314      LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS      1814

flocked to the shores of the Potomac, to " punish the base incendiaries. " The American newspaper-editors, for some days, feasted their readers with the anticipated destruction of the British squadron. " It is impossible the ships can pass such formidable batteries, commanded by our naval heroes, and manned by our invincible seamen. We'll teach them how to draw up terms of capitulation. "

On the 31st, early in the morning, the British 18-gun brig-sloop Fairy, Captain Henry Loraine Baker, after having fought her way up the river past a battery of five guns and a large military force, joined Captain Gordon with Vice-admiral Cochrane's orders for him to return. On the same day, without. waiting to destroy those remaining stores which he had not the means of bringing away, Captain Gordon weighed on his return, accompanied by 21 sail of prizes, many of which, having been sunk by the enemy, had been weighed, masted, hove down, calked, rigged, and loaded, all within three days. Contrary winds again compelled the British to resort to the laborious task of warping the ships down the channel of the river, and a day's delay occurred by the grounding of the Devastation. Taking advantage of this circumstance, the Americans attempted the destruction of the bomb-ship, by means of three fire-vessels and five row-boats, directed in person by Commodore Rodgers ; but their object was defeated by the promptitude and gallantry of Captain Alexander, who pushed off with his own boats, and, being followed by those of the other ships, compelled the renowned commodore to face about, and fly under as much alarm towards, as about 13 months before he had fled from, an Alexandria. The cool and steady conduct of midshipman John Moore, of the Seahorse, in towing the nearest fire-vessel on shore, while the others were removed from the power of doing mischief by the smaller boats of the Devastation, is spoken of in high and just terms of commendation by Captain, Gordon.

Notwithstanding that the Meteor and Fairy, assisted by the despatch-boat, a prize gun-boat, and a boat belonging to the Euryalus, with a howitzer, had greatly impeded the progress of the Americans in their works, the latter were enabled to increase their battery from five to 11 guns, with a furnace for heating shot. On the 3d of September, the wind coming to the northwest, the Ætna and Erebus succeeded in getting down to the assistance of the Meteor and her companions. On the 4th the frigates and prizes reached the same spot ; but the Devastation, in spite of the utmost exertions in warping her, still remained five miles higher up the river. This was the moment that the Americans made their greatest efforts to effect the destruction of the British squadron. The Erebus, who had been placed by her commander in an admirable position for harassing the workmen employed in the trenches, was attacked by three

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