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

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

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
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** 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