322

Blows up Fort Erie and retires across the Niagara 323

Naval and military expedition against Mackinac 324

Unsuccessful, except in destroying British transports 324

British capture the American naval schooners "Tigress" and
"Scorpion" 325

American schooners "Ohio" and "Somers" also captured, off
Fort Erie 327

Loss of the "Caledonia" and "Ariel" 327

The Erie fleet lays up for the winter, after the British
abandon the siege of Fort Erie 328

CHAPTER XVI

SEABOARD OPERATIONS IN 1814. WASHINGTON, BALTIMORE, AND MAINE

Defensive character of the British northern campaign in 1814 329

Increase of vigor in their seaboard operations 330

Warren relieved by Cochrane 330

Intentions of the British Government 331

Retaliation for American actions in Canada 333

Prevost's call upon Cochrane to retaliate 334

Cochrane's orders to his vessels 334

Attitude of British officers 335

Early operations in Chesapeake Bay, 1814 336

Relations of Barney's flotilla to the British project against
Washington 337

Assembling of the British combined forces in the Chesapeake 340

Condition of American preparations 342

British advance. Destruction of Barney's flotilla 344

Retreat of American forces 345

American position at Bladensburg 346

Battle of Bladensburg 347

Burning of Washington 349

Capture and ransom of Alexandria by British frigates 350

Failure of British attempt on Baltimore 351

British harrying of New England coast 352

Occupation of Castine, in Maine 353

Destruction of the American frigate "Adams"