Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp4.djvu/46

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1815.
37

summer of 1814. He appears to have joined the fleet under Sir Alexander Cochrane in time to assist at the bombardment of fort M‘Henry, protecting the entrance to Baltimore harbour; and we afterwards find him actively employed in the Potowmac river, under Rear-Admiral Pulteney Malcolm, who frequently allowed him to land, for the purpose of annoying the enemy, and contributing to the wants of the British squadron.

On the 31st Oct. 1814, being then in the windward passage, with a transport under convoy, bound to Jamaica, Captain Price fell in with the Saucy Jack, American schooner privateer, mounting 7 guns, with a complement of 160 men. This vessel he succeeded in decoying under his guns, but owing to her great superiority in sailing, she was enabled to effect her escape, after receiving two broadsides from the Volcano, as well as a warm salute of musketry from the troops on board the transport. In this affair. Lieutenant J. P. Furzer, R.M.A. and two of the bomb’s crew were killed; the enemy, according to their own report, had 7 slain and 14 wounded.

At the commencement of the operations against New Orleans, Captain Price was employed in surprising an American piquet, posted at the entrance of the Bayou Catalan.[1] He was subsequently wounded by a rifle-ball, on which occasion Rear-Admiral Malcolm wrote to Sir Alexander Cochrane as follows:

Head of the Bayou Catalan 24 Dec. 1814.

“Sir,– I have the honor to inform you, that last evening, the enemy in great force attacked General Keane’s little army, and were repulsed. When the attack commenced, I directed Captain Price, of the Volcano, to inform the General that the troops just landed were hastening to his support, and that I had ordered the seamen to carry up a supply of ammunition. Whilst executing this service, he fell in with a party of the enemy, who fired at and shot him through the thigh. In this state, he not only made his escape, but secured an American soldier: I trust his wound is not dangerous, as he is a gallant young man and an excellent officer.”

Although wounded in the manner described. Captain Price did not wish to be considered a non-combatant, and there-