lant conduct on the above occasion[1]. We subsequently find him serving under Rear-Admiral Cockburn, in the Patuxent river, where he witnessed the destruction of Commodore Barney’s flotilla, and assisted at the capture of a gun-boat and thirteen merchant schooners, together with a considerable quantity of tobacco[2]. The following is an extract from the Rear-Admiral’s official letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane, reporting the performance of that service.
“in congratulating you, Sir, which I do most sincerely, on the complete destruction of this flotilla of the enemy, which has lately occupied so much of our attention, I must beg to be permitted to assure you, that the cheerful and indefatigable exertions, on this occasion, of Captains Wainwright, Nourse, and Palmer, and of Captain Sullivan, the other commanders, officers, and men, in the boats you have placed under my orders, most justly entitle them to my warmest acknowledgments, and my earnest recommendation to your favorable notice.”
Captain Palmer was shortly afterwards ordered to join the army under Major-General Ross, and he appears to have been the only naval officer of his rank that bore a part in the battle of Bladensburgh, Aug. 24, 1814; on which day upwards of 8000 Americans were defeated by 1500 British. His conduct during the march to and from Washington is highly spoken of both by Rear-Admiral Cockburn and the military commander-in-chief[3].
In the summer of 1815, Captain Palmer was entrusted with the command of a small expedition sent to arm and organize the French royalists in the vicinity of Bourdeaux. His proceedings up to the 14th July are described in an official letter which will be found at p. 950 et seq, of our second volume. The passage omitted at p. 952, is worded as follows: “Captain Palmer, who was entrusted with the service, has throughout directed it; and the accident alone of my being the senior officer, induces me to give the account to your lordship.”
In a subsequent letter the senior officer acquaints Lord
- ↑ See Naval Chronicle, Vol. XXXI, p. 498.
- ↑ See Vol. I, Part II, p. 525.
- ↑ See id., ib. et seq.
