Patapsco, and on the morning of the 12th commenced landing at North Point, fourteen miles below the city. General Stricker was detached with three thousand five hundred militia to oppose their advance. General Ross, having preceded the main body of his army with a small reconnoitering party, was shot through the breast by a rifleman, fell into the arms of his aid-de-camp, and died in a few minutes. The command devolved on Colonel Brook, who led on the attack, which was commenced by a discharge of rockets from the British, and was succeeded by grape, canister, and small arms on both sides. After maintaining his position for an hour and a half against a great superiority of numbers, General Stricker was at length obliged to retire to Worthington Mills, half a mule in advance of the main body.

On the night of the 12th, the British bivouacked in advance of the battle ground, and on the 13th commenced their march towards the city. When within two miles of the American lines they halted to await the result of the attack on Fort M'Henry. This fortress defends the narrow passage from the Patapsco into Baltimore harbour, two miles below the city, and its command had been entrusted to Major Armistead, with one thousand men. Fort Covington, on the right of Fort M'Henry, was commanded by Lieuteuant Newcomb. On the 12th, a British squadron of sixteen ships drew up in line of battle within two miles and a half of the forts, and at

Who was detached to meet them?- What followed ?-What was done on the 13th --What forts were bombarded ?- Who commanded them?

29%

CONNECTICUT AND MAINE INVADED.

sunrise on the 13th, commenced an attack on them with bombs and rockets. Twelve hundred men were detached to storm the works on the succeeding night, and the battle raged with great fury till the morning of the 14th, when the assailants, being completely foiled, were compelled to retire, and the squadron sailed down the river. Their example was speedily followed by the army, who had sanguinely anticipated the capture and plunder of Baltimore. The whole fleet soon after left Chesapeake Bay for the south.

While the central parts of the American seaboard were suffering these attacks from the British, the towns on the coast of New England were not spared. On the 7th of April a detachment from the blockading squadron in Long Island Sound ascended the Connecticut river to Pettipaug Point, and burned twenty-two vessels which nad been moored there as a place of safety. The village was set on fire in several places, but the flames were extinguished by the inhabitants.

On the 9th of August, another detachment from the same squadron appeared off Stonington Point, and com menced a bombardment of the village. The militia of the neighbourhood, having assembled in considerablo numbers with artillery, made so gallant a defence, that the British were compelled on the 11th to give up the contest and retire.

The extensive seaboard of the state of Maine, by its defenceless state and its vicinity to the British provinces offered an easy conquest to the enemy. On the 11th of July a squadron under Commodore Hardy, with twelve hundred troops, took possession of Eastport, on Moose Island, erected fortifications, and required the people to take the oath of allegiance to his Britannic majesty, o quit the island. Having accomplished this object, the Commodore returned to his station off New London

On the 1st of September an expedition under Sir John Sherbrooke, governor of Nova Scotia, and Admiral Grifith, with 40 sail and several thousand troops, entered the Penobscot river and took possession of Castine. They next sent a detachment of 600 men to Belfast, and having received the surrender of that place, proceeded 35 miles up the river to Hampden, to which place the American

When was an assault made on them?-With what success?-What followed ?-What was done by the British on the 7th of April ?-On the 9th of August ?-On the 11th of July ?-When was Maine invaded by Sir John Sherbrooke ?-What place did he first take?

HARTFORD CONVENTION.

293

frigate Adams had retired on their approach. The militia had assembled in considerable numbers, but fled on the approach of the enemy. Captain Morris was therefore compelled to blow up his ship, destroy his stores, and retire with his crew to Portsmouth. The British commanders having taken possession of the principal towns on the coast, published their proclamation at Castine, declaring the conquest of all the country east of the Penobscot to Passamaquoddy Bay, and requiring the submission of the people to the British government The territory thus occupied comprehends 42 flourishing towns-nearly one half of the state of Maine.

The opposition to the measures of government in New England became more decided than ever at this period of the war. In Massachusetts it was even proposed to

withhold the revenue of the state from the national treasury, and apply it to the purposes of local defence. A convention of delegates was assembled at Hartford for the purpose of taking into consideration the measures which might be deemed necessary for self-defence, and the redress of their alleged grievances. To compose this assembly members were appointed by the legislature of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island; and two from New Hampshire, and one from Vermont, received their appointment from county meetings. The session commenced December 15th, 1814, and lasted three weeks, their deliberations being conducted with closed doors. On adjourning, the convention put forth an address, charging the general government with pursuing a system of measures unfriendly to the interests of New England, and recommending amendments to the federal constitution. A committee was despatched to Washington to confer with the national government on the subject of applying the revenue of New England to its defence; but the arrival of the news of peace arrested all further proceed

ngs.

