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ACTION ON THE WEST BANK.

and the sight of the plain, covered as it was with the bodies of near two thousand dead and wounded, operated in checking any further advance. General Lambert, on whom the command now devolved, finding that no hope remained of a successful result, collected together the broken remnants of this once formidable army, and retired to the encampment.

In the meantime, the detachment under Colonel Thornton, after landing on the west bank, immediately attacked the American works. The Kentucky militia, believing themselves to be outflanked, retreated, leaving the enemy in possession of their works. This post, completely commanding that on the opposite bank, its occupation by the enemy would have proved of the most serious detriment to General Jackson, had he not, by a dexterous stratagem, induced him to abandon it. General Lambert having proposed an armistice, to continue till twelve o'clock, in order to enable him to remove his dead from the field of battle, the proposition was agreed to by the American commander, with a condition, however, that it should not extend to the west bank, to which no reinforcements were to be sent by either party. Deceived by this reservation, and supposing that a large American force was already on that bank, General Lambert ordered Colonel Thornton to withdraw his troops, and it was immediately reoccupied by General Jackson.

In this battle the British loss was two hundred and ninetythree killed, twelve hundred and sixty-seven wounded, and four hundred and eighty-four missing or prisoners, including almost all the commanding officers; while of the Americans, only thirteen were killed, thirty-nine wounded, and nineteen missing. This splendid and most important victory was thus rendered doubly gratifying, from the reflection that it was clouded by the loss of so few of those by whose exertions it was achieved.

From New Orleans the whole British fleet proceeded to Mobile Bay, where they took possession of Fort Bowyer, which was garrisoned by three hundred and seventy-five men, a number so small when compared with that of the force sent

against them, as to render resistance unavailing. The further prosecution of their schemes of conquest was arrested, about this time, by the news of peace, which being soon after confirmed officially, the territory of the United States was evacuated by the British.

ARITIME skill and bravery still rendered illustrious the flag of the republic. The ocean, upon whose broad bosom the first victories of the war were obtained by the United States, continued to be the theatre of exploits of no less importance, by which its closing scenes were adorned. Distinguished equally by courage, enterprise, and skill in naval affairs, the American seamen traversed the most remote seas, and raised in every quarter of the globe, the reputation of their country. Vanquishing an equal, or eluding the vigilance of a superior force, they added to the laurels of victory, that fame which is justly due to a profound acquaintance with the science and practice of their profession, and successfully vindicated their character and rights; for the support of which, the war had been, in a great measure, undertaken.

In February, 1814, Commodore Rodgers returned to the United States, from a cruise of seventy-five days, during which he captured many British merchant-vessels, and by superior skill eluded the squadrons cruising in search of him. Off

CRUISE OF THE ESSEX.

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Sandy Hook, on his return, he descried three vessels of war, one of which was the Plantagenet, of seventy-four guns. Believing that he would not be able to escape, he prepared his ship for action, and lay to, for the enemy to approach. She, however, declined an engagement, and Commodore Rodgers pursued his course to New York. The British commander subsequently alleged the mutinous state of his crew, as the reason for not engaging the President.

Among those by whom the enterprise of the American navy was chiefly evinced, was Captain Porter, whose cruise in the Pacific terminated about this time. As early as the month of October, 1812, he sailed from the Delaware in the frigate Essex. He doubled Cape Horn, amidst tremendous storms, about the middle of February, 1813, and on the 15th of March put into the port of Valparaiso, and having obtained the necessary supplies, proceeded on his cruise, along the coast of Chili, and thence to the Gallipagos islands. In the vicinity of these isles the Essex cruised for upwards of six months, during which she totally destroyed that valuable part of the enemy's commerce which was carried on in those seas. The whole of the British vessels at that time in the Pacific, to the number of twelve, carrying in all one hundred and seven guns, and three hundred and two men, were captured. Their value was estimated at two and a half millions of dollars. He converted one of them into a vessel of war, mounting twenty guns, which he named the Essex Junior; and sailed for Valparaiso.

The intelligence of Captain Porter's exploits had at length occasioned a force of the enemy to be sent in pursuit of him. Soon after his arrival at Valparaiso, the Phoebe, a British frigate of thirty-eight guns, and a sloop of war, appeared off the port, having been fitted out expressly to meet the Essex. They entered the harbour to obtain provisions, and having effected this, again stood out and cruised off the port for about six weeks. Their united force was much greater than that of Captain Porter, the Essex Junior being of but little utility in action. At length, on the 28th of March, the Essex made

an attempt to get to sea, with a favourable wind. The enemy's vessels were close to the shore, and Captain Porter expected to be able to pass to windward of them. Unfortunately, however, in rounding the point, the American vessel was struck by a squall, which carried away her main-top-mast. Thus crippled, escape to sea was impossible; and as it was equally difficult to reach the harbour, Captain Porter ran into a small bay, and anchored within pistol-shot of the shore. In this situation it was to have been expected that the ordinary rules of warfare, which forbid an attack upon an enemy lying within a neutral territory, would have been observed. It was, nevertheless, soon perceived that Captain Hillyar, the English commander, was determined to avail himself of the opportunity offered, without regard to the rights of sovereignty of the local government. The Essex was prepared for action with all possible despatch; but before a spring could be put upon her cable to enable her to bring her broadside to bear, the attack was commenced. The British commander, desirous of capturing the Essex with as little loss to himself as possible, placed his frigate, the Phoebe, under her stern, while the Cherub took a position on her bows. The latter soon finding the fire of the Essex too warm, bore up, and ran also under