AMERICA
Some apology is due to the reader, whose attention has been thus long
withdrawn from other and more important matters, to follow the
adventures of an humble individual like myself. The fault, however, of
which I have been guilty may be at once repaired, when I inform him
that on our arrival at Bermuda we found Sir Alexander Cochrane, in the
Tonnant, of eighty guns, waiting to receive us, and to take the command
of the whole fleet. The secret of our destination likewise, which up to
that moment had been kept, transpired almost as soon as we cast anchor
off the island; and it was publicly rumoured that our next point of
debarkation would be somewhere on the shores of the Bay of Chesapeake.
Nor are these the only interesting public occurrences of which no
notice has as yet been taken. On the 4th of June our little army was
reinforced by the arrival of the 21st Fusiliers, a fine battalion,
mustering nine hundred bayonets, under the command of Colonel
Patterson. On the evening of the 29th a squadron of four frigates and
several transports appeared in the offing, which by mid-day on the day
following were all at anchor in the roads. They proved to be from the
Mediterranean, having the 21st, 29th, and 62nd Regiments on board, of
which the two latter were proceeding to join Sir George Prevost’s army
in Canada, whilst the former attached itself to that under the command
of General Ross. By this very acceptable reinforcement, our numbers
were increased to upwards of three thousand effective men, and a
greater confidence in themselves, as well as a better grounded hope of
success in whatever they might undertake, was at the same time given to
the troops.
Having already dwelt sufficiently upon my own personal Adventures at
Bermuda, I shall not waste time by a particular detail of the various
preparations which during this interval were making throughout the
fleet. Stores of provisions, fresh water, ammunition, clothing, &c.,
were provided, and magazines for the future supply of the expedition
established; when, on the 3rd of August, all things being complete, the
ships once more got under weigh, and stood towards America.
THE CHESAPEAKE
During the whole of this day the wind was light and unsteady,
consequently little progress was made, nor did the white rocks of
Bermuda disappear till darkness concealed them; but towards morning a
fresher and more favourable breeze springing up, the rest of the voyage
was performed in reasonable time, and without the occurrence of any
incident worthy of notice. The heat, indeed, became more and more
oppressive every day, and the irksomeness of renewed confinement was
more sensibly experienced from the long holiday which we had enjoyed on
shore; but, in other respects, everything returned to its former state,
till towards evening on the 14th, when a signal was made by the Admiral
that land was in sight. As yet, however, there was no appearance of it
from the deck of our transport, nor for a full half-hour could our
anxious gaze be rewarded by the slightest trace of what it sought; but
at the end of that time the low sandy point of Cape Charles began to
show itself, and we rejoiced in the prospect of a speedy release from
the ennui of a seafaring life.
The coast of America, at least in this quarter, is universally low and
uninteresting; insomuch, that for some time before the land itself can
be discerned, forests of pines appear to rise, as it were, out of the
water. It is also dangerous from the numerous shoals and sandbanks
which run out in many places to a considerable extent into the sea, and
which are so formidable that no master of a vessel, unless he chance to
be particularly well acquainted with the navigation, will venture to
approach after dark. The fleet was accordingly anchored within a few
miles of the shore, but no sooner had the day begun to break than the
sails were again hoisted, and the ships, steering under the influence
of a leading wind, between the Capes Charles and Henry, stood in
gallant style up the Chesapeake.
This noble bay is far too wide, and the land on each side too flat, to
permit any but an indistinct glimpse of the shore from the deck of a
vessel which keeps well towards the middle. On the present occasion we
could distinguish nothing, on either hand, except the tops of trees,
with occasionally a windmill or a lighthouse; but the view of our own
fleet was in truth so magnificent as to prevent any murmuring on that
account. Immediately on entering, we were joined by Admiral Cockburn
with three line-of-battle ships, several frigates, and a few sloops of
war and gun-brigs, by which means the squadron could now muster above
twenty vessels entitled to display the pendant, besides an equal if not
a greater number of victuallers and transports. Nor were we
strengthened by this addition in the naval part of the expedition
alone. On board these ships was embarked a powerful reinforcement for
the army, consisting of a battalion of seven hundred marines, a hundred
negroes lately armed and disciplined, and a division of marine
artillery, so that we could now calculate on landing a corps of at
least four thousand men. The spectacle was therefore as agreeable and
imposing as might be; because we could not help remembering that this
magnificent fleet was sailing in an enemy’s bay, and that it was filled
with troops for the invasion of that enemy’s country. Thus, like a
snowball, we had gathered as we went on, and from having set out a mere
handful of soldiers, were now become an army, formidable as well from
its numbers as its discipline.
