sinued so until the 5th of February, that no communication could be held with the ships at the inner anchorage, a distance of about seventeen miles. It being agreed between vice-admiral sir Alexander Cochrane and myself that operations should be carried towards Mobile, it was decided that a force should be sent against fort Bowyer, situated on the eastern point of the entrance of the bay, and from every information that could be obtained, it was considered a brigade would be sufficient for this object, with a respectable force of artillery. I ordered the second brigade, composed of the 4th, 21st and 44th regiments, for this service, together with such means in the engineer and artillery departments as the chief and commanding officer of the royal artillery might think expedient. The remainder of the force had orders to disembark on Isle Dauphine, and encamp; and major-general Keane, whom I am truly happy to say has returned to his duty, superintended their arrangement. The weather being favourable on the 7th for the landing to the eastward of Mobile Point, the ships destined to move on that service sailed under the command of captain Ricketts, of the Vengeur, but did not arrive in sufficient time that evening to do more than determine the place of disembarkation, which was about three miles from fort Bowyer. At daylight the next morning the troops got into the boats, and six hundred men were landed under lieutenant-colonel Debbeig, of the 44th, without opposition, who immediately threw out the light companies under lieutenant Bennett, of the 4th regiment, to cover the landing of the brigade. Upon the whole being disembarked, a disposition was made to move on towards the fort, covered by the light companies. The enemy was not seen until about one thousand yards in front of their works; they gradually fell back, and no firing took place until the whole had retired into the fort, and our advance had pushed on nearly to within three hundred yards. Having reconnoitred the forts with lieutenantcolonels Burgoyne and Dickson, we were decidedly of opinion, that the work was formidable only against an assault; that batteries being once established, it must speedily fall. Every exertion was made by the navy to land provisions, and the necessary equip ment of the battering train and engineer stores. We broke ground on the night of the 8th, and advanced a firing party to within one hundred yards of the fort during the night. The position of the batteries being decided upon the next day, they were ready to receive their guns on the night of the 10th, and on the morning of 11th the fire of a battery of four eighteen-pounders on the left, and two eight-inch howitzers on the right, each about one hundred yards distance, two six-pounders at about three hundred yards, and eight small cohorns advantageously placed on the right, with intervals between of one hundred and two hundred yards, all fur. nished to keep up an incessant fire for two days, were prepared to open. Preparatory to commencing, I summoned the fort, allowing the commanding officer half an hour for decision upon such terms as were proposed. Finding he was inclined to consider them, I prolonged the period, at his request, and at three o'clock the fort was given up to a British guard, and British colours hoisted; the terms being signed by major Smith, military secretary, and captain Ricketts, R. N. and finally approved of by the vice-admiral and myself, which I have the honour to enclose. I am happy to say our loss was not very great; and we are indebted for this, in a great measure, to the efficient means attached to this force. Had we been obliged to resort to any other mode of attack, the fall could not have been looked for under such favourable circumstances. We have certain information of a force having been sent from Mobile, and disembarked about twelve miles off, in the night of the 10th, to attempt its relief; two schooners with provisions, and an intercepted letter, fell into our hands, taken by captain Price, R. N. stationed in the bay. I cannot close this despatch without naming to your lordship again lieutenant-colonels Dickson, royal artillery, and Burgoyne, royal engineers, who displayed their usual zeal and abilities; and lieutenant Bennet, of the 4th, who commanded the light companies and pushed up close to the enemy's works. Captain hon. R. Spencer, R. N. who had been placed with a detachment of seamen under my orders, greatly facilitated the service in every way by his exertions. From captain Ricketts, of the R. N. who was charged with the landing and the disposition of the naval force, I received every assistance. JOHN LAMBert. Fort Bowyer, February 14th, 1815. Return of ordnance, ammunition and stores, captured from the enemy in this place, on the 12th instant: GUNS. i twenty-four-pounder, 2 nine-pounders, outside the fort. Iron-3 thirty-two-pounders, 8 twenty-four-pounders, 6 twelve pounders, 5 nine-pounders. Brass-1 four-pounder. Mortar-1 eight-inch. Howitzer 1 five-and-a-half-inch. SHOT. Thirty-two-pounder-856 round, 64 grape, 11 case. Nine-pounder-781 round, 208 grape, 429 case. Six-pounder-15 round, 75 bar, 13 case. 5,519 pounds powder. 