opposition whatever. I therefore landed with the officers and a small guard only, and having ascertained that there was no public property of any kind, or warlike stores, and having allowed of such articles as we stood in need of being embarked in the boats on payment to the owner of their full value, I again re-embarked, leaving the people of this place well pleased with the wisdom of their determination on their mode of receiv. ing us. I also had a deputation from Charlestown, in the north-east river, to assure me that that place is considered by them at your mercy, and that neither guns nor militia-men shall be suffered there; and as I am assured that all the places in the upper part of the Chesapeake have adopted similar resolutions, and that there is now neither public property, vessels, nor warlike stores remaining in this neighbourhood, I propose returning to you with the light squadron to-morrow morning. I am sorry to say the hot fire we were under this morning cost us five men wounded, one only, however, severely; and I have much satisfaction in being able to bear testimony to you of the zeal, gallantry, and good conduct of the different officers and men serving in this division. To captain Byng, of the Mohawk, who conducted the various arrangements, on this occasion, with equal skill and bravery, every possible praise is most justly due, as well as to captains Wybourn and Carter, lieutenant Robertson, of the artillery, and lieutenant Lewis, of the Highflyer; lieutenant Alexander, of the Dragon, the senior officer under captain Byng, in command of the boats, deserves also that I should particularly notice him to you for his steadiness, correctness, and the great ability with which he always executes whatever service is entrusted to him; and I must beg per mission of seizing this opportunity of stating to you how much I have been indebted, since on this service, to captain Burdett, of this ship, who was good enough to receive me on board the Maidstone when I found it impracticable to advance higher in the Marlborough, and has invariably accompanied me on every occasion whilst directing these various operations, and rendered me always the most able, prompt, and efficacious assistance. I have the honor to be, &c. G. COCKBURN, rear-adm. To the right hon, admiral sir J. B. Warreu, Bart, K.B. &c. SIR, No. 11, From lieutenant Crerie to captain Travis. His majesty's ship Narcissus, June 13, 1813. Your gallant and desperate attempt to defend your vessel against more than double your number, on the night of the 12th instant, excited such admiration on the part of your opponents, as I have seldom witnessed, and induced me to return you the sword you had so nobly used, in testimony of mine. Our poor fellows have severely suffered, occasioned chiefly, if not solely, by the precaution you had taken to prevent surprise; in short, I am at a loss which to admire most, the previous engagement on board the Surveyor, or the deter. mined manner by which her deck was disputed, inch by inch. I am, sir, with much respect, &c. JOHN CRERIE. Capt. S. Travis, U. S. cutter, Surveyor. No. 12. From commodore Cassin to the American secretary of the SIR, navy. (LETTER I.) Navy yard, Gosport, June 21, 1813. On Saturday, at 11 P. M. captain Tarbell moved with the flotilla under his command, consisting of 15 gun-boats, in two divisions, lieutenant John M. Gardner 1st division, and lieutenant Robert Henley the 2d, manned from the frigate, and 50 musketeers, ordered from Craney island by general Taylor, and proceeded down the river; but adverse winds and squalls prevented his approaching the enemy until Sunday morning at four, when the flotilla commenced a heavy galling fire on a frigate, at about three quarters of a mile distance, lying well up the roads, two other frigates lying in sight. At half past four, a breeze sprung up from E.N.E. which enabled the two frigates to get under way-one a razee or very heavy ship, and the other a frigate-and to come nearer into action. The boats, in consequence of their approach, hauled off, though keeping up a well directed fire on the razee and the other ship, which gave us several broadsides. The frigate first engaged, supposel to be the Junon, was certainly severely handled-had the calm continued one half hour, that frigate must have fallen into our hands, or been destroyed. She must have slipped her mooring so as to drop nearer the razee, who had all sail set, coming up to her with the other frigate. The action continued one hour and a half with three ships. Shortly after the action, the razee got alongside of the ship, and had her upon a deep careen in a little time, with a number of boats and stages round her. I am satisfied considerable damage was done to her, for she was silenced some time, until the razee opened her fire, when she commenced again. Our loss is very trifling. Mr. Allison, master's mate, on board 139, was killed early in the action, by an 18-pound ball, which passed through him and lodged in the mast. No. 154 had a shot between wind and water. No. 67 had her franklin shot away, and several of them had some of their sweeps and their stancheons shot away but two men slightly injured from the sweeps. On the flood tide several ships of the line and frigates came into the roads, and we did expect an attack last night. There are now in the roads 13 ships of the line and frigates, one brig and several tenders. I cannot say too much for the officers and crews on this occa. sion; for every man appeared to go into action with so much cheerfulness, apparently to do their duty, resolved to couquer. I had a better opportunity of discovering their actions than any one else, being in my boat the whole of the action. IIon. W. Jones, &c. SIR, I have the honor to be, &c. (LETTER II.) JOHN CASSIN. Navy yard, Gosport, June 