seven, when one ship and two brigs were compelled to retire. The leading ship, supposed to be the commodore, mounting twenty-two thirty-two pound carronades, having anchored nearest our battery, was so much disabled, her cable being cut by our shot, that she drifted on shore, within six hundred yards of the battery, and the other vessels having got out of our reach, we kept such a tremendous fire upon her, that she was set on fire, and abandoned by the few of the crew who survived. At ten P. M. we had the pleasure of witnessing the explosion of her magazine. The loss of lives on board must have been immense, as we are certain no boats left her except three, which had previously gone to her assistance, and one of these I believe was sunk; in fact, one of her boats was burnt along side of her.

The brig that followed her, I am certain was much damaged both in hull and rigging. The other two did not approach near enough to be much injured, but I am confident they did not escape, as a well directed fire was kept on them during the whole time.

During the action, a battery of a twelve pounder and a howitzer, was opened on our rear, but without doing any execution, and was silenced by a few shot. Our loss is four privates killed, and five privates wounded.

Towards the close of the action, the flag-staff was shot away; but the flag was immediately hoisted on a sponge staff above the parapet. While the flag was down, the enemy kept up their most incessant and tremendous fire; the men were withdrawn from the curtains and northeast bastion, as the enemy's own shot completely protected our rear, except the position they had chosen for their battery.

Where all behaved well, it is unnecessary to discriminate. Suffice it to say, every officer and man did his duty; the whole behaved with that coolness and intrepidity which is characteristic of the true American, and which could

scarcely have been expected from men, most of whom had never seen an enemy, and were now, for the first time, exposed for nearly three hours, to a force of nearly or quite four guns to one.

We fired during the action between four and five hundred guns, most of them double shotted, and after the first half hour but few missed effect.

Upon an examination of our battery the following morning, we found upwards of three hundred shot and shotholes, in the inside of the north and east curtains, and northeast bastions, of all calibers, from musket ball to thirtytwo pound shot. In the north-east bastion there were three guns dismounted; one of which, a four pounder, was broken off near the trunnions by a thirty-two pound shot, and another much battered. I regret to say that both the twenty-four pounders are cracked in such a manner as to render them unfit for service.

I am informed by two deserters from the land force, who have just arrived here, and whom I send for your disposal, that a reinforcement is expected, when they will doubtless endeavour to wipe off the stain of yesterday.

If you will send the Amelia down, we may probably save most or all of the ship's guns, as her wreck is lying in six or seven feet water, and some of them are just covered. They will not, however, answer for the fort, as they are too short.

By the deserters, we learn that the ship we have destroyed, was the Hermes, but her commander's name they did not recollect. It was the commodore, and he doubtless fell on his quarter deck, as we had a raking fire upon it, at about two hundred yards distance, for some time.

To Captain Sands, who will have the honor of handing you this dispatch, I refer you for a more particular account of the movements of the enemy than may be contained in my letters; his services, both before and during the action,

were of great importance, and I consider fully justify me in having detained him. Captain Walsh and several men were much burned in the accidental explosion of two or three cartridges. They are not included in the list of the wounded heretofore given.

The enemy's fleet, this morning at day break, were at anchor in the channel, about four miles from the fort; shortly after, it got under way and stood to sea; after passing the bar, they hove to, and boats have been constantly passing between the disabled brig and the others. I presume the former is so much injured as to render it necessary to lighten her.

At fifteen minutes after 1, P. M., the whole fleet made sail, and stood to sea.

I have the honor to be, &c.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE.

Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, &c.

When it is considered that this fort was in a very incomplete state, having been almost totally abandoned until General Jackson had discovered its importance to the surrounding country in time of war; that it was only in a progressive state of improvement; that it was garrisoned by only a hundred and fifty new recruits, who had never before faced a veteran enemy; and that it was assailable on every side by land and naval forces, probably amounting to fifteen hundred men, and a hundred pieces of cannon, its defence may be ranked among the most gallant achievements in the last, or any previous war in America. It contributed much to invigorate our soldiers, and prepare them for the brilliant achievements which were soon to follow at New Orleans, where they and their gallant commander covered themselves with so much glory, and elevated the standard of American prowess to a proud distinction among the nations of the earth.

CHAPTER VI.

Importance of Fort Bowyer-Inadequacy of its defenceArrival of General Coffee and Tennessee forcesGeneral Jackson marches to Pensacola-The Spanish Governor's preparations for his reception-General Jackson sends Major Pierre with a flag-He is fired at from the forts-General Jackson attacks and subdues the place-Colonel Nicoll-His proclamation— Censure of General Jackson for his operations in the Spanish territory—The legality and justice of his measures defended.

GENERAL JACKSON had been appointed major general in the army of the United States previous to this period, (October, 1814,) and commander of the 7th military district. He had been major general by brevet some time antecedent to this appointment, and commander of the same district.

The importance of Fort Bowyer as a military post, became more and more apparent to him, as he discovered the great preparation of the enemy, to assail the whole American sea-board, from Pensacola to New Orleans. This fort was but three days' march for land forces from Pensacola, where the British had already hoisted their flag; and from thence to New Orleans, but ten days' march. By the possession of this fort at the mouth of the capacious bay of Mobile, the bay itself, and the adjoining country, the British land and naval forces would derive incalculable advantages. To secure it, therefore, was, in

the view of the commanding general, of the utmost importance. But however important the measure, the means to accomplish it were altogether beyond his reach. Without a naval force to cover the fort, or to assist in its defence; with but a small regular force under his command at Mobile, and wholly uncertain when the forces from the distant state of Tennessee, and other places, would arrive, it would seem to have been the dictate of prudence, to have evacuated the fort and the country at once. The gallant defence of this place, upon the 15th of September, although a severe mortification to the enemy, would induce them to send a force against it, absolutely irresistible. So insufficient were his means of defence, from the middle of September, to about the 20th of October, and so overwhelming was the superiority of the enemy's force, and constantly augmenting, that had he, at this time, retired to New Orleans with his little army, a unanimous sentence of approbation must have been pronounced by his countrymen. But his language was, "resting on the bravery of my little phalanx, I hope for success." Notwithstanding the discouraging aspect of affairs, it was at this period that he resolved, on his own responsibility, to march for Pensacola; and with his army "to carry our arms where we find our enemies." Having been educated as a jurist, he was versed in the principles of the law of nations. He had a knowledge of the obligations which one government owes to another-he was aware of the acts which this code would justify in a belligerent power, and the duty it enjoined upon a power that was professedly a neutral one. The Spanish government at this time, in regard to the United States, was of the latter character by profession, and of the former one by practice. He determined to place himself within striking distance of the enemy, whether he found them devastating the territory of the United States, or pre