The shoals and sandbanks which abound on the outside of the bay,
continue to encumber the navigation after it is entered, and the fleet
was in consequence compelled to anchor every night. This proceeding
unavoidably occasioned much delay. The first day’s sail carried us only
to the mouth of the James river, and the second to the mouth of the
Potomac; but, on both occasions, we brought up at too great a distance
from the beach to permit perfect or distinct view of either of these
rivers. Opposite to the latter, indeed, we remained for a night and a
considerable part of the following day, and the sky being remarkably
clear, we saw something more of it than we had been able to see of the
other river. It appeared to be a fine piece of water making its way
through the centre of huge forests, and, though the current is in
reality strong, flowing on without any apparent motion. But it would
have been impossible to trace its course, even had we been nearer to
the shore, above a few miles, on account of its numerous windings, the
first of which, overshadowed as it is with wood, shuts it out from
further observation. By continuing here so long, we had begun to
conjecture that a landing somewhere on the banks of this river was in
contemplation. In this, however, we were deceived, for about one
o’clock the fleet was again under sail, and moving towards the
Patuxent, a river which empties itself into the bay, several miles
above the Potomac.
THE PATUXENT.
It was singular enough, that the ships had scarcely begun to lift their
anchors, when the sky, which had hitherto continued clear and serene,
became suddenly darkened and overcast with heavy clouds: and the water,
which before had been as smooth and bright as a mirror, began to rise
in black waves tipped with foam, though there was not a breath of air
to fill the sails. Hurricanes are, I believe, not unfrequent in this
part of the world, and it was expected that these changes in the sea
and sky foreboded the arrival of one; but they passed by without
producing any violent results, and when we brought up, which was done
in the evening, the clouds had dispersed, and the water was again like
a glassy lake.
The 18th of August had now arrived, and as yet we had advanced no
farther than to the mouth of the Patuxent. There we lay, as we had done
the day before, anxiously expecting a breeze; till about noon, the wind
beginning to blow fair, the fleet entered the river and made its way
slowly and majestically against the stream. The voyage soon became
picturesque and interesting in the highest degree. Fields of Indian
corn, with meadows of the most luxuriant pasture, stretched along the
margin of the stream on either hand; whilst the neat wooden houses of
the settlers, all of them painted white, and surrounded with orchards
and gardens, presented a striking contrast to the boundless forests
which formed a background to the scene. Of the prodigious extent and
gloomy appearance of these forests, it is impossible for any language
to convey an adequate conception. There is nothing, at least nothing
which I have seen, in the Old World, at all resembling or to be
compared with them; and hemming in, as they do, on every side, the tiny
spots of cultivation, they certainly convey no very enlarged idea of
the power of human industry. The cleared fields on the banks of the
Patuxent, for example, could in no direction measure above half a mile
across,—in many places their breadth fell short of that, from the river
to the woods; and then all was one vast forest, through which no eye
could penetrate, nor any traveller venture to seek his way. We were, as
may be imagined, greatly taken by scenery so novel; and we continued to
gaze upon it with the liveliest interest, till our attention was drawn
away to other and more important matters.
ST. BENEDICT’S.
We had not proceeded many miles from the river’s mouth when a telegraph
from the Admiral gave orders for the troops to be in readiness to land
at a moment’s notice. Everything was forthwith put in a state of
forwardness; provisions for three days, that is to say, three pounds of
pork, with two pounds and a half of biscuit, were cooked and given to
the men; the cartouch-boxes were supplied with fresh ammunition, and
the arms and accoutrements handed out. The fleet, however, continued to
move on, without showing any inclination to bring to; till at length,
having ascended to the distance of ten leagues from the bay, the ships
of the line began to take the ground; and in a little while after, even
the frigates could proceed no farther. But by this time the sun had
set, and darkness was coming on; consequently, there was no
possibility, for that day, of getting the troops on shore without much
confusion, if not danger. All therefore remained quiet for the night,
with this exception, that the soldiers were removed from the large
ships into such as drew least water; which running up as high as
prudence would permit, under convoy of the gun-brigs and sloops of war,
there cast anchor.
As soon as the dawn began to appear, on the morning of the 19th, there
was a general stir throughout the fleet. A gun-brig had already taken
her station within a hundred and fifty yards of a village called St.
