particular details respecting the nature of this battle; I shall, therefore, only remark generally, that the enemy, 8000 strong, on ground he had chosen as best adapted for him to defend, where he had time to erect his batteries, and concert all his measures, was dislodged as soon us reached, and a victory gained over him by a division of the British army, not amounting to more than 1500 men, headed by our gallant General, whose brilliant achievement of this day it is beyond my power to do justice to, and indeed no possible comment could enhance.
“The seamen with the guns were, to their great mortification, with the rear division during this short but decisive action: those, however, attached to the rocket-brigade were in the battle, and I remarked with much pleasure the precision with which the rockets were thrown by them, under the direction of First Lieutenant Lawrence, of the marine-artillery. Mr. Jeremiah M‘Daniel, master’s-mate of the Tonnant, a very fine young man, who was attached to this party, being severely wounded, I beg permission to recommend him to your favourable notice. The company of marines I have on so many occasions had cause to mention to you, commanded by Lieutenant Stephens, was also in the action, as were the colonial marines, under the temporary command of Captain Reed, of the 6th West India regiment, and they respectively behaved with their accustomed zeal and bravery. None other of the naval department were fortunate enough to arrive up in time to take their share in this battle, excepting Captain Palmer, of the Hebrus, with his aide-de-camp, Mr. Arthur Wakefield, midshipman of that ship, and Lieutenant James Scott, who acted as my aide-de-camp, and remained with me during the whole time.
“The contest being completely ended, and the enemy having retired from the field, the Major-General gave the army about two hours’ rest, when he again moved forward on Washington: it was, however, dark before we reached that city; and on the General, myself, and some officers advancing a short way past the first houses thereof, unaccompanied by the troops, the enemy opened upon us a heavy fire of musketry from the capitol and two other buildings: these were, therefore, almost immediately stormed by our people, taken possession of, and set on fire; after which, the town submitted without further resistance. The enemy himself, on our entering the town, set fire to the navy yard (filled with naval stores), to a frigate of the largest class, almost ready for launching, and to a sloop of war lying off it, as he also did to the fort which protected the sea-approach to Washington. On taking possession of the city, we likewise set fire to the President’s palace, the treasury, and the war office; and in the morning. Captain Wainwright went with a party to see that the destruction in the navy yard was complete, when he destroyed whatever stores and buildings had escaped the flames of the preceding night. A large quantity of ammunition and ordnance stores was also destroyed by us in the arsenal, as were about 200 pieces of artillery, as well us a vast quantity of small arms. Two rope-walks, of a very extensive nature, full of tar-rope, &c. situated at a consider-
