VICE ADMIRAL SIR ALEXANDER F. I. COCHRANE, R.N., TO
FIRST SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTYJOHN W. CROKER
His Majs. Ship Tonnant Chesapeake,
17th Sept. 1814
Sir,
I request that you will be pleased to inform my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty that the approaching Equinoxial new Moon rendering it unsafe to
proceed immediately out of the Chesapeake with the combined Expedition, to
act upon the plans which had been concerted previous to the departure of the
Iphigenia, Major General Ross and myself resolved to occupy the intermediate
time to advantage, by making a demonstration upon the City of Baltimore;
which might be converted into a real attack should circumstances appear to jus-
tify it; and as our arrangements wersoon made I proceeded up this River and
anchored off the mouth of the Patapsco on the 11th. ins[tant] when the
Frigates and Smaller Vessels entered to a convenient distance for landing the
Troops.
At an early hour the next morning the disembarkation of the Army was ef-
fected, without opposit[ion] having attached to it a Brigade of Six hundred Sea-
men, under Captain Edward Crofton (late of the Leopard) the Second Battalion
of Marines, the Marines of the Squadron and the Colonial Black Marines: Rear
Admiral Cockburn accompanied the General to advise and arrange as might be
deemed necessary for our combined efforts. So Soon as the Army moved for-
ward I hoisted my Flag in the Surprize and with the remainder of the Friga[tes,]
Bombs, Sloops, and the Rocket Ship passed further up the River to render what
co-operation could be fou[nd] practicable. While the Bomb Vessels were work-
ing up in order that we might open our Fire upon the Enemy[‘s] Fort at day
break the next morning, an account was brought to me that Major General
Ross when reconnoitering the Enemy had received a mortal Wound by a Mus-
ket Ball which closed his glorious career before he could be brought off to the
Ship.
It is a tribute due to the memory of this gallant and respected Officer to
pause in my relation while I lament the loss that His Majesty’s Service and the
Army, of which he was one of the brightest Ornaments, have Sustained by his
death; the unanimity, the zeal which he manifested on every occasion while I
had the honor of Serving with him gave life and ease to the most arduous un-
dertakings: too heedless of his personal Security when in the Field, his devotion
to the care and honor of his Army has caused the termination of his valuable
life. The Major General has left a Wife and Family for whom I am confident his
grateful Country will provide.
The Skirmish which had deprived the Army of its brave General was a pre-
lude to a most decisive Victory over the flower of the Enemy’s Troops. Colonel
Brook on whom the Command devolved having pushed forward our Force to
within five Miles of Baltimore, where the Enemy, about Six or Seven thousand,
had taken up an advanced position strengthened by Field Pieces, and where he
had disposed himself apparently with the intention of making a determined re-
sistance, fell upon the Enemy with Such impetuosity that he was obliged Soon
to give way and fly in every direction, leaving on the field of Battle a consider
able number of Killed and wounded and two pieces of Cannon. For the particu

lars of this brilliant affair I beg leave to refer their Lordships to Rear Admiral
Cockburn’s dispatch transmitted herewith.-
At day break the next morning the Bombs having taken their Stations within
Shell range Supported by the Surprize with the other Frigates and Sloops,
opened their Fire upon the Fort that protected the entrance of the Harbor;
and I had now an opportunity of observing the strength and the preparations of
the Enemy
The approach to the Town on the Land Side was defended by commanding
heights upon which was constructed a chain of Redoubts connected by a Breast
Work, with a Ditch in front, an extensive train of Artillery and a Show of Force
that was reported to be from fifteen to twenty thousand Men. The entrance by
Sea, within which the Town is retired nearly three Miles, was entirely obstructed
by a barrier of Vessels Sunk at the mouth of the Harbor, defended inside by
Gun Boats, flanked on the right by a strong and regular fortification and on the
left by a Battery of Several heavy Guns
These preparations rendering it impracticable to afford any essential co-oper
ation by Sea I considered that an attack on the Enemy’s strong position by the
Army only, with such disparity of Force, tho confident of success, might risk a
greater loss than the possession of the Town would compensate for, while hold-
ing in view the ulterior operations of this force in the contemplation of His
Majesty’s Government. And therefore, as the primary object of our movement
had been already fully accomplished I communicated my observations to
Colonel Brook,8 who coinciding with me in opinion, it was mutually agreed that
we Should withdraw.
The following morning the Army began leisurely to Retire; and so Salutary
was the affect produced on the Enemy by the defeat he had experienced, that
notwithstanding every opportunity was offered for his repeating the Conflict
with an infinite Superiority, our Troops reimbarked without mol[es]tation, the
Ships of War having dropped down as the Army reti [red-]
The result of this demonstration had been the defeat of the Army of the
Enemy: the destruction by themselves of a quantity of Shipping, the burning of
an extensive Rope Walk and other public Erections, the causing of them to re
move their Property from the City, and above all-the collecting and harrassing
of his armed Inhabitants from the Surrounding country, producing a total Stag
nation of their Commerce and heaping upon them considerable expenses, at
the same time effectually drawing off their attention and Support from other
important quarters
It has been a Source of the greatest gratification to me the continuance of
that unanimity existing between the two Services, which I have before noticed
to their Lordships, and I have reason to assure them that the command of the
Army has fallen upon a most zealous and able Officer in Colonel Brook, who
had followed up the system of cordiality that had been so beneficially adopted
by his much-lamented Chief
Rear Admiral Cockburn, to whom I had confided that part of the Naval
Service which was connected with the Army, evinced his usual zeal and ability
and executed his important trust to my entire Satisfaction. Rear Admiral Mal-
colm who regulat[ed] the collection, debarkation and reembarkation of the
Troops, and the Supplies they required has merited my best thanks for his inde-
fatigable exertion and I have to express my acknowledgements for the counsel

and assistance which in all our operatio [ns] I have received from Rear Admiral
Codrington the Captain of the Fleet.
The Captains of the Squadron who were employed in the various duties afloat
were all emoulous to promote the Service in which they were engaged and with
the Officers acting under them are entitled to my fullest approbation
I beg leave to call the attention of their Lordships to the Report Rear Admiral
Cockburn has made of the meritorious and gallant Conduct of the Naval
Brigad9 as well as to the accompanying Letter from Colonel Brook expressing
his obligations to Captain Edward Crofton who commanded, and Captains T. B.
Sulivan, Rowland and Money & Robert Ramsay who had charge of Divisions,
and I have to recommend these officers, together with those who are particu-
larly noticed by the Rear Admiral, to their Lordship’s favorable consideration.
Captain Robyns of the Royal Marines who commanded the Marines of the
Squadron on this occasion and in the operations against Washington being
Severely wounded, I beg leave to bring him to their Lordship’s recollection as
having been frequently noticed for his gallant Conduct during the services
in the Chesapeake, and to recommend him, with Lieutenant Sampson Mar-
shall of the Diadem who is dangerously wounded, to their Lordship’s favor
and protection.
First Lieutenant John Lawrence of the Royal Marine Artillery who com-
manded the Rocket Brigade has again rendered essential Service and is highly
Spoken of by Colonel Brook.
Captain Edward Crofton who will have the honor of delivering this Dispatch
is compe [tent] to explain any further particulars and I beg leave to recommend
him to their Lordship’s protection as a most zealous and intelligent officer-
I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
Alexr Cochrane
Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief