On the Ocean 75 



The British frigates and sloops anchored off the 

 broad, shallow inlet called Lake Borgne on the I2th ; 

 on this inlet there were 5 gunboats and 2 small 

 tenders, under the command of Lieut. Thomas 

 Catesby Jones. It was impossible for the British 

 to transport their troops across Lake Borgne, as 

 contemplated, until this flotilla was destroyed. Ac 

 cordingly, on the night of the I2th, 42 launches, 

 armed with 24-, 18-, and 12-pounder carronades, 

 and 3 unarmed gigs, carrying 980 seamen and 

 marines, under the orders of Capt. Lockyer, 67 

 pushed off from the Armide, 38, in three divisions; 

 the first under the command of Capt. Lockyer, the 

 second under Capt. Montresor, and the third under 

 Capt. Roberts. 68 Lieut. Jones was at anchor with 

 his boats at the Malheureux Islands, when he dis 

 covered, on the 1 3th, the British flotilla advancing 

 toward Port Christian. He at once despatched the 

 Seahorse of one 6-pounder and 14 men, under Sail 

 ing-master William Johnston, to destroy the stores 

 at Bay St. Louis. She moored herself under the 

 bank, where she was assisted by two 6-pounders. 

 There the British attacked her with seven of their 

 smaller boats, which were repulsed after sustaining 

 for nearly half an hour a very destructive fire. 69 



67 James, vi, 521. 



M Letter of Captain Lockyer to Vice- Admiral Cochrane, 

 December 18, 1814. 

 69 James, vi, 521. 



