“The enterprise,” says Sir John B. Warren, “was conducted with diatinguidhed ability and gallantry under Rear.Admiral Cockburn, and most zealously and bravely executed by Captains Burdett, Lawrence, and Byng, their officers and men. I trust, that when their lordships consider, that this service was performed in the interior of the enemy’s country, where the detachment was frequently opposed by superior force, and in a difficult and unknown navigation, that the behaviour of the officers and men will entitle them to their lordships’ favor and protection.”
The detachment consisted of the Maidstone frigate. Fantome 16, Mohawk 16, four-armed tenders, 180 seamen and 200 marines from the naval brigade, and a small party of royal artillery. Captain Henry Byng’s particular share in the business will be seen by the following letter from Rear-Admiral Cockburn to the commander-in-chief, dated off the Sasafras river, May 6, 1813:–
“Sir,– I have the honor to acquaint you, that, understanding Georgetown and Frederickstown, situated up the Sasafras river, were places of some trade and importance; and the Sasafras being the only river or place of shelter for vessels at this upper extremity of the Chesapeake, which I had not examined and cleared, I directed last night the assembling of the boats alongside the Mohawk, from whence, with the marines as before[1], under Captains Wybourn and Carter, with my friend Lieutenant Robertson of the artillery, and his small party, they proceeded up this river; being placed by me, for this operation, under the immediate directions of Captain Byng, of the Mohawk.
“I intended that they should arrive before the above-mentioned towns by dawn of day; but in this I was frustrated by the intricacy of the river, our total want of local knowledge in it, the darkness of the night, and the great distance the towns lay up it; it, therefore, unavoidably became late in the morning before we approached them, when, having intercepted a small boat with two of the inhabitants, I directed Captain Byng to halt our boats about 2 miles below the towns, and I sent forward the two Americans in their boat, to warn their countrymen against acting in the same rash manner the people of Havre de Grace had done; assuring them, if they did, that their towns would inevitably meet with a similar fate; but, on the contrary, if they did not attempt resistance, no injury should be done to them or their towns; that vessels and public property only would be seized; that the strictest discipline would be maintained; and that whatever provisions, or other property of individuals, I might require for the use of the squadron, should be instantly paid for in its fullest value; after- ↑ See Captains John Lawrence, C.B. and Sir George A. Westphal, Knt.
