observed two inhabitants of George-town. These men, as well as an inhabitant of the place who had been to George-town to see what was going on, had succeeded in persuading the people to adopt, as their best security, a peaceable demeanour. Having ascertained that there were no warlike stores nor public property, and obtained, upon payment of the full value, such articles as were wanted, the rear-admiral and his party re-embarked. Soon afterwards a deputation was sent from Charles-town, on the north-east river, to assure the rear-admiral, that the place was considered as at his mercy ; and, similar assurances coming from other places in the upper part of the Chesapeake, the rear-admiral and his light squadron retired from that quarter.

Persons in England may find it difficult to consider, as soldiers, men neither imbodied nor dressed in regimentals. That circumstance has not escaped the keen discernment of the American government. Hence the British are so often charged, in proclamations and other state-papers, with attacking the " inoffensive citizens of the republic. " The fact is, every man in the United States, under 45 years of age, is a militiaman ; and, during the war, attended in his turn, to be drilled or trained. He had always in his possession either a musket or a rifled-barrel piece ; knew its use from his infancy ; and with it, therefore, could do as much execution in a smock frock or plain coat, as if he wore the most splendid uniform. These soldiers in citizens' dresses were the men whom Rear-admiral Cockburn so frequently attacked and routed ; and who, when they had really acted up to the character of non-combatants, were invariably spared, both in their persons and properties. The rear-admiral wished them, for their own sakes only, to remain neutral ; but General Hull, in his famous proclamation, prepared with so much care at Washington, invited the Canadian people to become open traitors to their country ; and visited, upon the heads of those that refused, all " the horrors and calamities of war. "

On the 12th of June the boats of the 18-pounder 32-gun frigate Narcissus, Captain John Richard Lumley, containing

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