the conduct of the officers and men of the late division of United States' gun vessels, under the command of lieutenant commandant Thomas Ap C. Jones, captured by a flotilla of British barges and lanches, on the 14th of December, 1814. The court being organized, agreeably to form, commenced with the examination of the testimony in relation to the conduct of the commanding officer of the division; and after hearing attentively all the evidence that could be produced on that subject, proceeded to a minute investigation of the whole affair. It appears to the court, that on the 12th of December last, the British fleet first made its appearance off Cat and Ship islands that lieutenant commandant Jones, after having reconnoitred with his division of gun-vessels, five in number, and ascertained the state of the enemy's force, on the 13th, a flotilla of the enemy's barges appearing to advance, attempted to reach the fort at the Petty Coquilles, but that in consequence of the current being ahead, and the wind failing, he was prevented from getting any further than the Malheureux islands, where he anchored his gun-vessels between twelve and two at night. It appears to the court, that on the morning of the 14th, the enemy's flotilla being perceived to be still advancing, he placed his division in the best position to receive them, and to oppose their passage that the enemy advanced to the attack in the course of the forenoon, and that the number of the barges and lanches to which the gun-vessels were opposed was between forty-five and fifty. It appears to the court, that about one-third of this number attacked the flag-vessel No. 156, while the others surrounded chiefly No. 162 and 163, and that after lieutenant commandant Jones had been very severely wounded, Mr. George Parker, his master's mate, continued the action until overpowered by numbers, to which no effectual resistance could be made; during which time several of the enemy's barges were sunk alongside, and great slaughter done in others It appears to the court, that gun-vessel No. 163 was the second vessel carried, after a gallant opposition, having previously kept off the enemy for some time, and being entirely surrounded. It appears to the court, that gun-vessel No. 142, was the vessel next carried; that this was not effected, however, until her commander, lieutenant Shedden, had been most severely wounded (who, nevertheless, remained on deck and continued to give orders to the last,) nor until she was completely surrounded by the enemy, who suffered greatly in the contest. It appears to the court, that No. 5, sailing-master Ferris, was the next vessel that fell into the hands of the enemy—that the enemy succeeded in boarding her at a time, when further resistance was rendered ineffectual by the dismounting of her twentyfour pounder, and when the fire from the other gun-vessels had been turned upon her, after their capture. It appears to the court, that No. 23, lieutenant M'Keever, was the last vessel captured, and that this was effected at about half past twelve o'clock, after the enemy had succeeded in turning the fire of the other gun-vessels, previously captured, upon her. It also appears to the court, that the barges and lanches of the enemy were all mounted with cannon, and had from a thousand to twelve hundred men on board, armed in the best possible manner. And, lastly, it further appears to the court, that after gunvessel No. 156 had been captured by the enemy, her fire was turned upon the other gun vessels, and continued for a considerable time under the American colours. The result of this inquiry is, a unanimous opinion, that lieutenant commandant Jones evinced by his movements, previous to the action, a judgment highly creditable to his character-that when an attack had become certain, he availed himself of every means to gain the best position for his squadron; and that, during the subsequent engagement, when opposed to a force of at least nine times his number, in large, well-appointed boats, formidably armed, he evinced a firmness and intrepidity worthy the emulation of his countrymen, and reflecting the highest honour on the service to which he belongs. The court likewise conceive, that midshipman Parker, who acted as master's-mate during the action, on board the flag-vessel, displayed, in his determined resistance to the enemy, after the fall of his commander, the most signal bravery; and that he merits, in an especial degree, the notice of his government. The court feels gratified in expressing the opinion, that the brave crew of gun-vessel No. 156 forcibly felt the example of their officers; and that, under its influence, they maintained a most unequal conflict, with unparalleled destruction to the enemy, until they were borne down by numbers to which no opposition could be made.