1815 - Rear-admiral Cockburn at Cumberland island

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1815 Boats in St.-Mary's River 361

descended the river to Cumberland island ; of which immediate possession was taken. The troops and marines were here encamped ; and the rear-admiral established his head-quarters at a very large house, surrounding it with the ordnance brought from Point Petre. On the 22d of February eight launches, two pinnaces, and one gig, containing 186 officers, seamen, and marines, under the command of Captain Phillott, of the Primrose, assisted by Captain Bartholomew, of the Erebus, ascended the St.-Mary's river, without opposition, 120 miles ; when a heavy fire of musketry, opening upon them from each side, compelled the British to retreat. While daylight lasted, a spirited fire was kept up by the boats ; but, unfortunately, after dark, the men could not be restrained from firing, by which they exposed themselves to the view of the enemy. The river, in some parts, was so narrow, that a couple of stout trees, many of which were on the banks, felled and thrown across, would have completely cut off the retreat of the boats. That not having been done, the boats got back to the island, with four killed, and 25 wounded, including among the latter the two captains ; also lieutenant of marines John Fraser, and midshipmen James Everingham and Jonathan Haworth Peel.

Rear-admiral Cockburn remained at his fortified house on Cumberland island, awaiting the arrival of some troops, to aid in making an attack upon the town of Savannah in Georgia; when, on the 25th of February, the American general in the vicinity apprized him, that peace had been concluded between the United States and Great Britain. Such was the fact. The treaty had been signed at Ghent on the 24th of December, 1814, and was ratified by the president at Washington on the 18th of February, 1815. Of its terms, we shall merely say, that " Free trade and sailors' rights," the avowed object of the war, remained precisely in the same undefined state, as before it was declared by Mr. Madison and his senate. " Canada," said an American writer at the early part of the war, " must be conquered, or we shall stand disgraced in the eyes of the world. It is a rod held over our heads; a fortress which haughtily frowns upon our country, and from which are disseminated throughout the land, the seed of disaffection, sedition, and treason. The national safety. and honour and glory are lost, if we do not win this splendid prize." And yet, in spite of Sir George Prevost and his acts, Canada remained unconquered. Although an end had been put to hostile operations on shore, we have still two or three naval actions to record.

We formerly stated, that Commodore Decatur had removed with his crew on board the President frigate at New-York. This ship, like the United-States and Constitution, had made some reduction in her armament : she had landed two of her 42-pounder carronades; which, we believe, were put on board

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