The Spanish authorities at Pensacola, who had encou aged he Indians in their hostilities since the commencenent of the war, now afforded the same encouragement to the British. On the 25th of August three British ships of war arrived there, and landed military stores and provisions, and 300 troops, which were conducted to the

Relate the affair of the Adams.-What portion of Maine was occupied by the British ?-What is said of Nantucket and the other islands?-Of the Hartford convention ?-Where did the British find shelter and encouragement -Whence did they draw supplies 7

294

THE BRITISH EXPELLED FROM FLORIDA

Spanish fort. Colonel Nicholls, the commander, then published an address to the native inhabitants of Louisiana, calling on them to unite with the British in expelling the Americans from the south. This address, however, had very little effect. The enemy's army at Pensa-. cola was supplied with provisions from New Orleans by a direct commerce. General Jackson, who had the command of the military district including Tennessee, Lonisiana, and the Mississippi territory, immediately arrested the intercourse between Pensacola and New Orleans, and prohibited all commerce between the two places.

On the island o Barrataria near the mouth of the Mississippi, a horde of pirates had established themselves, and were committing depredations on the commerce of all nations. As their force was considerable, the British commander at Pensacola endeavoured to engage them in the service of the British, but his offers were declined. The Americans took a more summary course with the pirates. Commodore Patterson commandant of the American squadron at New Orleans, attacked them with gunboats, and other small craft on the 16th of September, and compelling them to seek safety in flight, captured their whole fleet of cruisers and prizes, and conducted them safely to New Orleans.

On the 15th of September, the British sent an expedition from Pensacola against Fort Boyer on Mobile Point at the entrance of the bay; which was defeated with the loss of a ship of war, and a considerable number of killed and wounded. The whole armament then returned to Pensacola.

The establishment of the British at this post was so injurious to the United States, that General Jackson letermined on his own responsibility to dislodge them. Accordingly, on the 6th of November, he appeared before Pensacola with three regiments of regular infantry and a large body of militia, and sent a flag to the governor, which was fired upon and compelled to return. General

Jackson then attacked the fort and carried it after a smart action, and compelled the British to retreat to their shipping; their escape being effected only by the blowing up of Barancas, a valuable fortress belonging to the Spaniards.

Who put a stop to this intercourse ?-Who offered alliance to the pirates? Who conquered and expelled them?-Relate the affair of For Boyer-Why did General Jackson determine to dislodge the British zomi Pensacola ?-Give an account of his proceedings

GENERAL JACKSON ARRIVES AT NEW ORLEANS. 295

The British had for some time been preparing for ai. expedition against New Orleans. The fleet lately employed in the Chesapeake, and the whole British force which could be spared from the Atlantic coast, had been assembled at Jamaica and at Bermuda, to prepare for this grand attempt. Large reinforcements had been ordered from England, under General Packenham, furnished not only with the means of war, but with printing presses, and custom-house and civil officers, and every thing incident to a permanent establishment. Indeed so certain were the enemy of accomplishing their object, that there were merchants on board the fleet who went out for the purpose of buying the cotton which was to compose a part of the coveted plunder.

On the 20th of November, this formidable armament, consisting of sixty vessels with eight thousand troops, sailed from the West Indies, and on the 18th of November arrived at the entrance of Lake Borgne. On the 2d of December, General Jackson with the regular troops from the Mobile and Mississippi territory, arrived at New Orleans, and immediately commenced a system of efficient measures for its defence. The militia of Louisiana and Mississippi were ordered out en masse, and large detachments from Tennessee and Kentucky. From Governor Claiborne of Louisiana, General Jackson had previously learnt that the city corps had for the most part refused to turn out on the requisition of General Flournoy, that the legislature of the state, then in session, had encouraged them in their disobedience, and that among the citizens there were many disaffected to the government of the United States, and friendly to the British.

Finding on his arrival in the city that this information was correct, and that the most imminent danger was threatened by the presence and influence of the disaffected, General Jackson, after consulting with the governor and other leading citizens, on the 16th of December, issued an order, declaring the city and environs of New Orleans to be under strict martial law. The rigid police which this measure enabled him to exert, soon freed the city from the spies and traitors with which it had abounded; and the citizens addressed themselves earnestly to the business of preparing for the vigorous defence of the city.

What preparations were made for an attack on New Orleans?-When did the British arrive?-Who took the command at New Orleans?Why did he declare martial law?-What was the effect of this measure?