Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp4.djvu/24

  to marines, they could land with small arms; and it was ascertained that, besides the numbers necessary for conveying stores and dragging guns, 600 sailors could be spared, thus enabling Major-General Ross, on his next debarkation, for the purpose of making a demonstration upon the city of Baltimore (which might be converted into a real attack, should circumstances appear to justify it), to bring into the field about 5000 fighting men.

After quitting the Patuxent, Sir Alexander Cochrane entered the Potowmac river, and distracted the enemy’s attention by steering for several hours in the direction of Alexandria. He then suddenly altered his course, ran down again to Chesapeake bay, and hastened, under a heavy press of sail, towards Baltimore. The object of this manoeuvring was evidently to deceive the Americans, and by keeping them in suspense as to the place threatened, to prevent them concentrating their forces, or throwing up works for its defence. On the 11th Sept. the armament came in sight of the projecting head-land, where it was intended to disembark the troops and naval brigade; a division of the latter commanded by Captain Money. In a letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane, dated Sept. 15, 1814, Rear-Admiral Cockburn says:

“In furtherance of the instructions I had the honor to receive from you on the 11th instant, I landed at daylight of the 12th, with Major-General Ross, at a place we had previously fixed upon, near to North Point, at the entrance of the Patapsco; and in conformity with his wishes, I determined on remaining ashore, and accompanying the army, to render him every assistance within my power, during the contemplated movements and operations: therefore, as soon as our landing was completed, I directed Captain Nourse to advance up the river, with the frigates, sloops, and bomb-vessels, to bombard the fort, and threaten the water approach to Baltimore; and I moved on with the army, and the seamen (under Captain Edward Crofton) attached to it, on the direct road leading to that town.

“We had proceeded about 6 miles, without any other occurrence than taking prisoners a few light horsemen, when the Major-General and myself, being with the advanced guard, observed a division of the enemy posted at a turning of the road, extending into a wood on our left. A sharp fire was almost immediately opened upon us from it, and as quickly returned