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1814 BOAT-ATTACKS, &c. IN CHESAPEAKE BAY 307 management of Captain John Wainwright, of the Tonnant. The frigates Severn and Hebrus, Captains Joseph Nourse and Edmund Palmer, accompanied by the brig-sloop Manly, Captain Vincent Newton, had been also directed to follow the boats up the river as far as might prove practicable. On opening the reach above Pig point, the rear-admiral, who had just before been joined by Captains Nourse and Palmer with the boats of their two frigates, which they could get no higher than Benedict, discovered Commodore Barney's broad pendant in the headmost vessel, a large sloop, and the remainder of the flotilla extending in a long line astern of her. The British boats now advanced as rapidly as possible ; but, on nearing the flotilla ; the sloop bearing the broad pendant was observed to be on fire, and soon afterwards blew up ; as did 15 out of the 16 remaining gun-boats. The one in which the fire had not taken was captured. The rear-admiral found 13 merchant schooners, which had been under Commodore Barney's protection. Of these, such as were not worth bringing away, were destroyed. The remainder were moved to Pig point, to receive on board the tobacco which had been there found. The destruction of this flotilla secured the right flank of the army under Major-general Ross ; who, on the afternoon of the 22d, with the troops, arrived and encamped at the town of Upper Marlborough, situated about four miles up the western branch of the Patuxent. The men, therefore, after having been nearly three months on board ship, had, in less than three days, marched 40 miles ; and that in the month of August, when the sultriness of the climate could scarcely be tolerated. While General Ross and his men were resting themselves at Upper Marlborough, General Winder and his army, now joined by Commodore Barney and the men of his flotilla, were lying at their encampment at the long Old-Fields, only eight miles distant. On the next morning the American troops were reviewed by Mr. Madison, " their commander-in-chief, whose martial appearance gladdened every countenance and encouraged every heart. " * Soon after the review, a detachment from the American army advanced along the road to Upper Marlborough; and, after exchanging a few shots with the British skirmishers, fell back to the main body. On the 23d, in the morning, Rear-admiral Cockburn, having left at Pig point, directly opposite to the western branch, the marines of the ships under Captain Robyns, and two divisions of the boats, crossed over, with the third division to Mount Calvert; and proceeded, by land, to the British encampment at Upper Marlborough. The little opposition experienced by the army in its march from Benedict, and the complete success that had attended the expedition against Commodore Barney's flotilla, * Wilkinson's s Mem., vol. i., p. 766 ^ back to top ^ |