ral blockade of the enemy’s coast. On the latter day, the commander-in-chief again joined company from Bermuda, bringing with him a small land-force under Colonel Sir Sidney Beckwith, consisting of the 102d regiment, two small battalions of royal marines, a party of the rocket artillery, and two companies of Canadian chasseurs. With this force, and detachments of seamen and marines from the ships, Sir John B. Warren resolved to make an attack upon Norfolk, a well-fortified naval arsenal and depôt, on Elizabeth river; but after an unsuccessful attempt to obtain possession of Crany Island, June 22d, this design was altogether abandoned: the loss sustained by the British afloat and on shore, amounted to three killed, sixteen wounded, and no less than fifty-eight missing; of which latter number, however, forty-one were Canadian chasseurs, or more properly speaking, Frenchmen who had been taken prisoners and enlisted into the English service, purposely to be employed in America. On the 26th of the same month. Lieutenant Westphal assisted at the attack and capture of Hampton, a fortified town, opposite to Elizabeth river: the naval operations this day were directed by Rear-Admiral Cockburn; and the total loss sustained appears to have been five killed, thirty-three wounded, and ten, including four marines, missing.
On the 1st July, 1813, Lieutenant Westphal followed Rear-Admiral Cockburn into the Sceptre 74; on the 8th of the same month, he was promoted by the Admiralty to the rank of commander; and four days afterwards he again distinguished himself as the leader of an advanced division of boats, at the capture of Portsmouth and Ocracoke Island, in North Carolina. On this occasion, he “pulled directly and resolutely” for a large brig, the Anaconda, mounting eighteen long 9-pounders, the crew of which vessel abandoned her on his near approach, although supported by a schooner, the Atlas, of ten guns[1].
The Anaconda was immediately purchased into the service, and commissioned by Captain Westphal, whose crew at first