23, 1813. I have the honor to inform you, that on the 20th the enemy got under way, in all 13 sail, and dropped up to the mouth of James' river, one ship bearing a flag at the mizen. At 5 P.M. they were discovered making great preparation with troops for landing, having a number of boats for the purpose. Finding Craney island rather weakly manned, captain Tarbell directed lieutenants Neal, Shubrick, and Sanders, with 100 scamen, on shore, at 11 P.M. to a small battery on the N. W. side of the island. Tuesday 22d, at dawn, the enemy were discovered landing round the point of Nansemond river; at 8 A.M. the barges attempted to land in front of the island, out of reach of the shot from the gun-boats, when lieutenants Neal, Shubrick, and Sanders with the sailors, and lieutenant Breckenbridge with the marines of the Constellation, 150 in number, opened the fire, which was so well directed, that the enemy were glad to get off, after sinking three of their largest boats. One of them, called the Centepede, admiral Warren's boat, 50 feet in length, carried 75 men, the greater part of whom were lost by her sinking. Twenty soldiers and sailors were saved, and the boat hauled up. The officers of the Constellation fired their 18-pounder more like riflemen than artillerists. I never saw such shooting, and seriously believe they saved the island. I have the honor to be, &c. JOHN CASSIN. Hon. W. Jones, &c. 3000. No. 13. From admiral Warren to Mr. Croker. San Domingo, Hampton-roads, SIR, Chesapeake, June 24, 1813. I request you will inform their lordships, that, from the information received of the enemy's fortifying Craney Island, and it being necessary to obtain possession of that place, to enable the light ships and vessels to proceed up the' narrow channel towards Norfolk, to transport the troops over on that side for them to attack the new fort and lines, in the rear of which the Constellation frigate was anchored, I directed the troops under sir Sydney Beckwith to be landed upon the continent within the nearest point to that place, and a reinforcement of seamen and marines from the ships; but upon approaching the island, from the extreme shoalness of the water on the sea side, and the difficulty of getting across from the land, as well as the island itself being fortified with a number of guns and men from the frigate and militia, and flanked by 15 gun-boats, I considered, in consequence of the representation of the officer commanding the troops, of the difficulty of their passing over from the land, that the persevering in the attempt would cost more men than the number with us would permit, as the other forts must have been stormed before the frigate and dock-yard could have been destroyed; I therefore ordered the troops to be re-embarked. I am happy to say, the loss in the above affair (returns of which are enclosed) has not been considerable, and only two boats sunk. I have to regret, that captain Hanshett, of his majesty's ship Diadem, who volunteered his services, and led the division of boats with great gallantry, was severely wounded by a ball in the thigh. The officers and men behaved with much bravery, and if it had been possible to have got at the enemy, I am persuaded would have soon gained the place. J. W. Croker, esq. I have the honor to be, &c. A return of officers, seamen, and marines, belonging to his majesty's ships, killed, wounded, and missing, in the attack on Craney island, June 22d. Killed;-None. Wounded;-1 officer and 7 seamen. Missing ;—10 seamen. Name of the officer wounded. Captain Hanchett, of his majesty's ship Diadem, severely, but not dangerously. J. B. WARREN. A return of the killed, wounded, and inissing, of the officers, noncommissioned officers, drummers, and rank and file, in the affair with the enemy near Craney island, June 22d. 1st battalion royal marines and rocket artillery;-1 rank and file wounded. 2d buttalion royal marines;-2 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 4 rank file, wounded; 7 rank and file, missing. 102d regiment;-1 serjeant, killed; 1 serjeant, wounded. 1st and 2d company Canadian chasseurs ;—1 lieutenant, wounded; 2 serjeants, 2 drummers, 41 rank and file, missing. Total-3 killed; 8 wounded; 52 missing. SYDNEY BECKWITH, quarter-master-gen. No. 14. From same to same. San Domingo, Hampton-roads, Chesapeake, SIR, I request you will inform their lordships, that the enemy having a post at Hampton, defended by a considerable corps, commanding the communication between the upper part of the country and Norfolk; I considered it advisable, and with a view to cut off their resources, to direct it to be attacked by the troops composing the flying corps attached to this squadron; and having instructed rear-admiral Cockburn to conduct the naval part of the expedition, and placed captain Pechell with the Mohawk sloop and launches, as a covering force, under his orders, the troops were disembarked with the greatest zeal and alacrity. Sir Sydney Beckwith commanding the troops, having most ably attacked and defeated the enemy's force, and took their guns, colours, and camp, I refer their lordships to the quartermaster-general's report, (which is enclosed,) and that will explain the gallantry and behavior of the several officers and men employed upon this occasion, and I trust will entitle them to the favor of his royal highness the prince regent, and the lord's commissioners of the Admiralty. Sir Sydney Beckwith, having reported to me that the defences. of the town were entirely destroyed, and the enemy completely dispersed in the neighbourhood, I ordered the troops to be re-embarked, which was performed with the utmost good order by the several officers of the squadron under the orders of rear-admiral Cockburn. I have the honor to be, John Wilson Croker, esq. JOHN BORLASE WARREN. |