Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p1.djvu/322

 Hogue, 74. The exploit which led to his advancement is thus spoken of, by our trans-atlantic brethren, in the Connecticut Gazette, April 13, 1814:–

“It is with grief and mortification we perform the task of announcing to our readers, that on Friday morning last, four of the enemy’s barges and two launches, commanded by Captain Richard Coote, of the brig Borer, with 200 men, proceeded up Connecticut river to Pettipague point, and destroyed upwards of twenty sail of vessels, without sustaining the loss of a single man. We have ascertained, on the unfortunate spot, the following facts:–

“The boats first landed at Fort Saybrook, where they found neither men nor cannon; from thence they proceeded to Pettipague point, landed by four o’clock in the morning, and were paraded in the principal street before the least alarm was given. The inhabitants were, it may well be supposed, in great consternation: but Captain Coote informed them, that he was in sufficient force to effect the object of the expedition, which was to burn the vessels, and that if his party were not fired upon, no harm should fall upon the persons of the inhabitants, or the property unconnected with the vessels: and a mutual understanding of that purport was agreed to.

“The enemy immediately after commenced the act of burning the vessels, and such as exposed the buildings on the wharfs they hauled into the stream; a party of fourteen men were sent in the mean time a quarter of a mile above the point, who put fire to several vessels which were on the stocks. At 10 o’clock, they left the shore entirely, and took possession of a brig and schooner which were built for privateers. These they attempted to beat down the river; but the brig getting on shore they burnt her, and the schooner was so light as to be unmanageable; they continued in her and the boats alongside until dusk, when Lieutenant Bray, with a field-piece from Killingworth, commenced firing on them; after the second shot they left the schooner, and took shelter under a small island opposite the point, and at half past eight, it being very dark, made their escape from the river.

“Their conduct towards the inhabitants was unexceptionable, excepting that some cloths and plate were taken by a person supposed to be an American, who, it was conjectured, acted as a pilot and guide, and had frequently been there with fish for sale; this wretch, without orders, destroyed a large new cable, by cutting it with an axe.

“Notwithstanding the enemy were on shore at 4 o’clock in the morning, it was half-past 12 before the express arrived here with the information, although a report of the fact was brought by the stage at 11. Every exertion was immediately made to send a force sufficient for the object; a body of marines from the squadron, a company of infantry from Fort Trumbull, and a part of Captain French’s militia company of artillery, with a field-piece, and a considerable number of volunteers, were soon in motion: a part of the marines and volunteers in carriages, and Captain