Hermes., which covered the attack, was blown up by the well- 
directed fire of the fort. In February, 1815, this brave officer 
found himself obliged to yield to superior force, and to capitulate 
to Admiral Cockburn, who was on his return from the unsuc¬ 
cessful expedition to New Orleans. This was the last act of hos¬ 
tility that occurred during that war. Fort Bowyer is since de¬ 
molished, and in its stead a more extensive fortress is erecting, 
which we would willingly have inspected, had the wind been 
more favourable, and brought us there earlier. We steered be¬ 
tween Mobile Point and Dauphin Island, so as to reach the Mexi¬ 
can gulf, and turning then to the right, southward of the Sandy 
Islands, which laid along the coast, sailed towards Lake Borgne. 
Scarcely were we at sea, when a strong wind rose from the west, 
which blew directly against us. We struggled nearly the whole 
night to beat to wiftdward, but in vain. The wind changed to a 
gale, with rain, thunder, and lightning. The main-topmast was 
carried away, and fell on deck. The mate was injured by the 
helm striking him in the side, and was for a time unfit for duty. 
On account of the great bustle on deck, the passengers could 
hardly close an eye all night. The motion of the vessel was 
violent, on account of her small size. A falling block broke out 
several of the panes in the sky-light of the cabin, so that the 
rain was admitted, and the furniture was tossed about by the 
rolling. 
On the morning of the 19th of January, we were driven back 
to the strait between Dauphin Island and Mobile Point, and the 
anchor was dropt to prevent farther drifting. I was sea-sick, but 
had the consolation that several passengers shared my misfortune. 
The whole day continued disagreeable, cold, and cloudy. As 
we lay not far from Dauphin Island, several of our company went 
on shore, and brought back a few thrushes which they had shot 
I was too unwell to feel any desire of visiting this inhospitable 
island, a mere strip of sand, bearing nothing but everlasting pines. 
Upon it, stands some remains of an old entrenchment and barrack. 
Besides the custom-house officers, only three families live on the 
whole island. We saw the light-house, and the houses at Mobile 
Point, not far from us. I wished to have gone there to see the 
fortification lately commenced, but it was too far to go on a rough 
sea in a skiff. 
On the 20th of January, the wind was more favourable; it blew 
from the north-east, and dispersed the clouds, and we set sail. 
After several delays, caused by striking on sand-banks, we pro¬ 
ceeded with a favourable wind, passed Dauphin Island and the 
islands Petit Bois, Massacre, Horn, and Ship Island. 
These islands consist of high sand-hills, some of them covered 
with pine, and remind one strongly of the coasts of Holland and 
