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

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

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at
Washington and New Orleans 1814-1815, by G. R. Gleig This eBook is
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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