Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-25
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20.


WASHINGTON, Feb 20.
Cohy ofa iefter from Com. Patterson to
fhe Secretary Of the Navy.
Ne7v Orleans, 27fk Jan. 1915.
SIR II do myself rhe honor 10 enclose
you a letter from Mr.. Thomas Shields, Pur-
ser of this station. giving deaiied &C
count of the expedition under his command,
sent to annoy the enemy in their embark
alton; the successful issue IF which is
highly honorable 70 him aud those under
his command. The prisoners taken by him,
added to those taken by Mr. Johnson. will
go Tar IN the exchange of my officers ADD
sean,en. Captured in the gun boats.
have the honor.to be, with great con.
sideratioa and respect. your obedient SER
want,
DANL. T. PATTERSON.
Tie H'n. Secretary Of tie May,
Washington.
Cohy of a litter from azr. 7aowas Shields
10 Cum nodore Patterson, dated
Wr.u> Orleans, 25th Jan. 1875.
SIR have the honor to report my arr
rival in this city lastAnisht from the expe
dtion ordered by you on the 18th inst and
which you did me the honor to entrust TO
my command.
On the night of the 18th LEFT the Pass
Cheuf MenIeur, having made tue neces
sary observations on the enemy's situation
before sun SET, with FIVE boats and your
gig manned and armed with fifty men
At 10 T. M. discovered a boat at anchor,
which 1 captured by smrprize. no resistance
being made. She had forty men of tie l4th
light Dragons. including officers. and four
ZEE IS a.
command OF masters mate.
Inc number oftroops exceeding my own,
thought it most prudeat to convoy them
into the picket guard, from whence thew
coulc be more conveniently sent to New
Orleans by land than BY water, and ov
which means should also avoid weaken
nag my own force, in Itself already TOO ii,
mited tor the completion of the oLjec, in
view.
Alter landing the prisoners and putting
them IN charge of the army, again LETT
the Pass about a. NJ. ant. stoodson to gain
the enemy's track, in the hope of inter
cepting some OF them about day light but
Without success. i returned TO the Pass
on the Goth at 8. A. NJ where | was d..
tanned until the morning of the 2lst -
Ihree gun-boats having arrived from the
feet below, with four transports, all oil
whom were soon filed with troops from
the shore. at q, ~ M. 21st. i again got out
and tell into their track to the fleet about
day light Finding it impossible to make
any Captures without being discovered.
determined to run down among them in
disguisr, and strike at every opportunitv-
Holsted English colors aud ook transport
oost with five men ordered her to follow,
and stood on for q transport schooner who
was beating up for the army. AT 9 /
boarded and took her without opposition
with Gen she had ten on board. From
this time until 10 we were in the midst OF
their boats going up to the army, and du-
ring which time we took FIVE others, hav-
ing On board about 20 men. The wind at
TINS time had unfortunately hauled to N. w.
aud oiew with great violence ordered the
soats with their prizes to make their " az to
the Risolets Finding the transports draft OF
water too great to take her over the snoals :.
having already taken the ground. / set her
on FIRE and joined the boats on shore. The
wind still increasing and many boats an
preaching fun OF men from the armvF in
duced a belief that they had discovered nv
character from the burning ofthe schooner.
and meant 20 attack me, My force was TN.
fortunately divided (; the large launch with
a IL pound carrenade, ard some of my best
men, with % prisoners, having drifted be-
W, were compelled, from the strength of
the current to anchor on the other side near
iy halt mile distant. Every disposition
was made by our little band TO defend our
selves to the last extremity, and FIRE was
prepared to burn the marsh should the enc.
my land in my rear Six boats approached
US at one time crowded with men, and three
made fsint to attack the launch, but we'll
directed shot from her carronade compelled
them to haul of, and a few discharges of
our musketry drove the others also. In
anone two hours we we're entirely clear of
thsm. The violence of the wind and tide
drove two of the prizes from their ancAoro
age, on board Of which were about 90 pri.
soners. with three OF my own men, who were
taken oil, the prisoners having overpowered
them so soon as they got Ont Of the reach OF
our musketry- This Is the oAly loss have
experienced during the expedition. Find
Ing Vt totally impracticable to stem the
strength OF the current, and the wind be.
log directly ahead for the fort at Coquilie,
my own safety and the preservation OF the
men entrusted to my command, induced
me to parole the prisoners and let them
90 with their boats, particularly as mum
DER OF them were officers attached 10 the
ciVIi department, and could not, as be-
heyed, be considered as prisoners of war.
Enclosed have the honor to transmit a
list other numbers. names and rank.
The damage done the enemy On This RI