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Monthly Archives: May 2014
31st – Fine cool day – Wind N.W. – Went to Town, din’d at S. Sterrets- Maria & Emma Peters drank Tea with us
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, May 31, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
30th -Thunder with considerable rain last night, but clear today Wind W. Did not go to Town, had my twenty Merino Ewes Shorn today, they have fine & heavy Fleeces – Mr. Nicols, Mr. Holliday & W. Lux din’d with us, & Mrs. Nicols, Mrs. Chamberlain & two Mr. Chamberlains, also Mr. E. Johnson & Mr. Geo. Brown drank Tea with us ~ Had very fine Peas and Strawberries today
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, May 30, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
Admiral George Cockburn: “Commodore Barney has again come down with his Flotilla to the Neighbourhood of the Potomac.”
On May 30, 1814, Rear Admiral George Cockburn wrote to Captain Robert Barrie on board the HMS Dragon with news that the Chesapeake Flotilla was headed down the Bay towards the Potomac. Cockburn asked Barrie to search for the Flotilla and, if he couldn’t find it, to instead “do any Mischief on either Side of the Potomac which you may find within your Power.”
30 May 1814
My dear Sir
Subsequent to our Conversation of last Night I have received Intelligence that Commodore Barney has again come down with his Flotilla to the Neighbourhood of the Potomac.
The Man who brings the Information states that he saw him the Day before yesterday a few Miles to the Northward of the Cape Lookout— I therefore send You the Auxiliary Force I before intended, but I must beg of you to make use of it to the Northward instead of the Southward by sending it with your own Boats, Tender & ca. to examine St. Jerome’s Creek & to the Patuxent, and covering them at such Distance as you may judge advisable with the Dragon, taking also to your Assistance the St. Lawrence if on communicating with her Commander you find so employing her will not be likely to clash with Promises or Arrangements made with the Blacks landed from her the other Day.
Should you neither gain Information nor see anything of the American Flotilla in or on this Side of the Patuxent, I would have you cause St. Mary’s & Yeucomoco to be looked into, & you may do any Mischief on either Side of the Potomac which you may find within your Power, if this Information which I have received turn out to be incorrect, I can only say in your Operations to the Northward of Point Look out or to the Westward of it, You will consider yourself at full Liberty to act as Circumstances may point out to You as being most advisable for the Service.
The high Confidence I have in your Zeal and Abilities assuring me that I cannot do better than Point out to You the Object, and leave the Rest to your Management, but should you not be able to annoy the Enemy in that Direction we will still hold in View our intended Attack on Cherrystone Creek and perhaps a further Attempt on the other Side opposite to it. The Jaseur has taken another Schooner loaded with Salt Fish, she is gone up to the upper Part of the Bay near Hooper’s Straights— What Capt. Watts has in View I know not.
Let me hear from you as occasion may offer. I am Dr. Sir With much Truth
Yours most faithfully
G. C.-
This letter is cross-posted from the Blog of 1812 courtesy the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.
29th Sunday – Fine day – Wind S.W. Went to Town, call’d with Lloyd Rogers at Col Howards, thence to Druid Hill and home to Dinner, no company ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, May 29, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
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28th – Fine, pleasant day – Wind S.E. ~ Went to Town & return’d to Dine with Mr. Nicols & a small party – Paid Vache $ 10 in full ~ Finish’d planting late Potatoes
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, May 28, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
27th May – Thunder with a few light Showers this morning, but afterwards clear’d up very fine, Wind N.W. Mr. Gale & Mr. Holliday breakfasted with us – Went to Town return’d to Dinner – Took Mrs. T. to see Mr. Browns family at Springfield. Mr. Henry Williams sent out a Colt to Pasture ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, May 27, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
Admiral Cochrane: “Situations where Landings can be made to do them the greatest injury and facilitate the Escape of their Negroes”
On May 27, 1814, Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane wrote to Rear Admiral George Cockburn, describing the need to pay for intelligence and ensure that British attacks could be directed to “do them the greatest injury and facilitate the Escape of their Negroes.”
Private and Confidential
Asia 27 May 1814 Bermuda
My dear Sir,
As I daily look for the arrival of the Marines and it being probable from the lateness of the Season that nothing equal to what was intended can take place, the Troops being required for the Defence of Canada, I must therefore confine myself to minor objects, attainable by a force not exceeding 1,500 Men.
I have therefore to beg that you will endeavor to procure the most correct information possible of the Force and position of the Enemy within the Chesapeake and to the Southward with the Situations where Landings can be made to do them the greatest injury and facilitate the Escape of their Negroes— such information can be only come at by paying for it—you have therefore authority to do so.
It is of material consequence to know exactly their military force at the different Stations, as it may be necessary to make distant and partial attacks to draw off their force from the point of real attack. You will therefore see what consequence it is to obtain the best information on those heads which may be difficult unless you can find some enterprising characters who run all risks for money, with which you may assure them of being well remunerated if their intelligence is found correct.
Adieu my dear sir, ever most sincerely Yrs
A Cochrane—
This letter is cross-posted from the Blog of 1812 courtesy the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.
26 – Hot day Therm. 85 – Wind S. W. Went to Town & from thence up the Falls Turnpike to see Mr. Prentiss Merino Sheep sold, the Rams brot on an average $55 – the Ewes each with a Lamb from $120 to $192, I did not think them very fine ~ Paid Joshua in full for mauling Rails & cutting Wood as under~
1640 Rails @ 75 cts $12.30
21 /2 cord Wood @ 50 $10.75
$23.05Mrs. T. & [Miss] Merony drank Tea at Mr. Nicols, who with Mr. Littleton Gale walk’d Home with them.
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, May 26, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.