Benedict’s, on the left bank of the river, where it was determined that
the disembarkation should be effected. Her broadside was turned towards
the shore, and her loaded with grape and round shot, were pointed at
the beach, to cover the landing of the boats; and being moored and aft
with spring-cables, she was altogether as manageable as if she had been
under sail. The rest of the ships were several miles lower down the
stream, some of them being aground the distance of four leagues from
this point; but the boats were quickly hoisted out from every one of
them, and the river as covered in a trice with a well-manned and
warlike flotilla. The disembarkation was conducted with the greatest
regularity and dispatch. Though the stream ran strong against them, and
some of them were obliged to row fourteen or fifteen miles backwards
and forwards, so strenuously did the sailors exert themselves, that by
three o’clock in the afternoon the whole army was landed, and occupied
a strong position about two miles above the village.
From what I have stated respecting the gun-brig, it will be seen that
all things were in readiness to meet and repel opposition, should such
be offered. Her broadside being pointed directly towards the village,
whilst it hindered the enemy from bringing down troops in that
direction, gave to our people an opportunity of forming, and being able
to meet, in good order, whatever force might be posted to check their
advance up the country. Had a few pieces of artillery been mounted,
indeed, upon the high ground, afterwards taken possession of by us,
some execution might have been done upon the boats as they drew towards
the beach; but even that would have been trifling, because, unless they
had had leisure to heat their shot, no artillery, in the open country
could have long stood before the fire of even a gun-brig, armed as this
was for the occasion with long thirty-two pounders. Each boat-load of
soldiers, likewise, drew up the moment they stepped on shore, forming
line without any regard to companies or battalions; whilst parties were
instantly dispatched to reconnoitre, and to take possession of every
house, as well as to line every hedge, in front of the shore where
their comrades were arriving. But these preparations, though no more
than common prudence required, were unnecessary; since there was not
only no opposition to the landing, but, apparently, no enemy within
many miles of the place.
So much time was unavoidably expended in establishing the different
regiments on the ground allotted to them, in bringing up the hospital
and commissariat stores, and arranging the materiel, that when all
things were ready, the day appeared too far spent to permit an advance
into a country, of the nature and military situation of which we were
of course ignorant. The afternoon was accordingly devoted to a proper
distribution of the force; which was divided into three brigades, in
the following order:—
The first, or light brigade, consisted of the 85th, the light infantry
companies of the 4th, 21st, and 44th regiments, with the party of
disciplined negroes, and a company of marines, amounting in all to
about eleven hundred men; to the command of which Colonel Thornton, of
the 85th regiment, was appointed.
The second brigade, composed of the 4th and 44th regiments, which
mustered together fourteen hundred and sixty bayonets, was intrusted to
the care of Colonel Brooke, of the 44th; and the third, made up of the
21st, and the battalion of marines, and equalling in number the second
brigade, was commanded by Colonel Patterson, of the 21st. The whole of
the infantry may, therefore, be estimated at four thousand and twenty
men. Besides these, there were landed about a hundred artillery-men,
and an equal number of drivers; but for want of horses to drag them, no
more than one six-pounder and two small three-pounder guns were brought
on shore. Except those belonging to the General and staff-officers,
there was not a single horse in the whole army. To have taken on shore
a large park of artillery would have been, under such circumstances,
absolute folly, indeed, the pieces which were actually landed, proved
in the end of very little service, and were drawn by seamen sent from
the different ships for the purpose. The sailors, thus employed, may be
rated at a hundred, and those occupied in carrying stores, ammunition,
and other necessaries, at a hundred more; and thus, by adding these,
together with fifty sappers and miners, to the above amount, the whole
number of men landed at St. Benedict’s may be computed at four thousand
five hundred.
This little army was posted upon a height which rises at the distance
of two miles from the river. In front was a valley, cultivated for some
way, and intersected with orchards; at the further extremity of which
the advanced piquets took their ground; pushing forward a chain of
sentinels to the very skirts of the forest. The right of the position
was protected by a farm-house with its enclosure and outbuildings, and
the left rested upon the edge of the hill, or rather mound, which there
abruptly ended. On the brow of the hill, and about the centre of the
line were placed the cannon, ready loaded, and having lighted fusees
beside them; whilst the infantry bivouacked immediately under the
ridge, or rather upon the slope of the hill which looked towards the
shipping, in order to prevent their disposition from being seen by the
enemy; should they come down to attack. But as we were now in a country
where we could not calculate upon being safe in rear, any more than in
front, the chain of piquets was carried round both flanks, and so
arranged, that no attempt could be made to get between the army and the
fleet, without due notice, and time given to oppose and prevent it.
Everything, in short, was arranged with the utmost skill, and every
chance of surprise provided against; but the night passed in quiet, nor
was an opportunity afforded of evincing the utility of the very
soldier-like dispositions which had been made.