On the Ocean 79 



British dashed at No. 162 and carried it, after a 

 very gallant defence, in which Lieut. Speddes was 

 badly wounded. No. 5 had her long- 24 dismounted 

 by the recoil, and was next carried ; finally, No. 23, 

 being left entirely alone, hauled down her flag at 

 I2.3O. 73 The Americans had lost 6 killed and 35 

 wounded; the British 17 killed and 77 (many mor 

 tally) wounded. The greater part of the loss on 

 both sides occurred in boarding No. 156, and also 

 the next two gunboats. 



I have in this case, as usual, taken each command 

 er's account of his own force and loss. Lieut. Jones 

 states the British force to have been 1,000, which 

 tallies almost exactly with their own account; but 

 believes that they lost 300 in killed and wounded. 

 Captain Lockyer, on the other hand, gives the 

 Americans 225 men and three additional light guns. 

 But on the main points the two accounts agree 

 perfectly. The victors certainly deserve great credit 

 for the perseverance, gallantry, and dash they dis 

 played; but still more belongs to the vanquished 

 for the cool skill and obstinate courage with which 

 they fought, although with the certainty of ultimate 

 defeat before them, which is always the severest 

 test of bravery. No comment is needed to prove 

 the effectiveness of their resistance. Even James 

 says that the Americans made an obstinate struggle, 



13 Minutes of the Court of Inquiry, held May 15, 1815. 



