1814     BOAT-ATTACKS, &c. IN CHESAPEAKE BAY     303

were brought away in the boats, and in a schooner which was lying off the town. Not a musket being fired, nor an armed enemy seen, the town was spared.

A body of militia having assembled at a place called Nominy ferry, in Virginia, a considerable way up Nominy river, Rear-admiral Cockburn, on the 21st, proceeded thither, with the boats and marines ; the latter commanded by Captain John Robyns, during the illness of Major Lewis. The enemy's position was on a very commanding eminence, projecting into the water ; but, some marines having been landed on its flank, and they being seen getting up the craggy side of the mountain, while the main body was disembarking at the ferry, the Americans fell back, and, although pursued for several miles, escaped with the loss of a few prisoners. The Americans had withdrawn their field-artillery, and hid it in the woods ; fearing that, if they kept it to use against the British, they would not be able to retreat with it quickly enough to save it from capture. After taking on board all the tobacco and other stores found in the place, with a quantity of cattle, and destroying all the storehouses and buildings, the rear-admiral re-embarked ; and dropping down to another point of the Nominy river, observed some movements on shore. Upon this he again landed with the marines. The Americans fired a volley, but, on the advance of the marines, fled into the woods. Every thing in the neighbourhood was therefore destroyed or brought off ; and, after visiting the country in several other directions, covering the escape of the negroes who were anxious to join him, the rear-admiral quitted the river, and returned to the ships with 135 refugee negroes, two captured schooners, a large quantity of tobacco, dry goods, and cattle, and a few prisoners.

On the 24th of July the rear-admiral went up St.-Clement's creek, in St.-Mary's county, with the boats and marines, to examine the country. The militia showed themselves occasionally, but always retreated when pursued ; and the boats returned to the ships without any casualty, having captured four schooners, and destroyed one. The inhabitants remaining peaceably in their houses, the rear-admiral did not suffer any injury to be done to them, excepting at one farm, from which two musket-shot had been fired at the admiral's gig, and where the property was, in consequence, destroyed.

On the 26th the rear-admiral proceeded to the head of the Machodic river, in Virginia, where he burnt six schooners, whilst the marines marched, without opposition, over the country on the banks of that river ; and, there not remaining any other place on the Virginia or St.-Mary's side of his last anchorage, that the rear-admiral had not visited, he, on the 28th, caused the ships to move above Blackstone's island ; and, on the 29th, proceeded with the boats and marines, up the Wicomoco river. He landed at Hamburgh and Chaptico ; from which

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