APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



241 



ders, I proceeded into the River 

 Potomac, with the ships named in 

 the margin, on the ITth of last 

 month ; but from being without 

 pilots to assist us through that 

 difficult part of the river called 

 the Kettle-Bottoms, and from con- 

 trary winds, we were unable to 

 reach Fort Washington until the 

 evening of the 27th. Nor was 

 this effected but by the severest 

 labour. I believe each of the 

 ships was not less than 20 differ- 

 ent times a-ground, and each time 

 we were obliged to haul off by 

 main strength ; and we were em- 

 ployed war|)ing for five whole 

 successive days, with the excep- 

 tion of a few hours, a distance of 

 more than fifty miles. 



The bomb-shi|)s were plated on 

 the evening of the 27th, and im- 

 mediately began the bombardment 

 of the Fort, it being my intention 

 to attack it with the frigates at 

 day-light the following morning. 

 On the bursting of the first shell, 

 the garrison were observed to re- 

 treat ; but supposing some con- 

 cealed design, 1 directed the fire 

 to be continued. At eight o'clock, 

 however, my doubts were re- 

 moved by the explosion of the 

 powder-magazine, which destroyed 

 the inner buildings, and at day- 

 light on the 28th we took posses- 

 sion. Besides the principal fort, 

 which contained two fifty-two 

 pounders, two thirty-two pounders, 

 and eight twenty-four pounders, 

 there was a battery on the beach 

 of five eighteen pounders, a mar- 

 tello tower, with two twelve- 

 pounders, and loop holes for mus- 

 ketry, aud a battery in the rear 

 of two twelve and six six-pound 

 field-pieces. The whole of these 

 guns were already spiked by the 



Vol.. lA'I. 



enemy, and their complete de- 

 struction, with their carriages also, 

 was effected by the seamen and ma- 

 rines sent on that service, in less 

 than two hours. The populous 

 city of Alexandria thus lost its only 

 defence ; and, having buoyed the 

 channel, I deemed it better to 

 postpone giving any answer to a 

 proposal made to me for its capi- 

 tulation until tlie following morn- 

 ing, when I was enabled to place 

 the shipping in such a position as 

 would ensure assent to the terms I 

 had decided to enforce. 



To this measure I attribute 

 their ready acquiescence, as it re- 

 moved that doubt of my determi- 

 nation to proceed, which had been 

 raised in the minds of the inha- 

 bi ants by our army having retired 

 from Washington : this part of 

 our proceedings will be further 

 explained by the accom])anying 

 documents. 



The Hon. Lieutenant Gordon 

 of this ship was sent on the even- 

 ing of the 28th to prevent the 

 escape of any of the vessels com- 

 prised in the capitulation, and the 

 whole of those which were sea- 

 worthy, amounting to 21 in num- 

 ber, were fitted and loaded by 

 the 31st, 



Captain Baker, of the Fairy, 

 bringing your orders of the 27th, 

 having fought his way up the 

 river past a batteiy of five guns 

 and a large military force, con- 

 firmed the rumours, which had al- 

 ready reached us, of strong mea- 

 sures having been taken to oppose 

 our return ; and I therefore quit- 

 ted Alexandria without waiting to 

 destroy those remaining stores 

 which we had not the means of 

 bringing away. 



Contrary winds again occa- 



R 



