On the Ocean 243 



sels from one port to another, and preventing them 

 from being molested by the boats of any of the 

 British frigates. They also acted as checks upon the 

 latter in their descents upon the towns and planta- 

 tions, occasionally capturing their boats and tend- 

 ers, and forcing them to be very cautious in their 

 operations. They were very useful in keeping pri- 

 vateers off the coast, and capturing them when they 

 came too far in. The exploits of those on the south- 

 ern coast will be mentioned as they occurred. Those 

 in Long Island Sound never came into collision 

 with the foe, except for a couple of slight skirmishes 

 at very long range; but in convoying little fleets 

 of coasters, and keeping at bay the man-of-war 

 boats sent to molest them, they were invaluable; 

 and they also kept the Sound clear of hostile 

 privateers. 



Many of the gunboats were much smaller than 

 those just mentioned, trusting mainly to their sweeps 

 for motive power, and each relying for offence on 

 one long pivot gun, a 12 or i8-pounder. In the 

 Chesapeake there was quite a large number of these 

 small galleys, with a few of the larger kind, and 

 here it was thought that by acting together in flotil- 

 las the gunboats might in fine weather do consider- 

 able damage to the enemy's fleet by destroying 

 detached vessels, instead of confining themselves to 

 the more humble tasks in which their brethren else- 

 where were fairly successful. At this period Den- 

 mark, having lost all her large ships of war, was 

 Confining herself purely to gun-brigs. These were 



