44 Naval War of 1812 



ward joined by the Loire, 38, Narcissus, 32, and 

 Jasseur, 18, and Commodore Barney moved two 

 miles up St. Leonard's Creek, while the frigates 

 and sloop blockaded its mouth. A deadlock now 

 ensued ; the gunboats were afraid to attack the ships, 

 and the ships' boats were just as afraid of the gun 

 boats. 



On the 8th, gth, and nth skirmishes occurred; 

 and on each occasion the British boats came up 

 till they caught sight of Barney's flotilla, and were 

 promptly chased off by the latter, which, however, 

 took good care not to meddle with the larger ves 

 sels. Finally, Colonel Wadsworth, of the artillery, 

 with two long i8-pounders, assisted by the marines, 

 under Captain Miller, and a few regulars, offered 

 to cooperate from the shore while Barney assailed 

 the two frigates with the flotilla. On the 26th the 

 joint attack took place most successfully ; the Loire 

 and Narcissus were driven off, although not much 

 damaged, and the flotilla rowed out in triumph, with 

 a loss of but 4 killed and 7 wounded. But in spite 

 of this small success, which was mainly due to Col 

 onel Wadsworth, Commodore Barney made no 

 more attempts with his gunboats. The bravery and 

 skill which the flotilla men showed at Bladensburg 

 prove conclusively that their ill success on the water 

 was due to the craft they were in, and not to any 

 failing of the men. At the same period the French 



