an immediate
escape from pursuit. Whether the Americans did attempt to
follow, or not, I cannot tell. If they did, they took a wrong
direction, for in something more than an hour I found myself at
the edge of the river, a little way above the shipping, and
returned safely on board, fully resolved not again, to expose
myself to such risks, without necessity.

THE PATAPSCO.

In this manner the time was spent till daybreak on the 6th of
September, when the whole fleet got under weigh, and stood
towards the Chesapeake. The wind was fair, and we speedily
cleared the river; but instead of standing up the bay, as we had
expected, we ran down a few miles below the mouth of the
Patuxent, and there anchored. A signal was then made by
telegraph for all ships to send in a return of the number of
seamen whom, in addition to marines, they could land with
small-arms. Every ship's crew was accordingly mustered, and it
was found that, besides the numbers necessary for conveying
stores and dragging guns, one thousand sailors could be spared
from the fleet. Thus, in spite of our loss at Bladensburg, we
were enabled on our next debarkation to bring into the field
about five thousand fighting men.

Next morning we again weighed, and directed our course towards the
Potomac. We entered this river soon after midday, and continued to
stem the stream during the night, and till dusk on the following
evening, when we again brought up. Here we were joined by Admiral
Cockburn, who had quitted the anchorage some days before the rest of
the fleet, with a large flotilla of prizes and small craft; and
having on the 9th once more set sail, and steered for a few hours in
the direction of Alexandria, we suddenly put about, and, favoured by a
fresh breeze, ran down to the bay, turning our heads upwards towards
the Patapsco. Baltimore, it was now understood, was the point of
attack; and towards the river upon which that town is built we
hastened under a heavy press of sail.

The object of this manoeuvring was evidently to deceive the
enemy, and by keeping him in suspense as to the place threatened,
to prevent his concentrating his forces, or throwing up works for
its defence. But in the attainment of our object, the event
proved that we were but partially successful. Certain it is,
however, that the utmost consternation prevailed in every town or
village opposite to which we made our appearance. In passing
Anapolis, a considerable town bu