1814	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	306

invariably moved forward between two parties of marines, occupying, in open order, the woods by the road-side. Each marine carried a bugle, to be used as a signal, in case of casual separation, or the appearance of an enemy. It was during the excursion with General Ross that Rear-admiral Cockburn suggested the facility of an attack upon the city of Washington ; and General Ross determined, as soon as the troops should arrive from Bermuda, to make the attempt.

On the 17th of August Rear-admiral Malcolm arrived with the troops, and joined Vice-admiral Cochrane off the mouth of the Potomac ; and the whole proceeded to the Patuxent, situated about 20 miles further up the bay. In the mean time Captain James Alexander Gordon, of the 38-gun frigate Seahorse, with some vessels of the squadron, had been detached up the Potomac, to bombard Fort Washington, situated on the left bank of that river, about 14 miles below the federal city ; and Captain Sir Peter Parker, with the 38-gun frigate Menelaus, had been sent up the Chesapeake, above Baltimore, to create a diversion, in that quarter. The direct route to Washington, from the mouth of the Potomac, was up that river, about 50 miles, to Fort Tobacco ; thence, over land, by the village of Piscataway, 32 miles, to the lower bridge across the eastern branch of the Potomac ; but, as no doubt could be entertained that this bridge, which was half a mile long, and had a draw at the west end, would be defended, as well by a body of troops, as by a heavy sloop of war and an armed schooner, known to be in the river, a preference was given to the route up the Patuxent, and by Bladensburg ; where the eastern branch, in case of the bridge at that spot being destroyed, could be easily forded.

Commodore Barney's gun-boats were still lying in the Patuxent. An immediate attempt against this flotilla offered two advantages ; one, in its capture or destruction, the other, as a pretext for ascending the Patuxent, with the troops destined for the attack of the federal city. Part of the ships, having advanced as high up the river as the depth of water would allow, disembarked the troops, about 4000 in number, on the 19th and 20th of August, at Benedict, a small town, about 50 miles south-east of Washington. On the 20th, in the evening, Rear-admiral Cockburn, taking with him the armed boats and tenders of the fleet, having on board the marines under Major Robyns, and the marine-artillery under Captain James H. Harrison, proceeded up the river, to attack Commodore Barney's flotilla ; and to supply with provisions, and, if necessary, afford protection to the army, as it ascended the right bank. The boats and tenders were separated into three divisions. The first division was commanded by Captains Thomas Ball Sullivan and William Stanhope Badcock, the second, by Captains Rowland Money and James Somervell, and the third, by Captain Robert Ramsay ; and the whole was under the superintendence and immediate

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