-Nor did the fall of this vessel, by which the enemy's force was not only increased, but, by her position, in a great measure covered, check the ardour of the gallant defenders of the rest of the squadron; for we find them contending as long as the least prospect of annoying the enemy lasted; their exertions unimpaired by their loss, and yielding at last, in succession only, to the concentrated force of the enemy, brought to act against each vessel. With the clearest evidence for their guide, the court experience the most heartfelt gratification in declaring the opinion, that lieutenant commandant Jones, and his gallant supporters, lieutenants Spedden and M'Keever, sailing-masters Ulrich and Ferris, their officers and men, performed their duty on this occasion in the most able and gallant manner, and that the action has added another and distinguished honour to the naval character of our country. LOUIS ALEXIS, Master Commandant U. S. Navy. In approving the proceedings and opinion of the court of inquiry, I avail myself with pleasure of the favourable occasion thus afforded me to express my admiration of the gallantry and skill displayed by lieutenant Jones, and his brave companions, in the defence made by them against so overwhelming a force as not to afford a prospect of success, to which the enemy were astonished to find a resistance offered. In this unequal contest I trust it will be found, that the national and naval character has been nobly sustained that the resistance of the attac. very superior a the eventual safety force has contributed, in no small degree, of this city. す The proceedings and opinion of the court of inquiry, of which master commandant Louis Alexis is president, are approved. DANIEL T. Patterson, Captain U. S. Navy, com'g. N. O. Station. NO. LXIV. A list of the several corps composing the British army at the time of its landing on the shores of the Mississippi, with an estimate of their respective force. 4th regiment, king's own, lieutenant-colonel Fran cis Brooke 7th do. Royal Fusiliers, lieutenant-colonel E. Blakeney 14th do. Duchess of York's own (light dragoons) lieutenant-colonel C. M. Baker 21st* do. Royal North Britain fusiliers, lieutenantcolonel W. Patterson 40th do. Sommersetshire, lieutenant-colonel H. Thornton 43d do. Monmouth (light infantry) lieutenantcolonel Patrickson 850 44th do. East Essex, lieutenant-colonel honourable Thomas Mullen 750 85th do. Buck volunteers (light infantry) lieutenant-colonel William Thornton 650 93d do. Highland, lieutenant-colonel Robert Dale 95th† do. Rifle corps, major Samuel Mitchell 1100 500 1st do. West India, lieutenant-colonel C. W. Whitby 700 5th do. West India, lieutenant-colonel A. M. K. Hamilton 700 A detachment from the 62d regiment 350 Rocket brigade, artillery, drivers, engineers, sap Of this regiment we have seen two returns signed by D. Dervan, adju. tant, of the 17th December and 5th January, each of which justify the amount here given-its establishment was one thousand two hundred and eight. This regiment consists of three battalions, of one thousand men each, of which only a demi-battalion was sent to Louisiana. Staff of the British Army. Sir Edward M. Packenham, colonel of the 7th regiment of foot, lieutenant-general commander-in-chief of the expedition. Major-general Samuel Gibbs, colonel of the 59th regiment of foot, commanding the first division. Major-general John Lambert, colonel 1st regiment foot-guards, commanding the second division. Major-general John Keane, colonel 60th regiment of foot, commanding the third division. Lieutenant-colonel John Dixon of the royal artillery, commanding the artillery. Lieutenant-colonel Burgoyne, of the royal engineers, commanding the engineer department. Lieutenant-colonel Steven, adjutant-general. Lieutenant-colonel Bradford and major Smith, military secretaries Mr. Soane, purveyor-general. Mr. Hunter, paymaster-general. Mr. Moody, commissary-general. Doctor John Robb, inspector-general of hospitals. Doctor Thomson, inspector of hospitals. In addition to the above, I give the following letter as corroborating the above statement. SIR, Letter from Robert Morrell, M. D. to major Latour. DURING my detention in the British fleet, the officers, both naval and military, with whom I had an opportunity to converse, always estimated their force here on the 8th January, at ten thousand regular troops at least. An incident occurred relating to this subject on the evening of the 7th January, which you may think worth communicating; This day I had accidentally omitted to wear uniform: while at supper with the ward-room officers of the Gorgon frigate, a military officer, (whose name I disremember) was introduced as coming directly from camp; he took a seat at table, and began to talk freely about the situation of the army, his business in the fleet, and addressing himself principally to me, he having taken up the idea I was first lieutenant of the ship. After various inquiries about the two lines, I asked the number of Bri S |