Rec. information that the British have several Ships coming up the Bay, and during the day upwards of 30 arriv’d at the mouth of our River, went to Town, din’d at Mrs. Wests in great haste, for the alarm Guns were Fir’d at one O’Clock, and the whole Brigade was immediately under Arms, and March’d towards North Point, my Troop was order’d to attend Gen Smith —

From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, September 11, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.