236 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



tial co-operation by sea, I consi- 

 dered that an attack on the ene- 

 my's strong position by the army 

 only, with such disparity of force, 

 though confident of success, might 

 risk a greater loss than the posses- 

 sion of the town would compen- 

 sate for, while holding in view the 

 ulterior operations of this force in 

 the contemplatieiT of his Majesty's 

 Government ; and, therefore, as 

 the primary object of our move- 

 ment had been already fully ac- 

 complished, I communicated my 

 observations to Colonel Brook, 

 who, coinciding with me in opi- 

 nion, it was mutually agreed that 

 we should withdraw. 



The following morning the army 

 began leisurely to retire ; and so 

 salutary was the efiect produced on 

 the enemy by the defeat he had 

 experienced, that notwithstanding 

 every opportunity was offered for 

 his repeating the conflict, with an 

 infinite snperioritj', our troops re- 

 embarked without molestation; 

 the ships of war dropped down as 

 the army retired. 



The result of this demonstration 

 has been the defeat of the ai-my of 

 the enemy, the destruction, by 

 themselves, of a quantity of ship- 

 ping, the burning of an extensive 

 rope-walk, and other public erec- 

 tions, the causing of them to re- 

 move their property from the city, 

 and above all, the collecting and 

 harassing of his armed inhabitants 

 from the surrounding country; 

 producing a total stagnation of 

 their commerce, and heaping upon 

 them considerable expenses, at the 

 same time effectually drawing off 

 their attention and support from 

 other important qu^irters. 



It has been a source of the 

 greatest gratification to me, the 



continuance of that unanimity ex- 

 isting between the two services, 

 which 1 have before noticed to 

 their Lordships ; and I have rea- 

 son to assure them that the com- 

 mand of the array has fallen upon 

 a most zealous and able officer in 

 Colonel Brook, who has followed 

 up the system of cordiality that 

 had been so beneficially adopted 

 by his much lamented chief. 



Rear Admiral Cockburn, to 

 whom I confided that part of the 

 naval service which was connected 

 with the army, evinced his usual 

 zeal and ability, and executed his 

 important trust to my entire satis- 

 faction. 



Rear Admiral Malcolm, who re- 

 gulated the collection, debarkation, 

 and re-embarkation of the troops, 

 and the supplies they required, has 

 merited my best thanks for his in- 

 defatigible exertions ; and I have 

 to express my acknowledgments 

 for the counsel and assistance which 

 in all our operations, I have re- 

 ceived from Rear Admiral Codring- 

 ton, the Captain of the fleet. 



The Captains of the squadron 

 who were employed in the various 

 duties afloat, were all emulous to 

 promote the service in which they 

 were engaged, and, with the offi- 

 cers acting under them, are en- 

 titled to my fullest approbation. 



I beg leave to call the attention 

 of their Lordships to the report 

 Rear Admiral Cockburn has made 

 of the meritorious and gallant con- 

 duct of the Naval Brigade ; as well 

 as to the accompanying letter from 

 Colonel Brook, expressing his ob- 

 ligations to Captain Edward Crof- 

 ton, who commanded, and Cap- 

 tains T. B. Sullivan, Rowland, 

 Money, and Robert Ramsay, who 

 had charge of divisions ; and I 



