The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans 1814-1815, by G. R. Gleig

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans 1814-1815

Author: G. R. Gleig

Release Date: June 1, 2006 [EBook #18479]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRITISH ARMY AT WASHINGTON ***

Produced by Geoffrey Cowling

The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans 1814-1815

by

Rev. G. R. Gleig, M.A.,

Chaplain-General to the forces;

Author of 'The Subaltern'; 'Story of the Battle of Waterloo';
'Life of Lord Clive'; 'Life of Sir Thomas Munro', etc.

New Edition 1879

ADVERTISEMENT.

The following Narrative contains, it is believed, the only connected and authentic account, which has yet been given, of the expedition directed against Washington and New Orleans, towards the close of the late American war. It has been compiled, not from memory alone, but from a journal kept by the author whilst engaged in the enterprise; and as the adventures of each were faithfully noted down as they occurred, and such remarks made upon passing events as suggested themselves to his mind at the moment, the public may rely with confidence upon general correctness of the details. The issues of the expedition were not, indeed, of the most gratifying nature, but it is hoped that a plain relation of the proceedings of those to whom it was intrusted, will not, on that account, prove uninteresting; whilst nothing can be more evident than that the portion of our history which it embraces ought not to be overlooked because it is little conducive to the encouragement of national vanity. It was chiefly, indeed, upon this account, as well as with a view to redeem from an oblivion which they hardly merit, the actions and sufferings of a few brave men, that the Narrative now submitted to the public was written.

CHAPTER I. Cessation of Hostilities—Expected Embarkation for America—Encampment near Passages—March towards Bordeaux-Anglet. . .

CHAPTER II. Bayonne—St. Etienne—March through Bayonne, to Ondres

CHAPTER III. Les Landes—March to Bordeaux—Bordeaux—Macan—La Moe—At Sea

CHAPTER IV.

At Sea—St. Michael's—Villa Franca . . .

CHAPTER V.

St Michael's—Ponto del Gada—At Sea .

CHAPTER VI.

Bermuda . . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER VII. America—The Chesapeake—The Partuxent—St. Benedicts . . .

CHAPTER VIII. Nottingham—Marlborough . . . .

CHAPTER IX. March to Washington—Bladensburg . .

CHAPTER X. Washington . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XI. Washington—Bladensburg—Marlborough-St Benedicts . . . . . .

CHAPTER XII. Alexandria—The Patuxent—The Patapsco . . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XIII. March—Attack—Halt . . . . .

CHAPTER XIV. March—Halt—Search—March—Rally—Halt . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XV. The Patuxent—The Potomac—The Chesapeake—At Sea—The West Indies . . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XVI. The West Indies—Port Royal—Kingston—Jamaica—The Blue Mountains

CHAPTER XVII. The Blue Mountains—Port Royal—Negril Bay . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XVIII. At Sea—New Orleans—Lake Borgne—Pine Island . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XIX. Pine Island—The Lake—Landing—March—Halt . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XX. Halt—Attack—Field of Battle-Hospital . . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XXI. Advance—Attack—March—Attack—Retreat—Preparations . . . . .

CHAPTER XXII. Attack—Retreat—Pause—Attack—Re-embarkation . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XXIII The Camp—Preparations for Retreat—Retreat—Halt . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XXIV. The Lake—Mobile—Siege—Peace—Havannah . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER XXV. Havannah—Remarks . . . . .

THE BRITISH ARMY

AT

WASHINGTON AND NEW ORLEANS.

CHAPTER I.

A REVOLUTION must occur in the condition and sentiments of mankind more decided than we have any reason to expect that the lapse of ages will produce, before the mighty events which distinguished the spring of 1814 shall be spoken of in other terms than those of unqualified admiration. It was then that Europe, which during so many years had groaned beneath the miseries of war, found herself at once, and to her remotest recesses, blessed with the prospect of a sure and permanent peace. Princes, who had dwelt in exile till the very hope of restoration to power began to depart from them, beheld themselves unexpectedly replaced on the thrones of their ancestors; dynasties, which the will of one man had erected, disappeared with the same abruptness with which they had arisen; and the influence of changes which a quarter of a century of rapine and conquest had produced in the arrangements of general society, ceased, as if by magic, to be felt, or at least to be acknowledged. It seemed, indeed, as if all which had been passing during the last twenty or thirty years, had passed not in reality, but in a dream; so perfectly unlooked for were the issues of a struggle, to which, whatever light we may regard it, the history of the whole world presents no parallel.

At the period above alluded to, it was the writer's fortune to form one of a body of persons in whom the unexpected cessation of hostilities may be supposed to have excited sensations more powerful and more mixed than those to which the common occurrences of life are accustomed to give birth. He was then attached to that portion of the Peninsular army to which the siege of Bayonne had been intrusted; and on the 28th of April beheld, in common with his comrades, the tri-coloured flag, which, for upwards of two months, had waved defiance from the battlements, give place to the ancient drapeau blanc of the Bourbons. That such a spectacle could be regarded by any British soldier without stirring up in him strong feelings of national pride and exultation, is not to be imagined. I believe, indeed, that there was not a man in our ranks, however humble his station, to whose bosom these feelings were a stranger. But the excitation of the moment having passed away, other and no less powerful feelings succeeded; and they were painful, or the reverse, according as they ran in one or other of the channels into which the situations and prospects of individuals not unnaturally guided them. By such as had been long absent from their homes, the idea of enjoying once more the society of friends and relatives, was hailed with a degree of delight too engrossing to afford room for the occurrence of any other anticipations; to those who had either no homes to look to, or had quitted them only a short time ago, the thoughts of revisiting England came mixed with