156 Naval War of 1812 



history is as utterly untrustworthy as its contempo 

 rary, Niles's "Register," is in matters purely Brit 

 ish, while both are invaluable in dealing with things 

 relating strictly to their own nation; they supple 

 ment each other. 



On Jan. 8th General Pakenham was defeated 

 and killed by General Jackson at New Orleans, the 

 Louisiana and the seamen of the Carolina having 

 their full share in the glory of the day, and Cap 

 tain Henly being among the very few American 

 wounded. On the same day Sailing-master John 

 son, with 28 men in two boats, cut out the British- 

 armed transport brig Cyprus, containing provisions 

 and munitions of war, and manned by ten men. 50 

 On the 1 8th the British abandoned the enterprise 

 and retreated to their ships; and Mr. Thomas 

 Shields, a purser, formerly a sea-officer, set off to 

 harass them while embarking. At sunset on the 

 2Oth he left with five boats and a gig, manned in all 

 with 53 men, and having under him Sailing-master 

 Daily and Master's Mate Boyd. 51 At ten o'clock 

 P.M. a large barge, containing 14 seamen and 40 

 officers and men of the I4th Light Dragoons, was 

 surprised and carried by boarding after a slight strug 

 gle. The prisoners outnumbering their captors, the 



M Letter of Sailing-master Johnson, January 9, 1815. 

 51 Letter of Thomas Shields to Com. Patterson, January 25 

 1815. 



