232 Naval War of 1812 



speedily shattered and splintered in all directions. 

 Though the British champions fought with unflag 

 ging courage and untiring energy, and though they 

 had long been versed in war, yet they seemed to 

 lack the judgment to see and correct their faults, 

 and most of their shot went too high. 28 Ok the 

 other hand, the old sea-dogs and trained regulars 

 who held the field against them., not only fought 

 their guns well and skilfully from the beginning, 

 but all through the action kept coolly correcting 

 their faults and making more sure their aim. Still, 

 the fight was stiff and well contested. Two of 

 the American guns were disabled and 34 of their 

 men were killed or wounded. But one by one the 

 British cannon were silenced or dismounted, and by 

 noon their gunners had all been driven away, with 

 the loss of 78 of their number. 



The Louisiana herself took no part in this action. 

 Patterson had previously landed some of her guns 



* 8 In strong contrast to Alison, Admiral Codrington, an 

 eye-witness, states the true reason of the British failure 

 ("Memoir of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington," by Lady 

 Bourchier, London, 1873, i, p. 334): "On the ist we had 

 our batteries ready, by severe labor, in situation, from which 

 the artillery people were, as a matter of course, to destroy 

 and silence the opposing batteries, and give opportunity for 

 a well-arranged storm. But instead, not a gun of the enemy 

 appeared to suffer, and our own firing too high was not dis 

 covered till too late." "Such a failure in this boasted arm 

 was not to be expected, and I think it a blot on the artillery 

 escutcheon." 



