240 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



well as Lieutenant George C. 

 Urmston, of the Albion, whom I 

 placed in command of the smaller 

 boats, to endeavour to keep up a 

 communication between the army 

 and navy, which he effected by 

 great perseverance, and thereby 

 rendered us most essential service. 

 In short, Sir, every individual 

 seemed animated with equal anx- 

 iety to distinguish himself by good 

 conduct on this occasion, and I 

 trust therefore the whole will be 

 deemed worthy of your approba- 

 tion. 



Captain Nourse, of the Severn, 

 was good enough to receive my 

 flag for this service; be rendered 

 me great assistance in getting the 

 ships to the different stations 

 within the river ; and when the 

 storming of the fortified hill was 

 contemplated, he hastened to my 

 assistance with a reinforcement of 

 seamen and raarines ; and I sliould 

 consider myself wanting in can- 

 dour and justice, did I not par- 

 ticularly point out. Sir, to you, 

 the high opinion I entertain of the 

 euterprize and ability of this va- 

 luable officer, not only for his con- 

 duct on this occasion, but on the 

 very many others on which I have 

 employed him since with me in 

 the Chesapeake. 



I have, &c. G. Cockburn, 



Rear-Admiral. 

 Vice-Admiral the Hon. 

 Sir Alexander Coch- 

 rane, K. B. Command- 

 er-in-Chief, &c. &c. 

 &c. 



His Majesty's Ship Tonnant, 



Chesapeake, Sept. 12, 1814. 



Sir, — In my disprtch of the 2nd 



instant, recounting the success of 



our expedition against Washing- 



ton, I acquainted you, for the in- 

 formation of my Lords Com- 

 missioners of the Admiralty, that 

 the winds had been unfavourable 

 for the return of the ships which 

 were detached up the Potomac, 

 under Captain J. A Gordon of the 

 Sea-horse, to co-operate against 

 the capital ; but that 1 had heard 

 of their having accomplished the 

 destruction of Fort Washington. 

 I have now tlie honour not only 

 to con6rm this report, but to 

 transmit for their Lordships' in- 

 formation, a copy of Captain Gor- 

 don's detail of his proceedings, in 

 which his further success has ex- 

 ceeded my most sanguine expec- 

 tations ; having forced the popu- 

 lous city of Alexandria to capitu- 

 late, and having brought down the 

 river in triumph, through a series 

 of obstacles and determined oppo- 

 sition, a fleet of twenty-one ene- 

 my's vessels. The difficulties 

 which presented ibemselves to 

 these ships in ascending the river, 

 impeded by shuals and contrary 

 winds, and the increased obstacles 

 which the enemy had prepared 

 against their return, with a con- 

 fident hope of obstructing their 

 descent, were only to be overcome 

 by the most indefatigable exertions. 

 I trust, therefore, that the reso- 

 lution and gallantry displayed by 

 every one employed upon this ser- 

 vice, which deserve my warmest 

 applause, will be further honoured 

 by the approbation of thdr Lord- 

 ships. I have, &c. 



Alex. Cochrane. 

 Vice-Admiral, Commander- 

 in-Chief. 



Seahorse, Chesapeake, 

 Sept. 9, 1814. 

 Sir,— In obedience to your or- 



