On the Ocean 5 



of recapture was too great to permit of the prizes 

 being sent in, so they were generally destroyed as 

 soon as captured ; and as the cruising grounds were 

 chosen right in the track of commerce, the damage 

 done and consternation caused were very great. 



Besides the numerous frigates cruising along the 

 coast in couples or small squadrons, there were two 

 or three places that were blockaded by a heavier 

 force. One of these was New London, before which 

 cruised a squadron under the direction of Sir 

 Thomas Hardy, in the 74-gun ship Ramillies. Most 

 of the other cruising squadrons off the coast con 

 tained razees or two-deckers. The boats of the 

 Hague, 74, took part in the destruction of some 

 coasters and fishing-boats at Pettipauge in April; 

 and those of the Superb, 74, shared in a similar ex 

 pedition against Wareham in June. 2 The command 

 on the coast of North America was now given to 

 Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane. The main 

 British force continued to lie in the Chesapeake, 

 where about 50 sail were collected. During the first 

 part of this year these were under the command 

 of Sir Robert Barrie, but in May he was relieved 

 by Rear-Admiral Cockburn. 3 



The President, 44, Commodore Rodgers, at the 

 beginning of 1814 was still out, cruising among the 

 Barbadoes and West Indies, only making a few 



* James, vi, 474. * James, vi, 437. 