1 triangle gin, complete. 16,976 musket ball-cartridges. 500 flints. 351 muskets, complete, with accoutrements. JAS. PERCIVAL, Ass. Com. Royal Artillery. Return of casualties in the army under the command of major general Lambert, employed before fort Bowyer, between the 8th and 12th of February, 1815. Royal sappers and miners--1 rank and file wounded. 4th foot-8 rank and file killed; 2 serjeants, 13 rank and file wounded. 21st foot--2 serjeants, 2 rank and file killed; 1 rank and file wounded. 40th foot--1 rank and file killed; 1 rank and file wounded. Total-13 killed, 18 wounded. F. STOVEN, D. A. G. Return of the American garrison of fort Bowyer, which surrendered to the force under major-general Lambert, 11th February, 1815. 1 field-officer, 3 captains, 10 subalterns, 2 staff, 16 serjeants, 16 drummers, 327 rank and file, 20 women, 16 children, 3 servants not soldiers.' F. STOVEN, D. A. G. NO. LXVII. LETTERS FOUND ON BOARD THE ST. LAWRENCE AT THE TIME OF HER SURRENDER TO THE CHASSEUR PRIVATEER. From colonel Malcolm to rear-admiral Malcolm. Cumberland Island, 5th February, 1815. I received your letter of the 5th ult. it is written before your last attack on that place, but I most sincerely hope you will ultimately succeed. From all accounts New Orleans is very strong: the enemy will have gained a great confidence in themselves from their success. What a disappointment it will be in England should you fail the chance of failure has not been calculated on, and from the force employed it has been made too sure at first. I have no opinion of either the Indians or black new-raised corps: the former in this country carry on a most furious war-murder and desolation mark their track-there is no hope but flying, or resistance to the last moment of life: this is what every one says of the Florida Indians, of course the inhabitants of all descriptions would fear to come near you. There is a report here that neither the 21st or 44th regiments behaved well, but as a report I treat it. I should be sorry to hear two British regiments slurred in an attack.* * In this letter of the colonel's there was a lamentation expressed that his share of the prize-money at St. Mary's did not exceed five hundred pounds' From colonel Malcolm to rear-admiral Malcolm. Cumberland Island, 11th February, 1815. I HOPE We may hear from you in a short time, and of your success against the place you are now before-(New Orleans.) It will repay the troops for all their trouble and fatigues! I do not expect, either war or peace, that we will move from this island this winter; if the war goes on, a garrison must be left here in charge of the island. From sir Thomas Cochrane, of the Surprise frigate, to captain Pigot, off New Orleans. Cumberland Island, February 12th, 1815. I CAME here just two days too late to share in the good things going on. Old Somerville was senior, and ordered the attack on St. Mary's, which Barrie executed. The prize-money will be about thirty thousand pounds, not more. Had our force been sufficient, the next movement would have been against Savannah, but not mustering above a thousand bayonets, we were content to keep possession of this island, which we are placing in a state of defence. Our operations will, I suppose, be shortly put a stop to by our friend, Jemmy Madison, as peace or war now depends on him: the commissioners at Ghent having signed, and the prince regent ratified, the terms of a peace, and hostilities will cease as soon as he does the same. We hope, in the mean time, better luck will attend you at New Orleans than has hitherto done, and that you will have time to give general Jackson a trimming. From sir Thomas Cochrane to sir Thomas Troubridge, off New Orleans. North End Cumberland Island, February 12th, 1815. I HOPE this will reach head-quarters in time for the St. Lawrence, who sails immediately for your part of the world with the news of peace being concluded with this country, but of which I should think you will receive earlier intelligence direct from England. We are in daily expectation of a flag of truce to inform us of Mr. Madison's having ratified the treaty, on his doing which hostilities will immediately cease. I confess myself by no means |