brig, he proceeded up the river with them, the St. Lawrence schooner, and the boats of the Albion and Dragon. The enemy retreated into St. Leonard’s creek, into which they could only be pursued by the boats, which were too inferior in force to allow of any attack being made with them alone. Captain Barrie endeavoured, however, to provoke the enemy by rockets and carronades from the boats, to come down within reach of the ships’ guns. The flotilla was at one time so much galled by these attacks, that it quitted its position and chased the boats; but after a slight skirmish with the smaller vessels, returned precipitately to its original position.
“With a view to force the flotilla to quit this station, detachments of seamen and marines were landed on both sides of the river; and the enemy’s militia, though assembled to the number of from 300 to 400, retreating before them into the woods, the marines destroyed two tobacco stores, and several houses which formed military posts.
“On the 15th, the Narcissus frigate joined, and Captain Barrie determined to proceed up the river with twelve boats, having in them 180 marines, and 30 of the black colonial corps. They proceeded to Benedict, whence a party of regulars fled at their approach, leaving behind several muskets, and part of their camp equipage, with a 6-pounder, which was spiked; a store of tobacco was also found there. Captain Barrie advanced from thence towards Marlborough; and although only eighteen miles from Washington, took possession of the place, the militia and inhabitants flying into the wood. A schooner was loaded with tobacco, and the boats plentifully supplied with stock; after which, having burnt tobacco stores, containing 2,800 hogsheads, the detachment re-embarked. The enemy collected 360 regulars, and a party of militia, on some cliffs which the boats had to pass; but some of the marines being landed, traversed the skirts of the heights, and re-embarked without molestation; and the enemy did not show himself again till the boats were out of gun-shot.
“Captain Barrie commends, in high terms, the conduct of all the officers, seamen, and marines, under his orders, as well as that of the colonial corps, composed of armed blacks; and Rear-Admiral Cockburn expresses his high sense of the personal exertions and able conduct displayed by Captain Barrie.”
The Dragon was now ordered to refit at Halifax, where she received the flag of Rear-Admiral Griffith; from whose official letter to Sir Alex. Cochrane, stating the result of an expedition to the Penobscot river, in Sept. 1814, we select the following passage as an introduction to Captain Barrie’s account of the proceedings of a detached force under his own personal directions:
“H.M.S. Endymion, off Castine, entrance of the
Penobscot River, Sept. 9, 1814.
