78 Naval War of 1812 



they pulled gallantly on against the strong current. 

 At 10.50 the Americans opened fire from their long 

 guns, and in about 15 minutes the cannonade be 

 came general on both sides. At H.5O 71 Captain 

 Lockyer's barge was laid alongside No. 156, and 

 a very obstinate struggle ensued, "in which the 

 greater part of the officers and crew of the barge 

 were killed or wounded," 72 including among the 

 latter the gallant captain himself, severely, and his 

 equally gallant first lieutenant, Mr. Pratt, of the 

 Seahorse frigate, mortally. At the same time Lieut. 

 Tatnall (of the Tonnant) also laid his barge aboard 

 the gunboat, only to have it sunk; another shared 

 the same fate, and the assailants were for the mo 

 ment repulsed. But at this time Lieut. Jones, who 

 had shown as much personal bravery during the 

 assault, as forethought in preparing for it, received 

 a dangerous and disabling wound, while many of 

 his men received the same fate; the boarding net 

 tings, too, had all been cut or shot away. Several 

 more barges at once assailed the boats, the com 

 mand of which had devolved on a young midship 

 man, Mr. George Parker; the latter, fighting as 

 bravely as his commander, was like him severely 

 wounded, whereupon the boat was carried at 12.10. 

 ,Its guns were turned on No. 163, and this, the 

 smallest of the gunboats, was soon taken; then the 



11 Lieutenant Jones' letter. " Captain Lockyer's letter. 



