GEORGE PARKER, Esq
Rear-Admiral of the Red.
At the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, we find this officer serving as First Lieutenant of the Crescent frigate, commanded by the present Sir James Saumarez. After the capture of le Réunion, already mentioned at p. 178, he was promoted to the rank of Commander in the Albicore sloop, on the North Sea station. His post commission bears date April 7, 1795. His next appointment was to the Squir-
happening in the sight of the troops, together with the Major-Generals Gibbs and Keane being both borne off wounded (the former mortally) at the same time, with many other commanding officers; and further, the preparations to aid in crossing the ditch not being so forward as they ought to have been, caused a wavering in the column, which in such a situation became irreparable; and as Sir John Lambert advanced with the reserve, at about 250 yards from the lines, he had the mortification to observe the whole falling back upon him in the greatest confusion. Thus circumstanced, Sir John, having placed the reserve in position, went to meet the naval Commander-in-Chief, whom he informed of the failure, and that he did not think it prudent to renew the attack. On the following day it was determined to retreat, and the whole army was accordingly re-embarked under the superintendence of Rear-Admiral Malcolm, who had been left to conduct the naval part of the expedition on the departure of Sir Alexander Cochrane to arrange for the reception of the troops, and prepare the fleet for further operations.
The laborious exertions and great privations of the officers and men of the squadron employed on this unfortunate expedition, very few of whom ever slept one night on board their ships for a period of about seven weeks, have never been surpassed. During that time a large army, with the principal part of its provisions, stores, artillery, ammunition, and the numerous necessary appendages, were all transported from the shipping to the head of the Bayon, a distance of 70 miles, chiefly in open boats, and conveyed back by the same tedious process in the most changeable and severe weather, notwithstanding which the utmost emulation and unanimity pervaded the whole.
After the failure at New Orleans, the armament proceeded to Isle Dauphine, where the troops were landed and encamped. From thence a detachment proceeded towards Mobile, and on the 11th Feb. compelled Fort Boyer to surrender. This was the concluding operation of the American war, the treaty of peace between the two countries being ratified by the President of the United States on the 17th of the same month.
