5th – Sunday – Fine day, very warm, Wind S.W. Had the following to Dinner, Mr. Mrs. & Sam Bowly, Mr. & Mrs. Chas & Peter Wirgman, D. A. Smith & H. Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Hollins & Sarah. After dinner the following call’d, staid Tea & Strawberries & Cream, Mr. & Mrs. Nicols, Col. Nicols, Mr. Holliday, St. Sterett, Augusta & Mary, Eliza Peters, Geo. & James Brown. We had pick’d out of the Garden this day about 30 Quarts of Strawberries and all our Friends had as many as they could possibly Eat, both at Dinner & Tea
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, June 5, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
American Commercial and Daily Advertiser, June 4, 1814. Maryland State Archives SC3392
4th – Cloudy & heavy Rain in the forenoon. Went to Town, din’d at P. Wirgmans
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, June 4, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
3rd – Cloudy with Showers & cool, Wind S.E. Mrs. T went with me to Town to execute a Deed to Wm. Lorman, return’d to Dinner ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, June 3, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
2nd – Rain’d nearly all last night and Showery today – Wind N.E. Did not go to Town but rode over to the Orchard, & took all hands to put up a Fence, having rented the orchard for a Pasture to Chunck until 1st Nov. for $150. Din’d at Furley ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, June 2, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
1814 June 1st – Cool raw day – Wind S.E. ~ Went to Town return’d to Dinner ~ Mrs. & Jane Brown rode out and drank Tea with us ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, June 1, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
American Commercial and Daily Advertiser, May 31, 1814. Maryland State Archives SC3392
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.
HMS Dragon off Endoume, Marseille, July 24, 1823, courtesy WIkimedia.
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.
