Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/449

 Seahorse, another fine frigate, which had just been thoroughly repaired, and was then fitting for foreign service. The Board of Admiralty about the same time presented him with a gold medal, descriptive of the action off Lissa, to be worn with his uniform in the usual manner.

From this period we lose sight of Captain Gordon till Nov. 13, 1813, when he fell in with a large French lugger, which surrendered after a chase of three hours, but not until she was so much damaged by shot that she immediately afterwards went down, and the Seahorse was only able to save 28 of her crew, one of them severely wounded. She proved to be the Subtile privateer, of 16 guns and 72 men.

Captain Gordon subsequently joined Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane on the American station, where he displayed his usual zeal, courage, and ability, as will be seen by the following account of his services in that quarter.

Previously to the commander-in-chief entering the Patuxent, in Aug. 1814, he sent Captain Gordon up the Potowmac, with a squadron under his orders , to bombard fort Washington, situated on the left bank of that river, about 10 or 12 miles below the American capital, with a view of destroying that fortification, and opening a free communication above, as well as to cover the retreat of the British troops from Washington, should their return by the Bladensburg road be found too hazardous from the accession of force the enemy might obtain from Baltimore, and other places to the northward and westward.

The Seahorse and her companions entered the Potowmac on the 17th Aug.; but being without pilots to guide them through that difficult part of the river called the Kettle Bottoms, and having contrary winds, they were unable to reach fort Washington until the evening of the 27th. Nor was this effected but by the severest labour. Each of the ships was not less than twenty times aground each time they were obliged to haul off by main strength; and their crews were employed warping for five whole successive days, with the