AMERICAN AND BRITISH ACCOUNTS OF THE SURRENDER OF

FORT BOWYER.

Copy of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence, to Major

General Jackson. Sir,

Fort Bowyer, February 12, 1815. Imperious necessity has compelled ine to enter into articles of capitulation with major-general John Lambert, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces in front of Fort Bowyer, a copy of which I forward you for the purpose of effecting an immediate exchange of prisoners. Nothing but the want of provisions, and finding myself completely surrounded by thousands -batteries erected on the sand-mounds which completely commanded the fort-and the enemy having advanced, by regular approaches, within thirty yards of the ditches, and the utter impossibility of getting any assistance or supplies, would have induced me to adopt this measure, Feeling confident, and it being the unanimous opinion of the officers, that we could not retain the post, and that the lives of many valuable officers and soldiers would have been uselessly sacrificed, I thought it most desirable to adopt this plan. A full and correct statement will be furnished you as early as possible.

Captain Chamberlain, who bears this to E. Livingston, esq., will relate to him every particular, which will, I hope, be satisfactory I am, with respect, your obedient humble servant,

W. LAWRENCE,

Lieutenant-colonel, commanding. Major-general Jackson.

Articles of capitulation agreed upon between Lieutenant-Colo

nel Lawrence and Major-General Lambert, for the surrender of Fort Bowyer, on the Mobile Point, 11th February, 1815.

1. That the fort shall be surrendered to the arms of his Britannic majesty in its existing state as to the works, ordnance, ammunition, and every species of military stores.

2. That the garrison shall be considered as prisoners of war; the troops marching out with their colours flying, and drums beating, and ground their arms on the glacis—the officers retaining their swords, and the whole to be embarked in such ships as the British nával commander in chief shall appoint.

3. All private property to be respected.

4. That a communication shall be made immediately of the same to the commanding officer of the seventh military district of the United States, and every endeavour made to effect an early exchange of prisoners

5. That the garrison of the United States remain in the fort until 12 o'clock to-morrow, a British guard being put in possession of the inner gates at 3 o'clock to day, the guard remaining on the glacis, and that the British flag be hoisted at the same time-an officer of each service remaining at the head-quarters of each commander until the fulfilment of these articles.

H. G. SMITH,

Major, and military secretary. Agreed on the part of the royal navy.

T. H. RICKETTS, Captain H. M. ship Vengeur.

R. CHAMBERLAIN, Second regiment United States infantry.

WM. LAWRENCE, Lieutenant-colonel second infantry, commanding. APPROVED

ALEXANDER COCHRANE, Commander in chief of his majesty's

shipping. JOHN LAMBERT,

Major-general, commanding. A true copy, Test-John Reid, aid-de-camp.

Colonial Department.

Downing-street, April 17th, 1815. A despatch, of which the following is a copy, has been this day received by earl Bathurst, one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, from major-general sir John Lambert, K. C. B., commanding on the coast of Louisiana.

Head-Quarters, Isle Dauphine, My lord,

Feb. 14th, 1815. My despatch dated January 29th, will have informed your lordship of the re-embarkation of this force, which was completed on the 30th; the weather came on so bad on that night, and continued so until the 5th of February, that no communication could be held with the ships at the inner anchorage, a distance of about seventeen miles.

It being agreed between vice-admiral sir Alexander Cochrane and myself that operations should be carried towards

Mobile, it was decided that a force should be sent against Fort Bowyer, situated on the eastern point of the entrance of the bay, and from every information that could be obtained, it was considered a brigade would be sufficient for this object, with a respectable force of artillery. . I ordered the 2d brigade, composed of the 4th, 21st, and 44th regiments, for this service, together with such means in the engineer and artillery departments, as the chief and commanding officer of the royal artillery might think expedient. The remainder of the force had orders to disembark on Isle Dauphine, and encamp; and major-general Keane, whom I am truly happy to say has returned to his duty, superintended their arrangement.

The weather being favourable on the 7th, for the landing to the eastward of Mobile Point, the ships destined to move on that service, sailed under the command of captain Ricketts, of the Vengeur, but did not arrive in sufficient time that evening to do more than determine the place of disembarkation, which was about three miles from Fort Bowyer.

At day-light the next morning the troops got into the boats, and 600 men were landed under lieutenant-colonel Debbeig of the 44th, without opposition, who immediately threw out the light companies under lieutenant Bennett, of the fourth regiment, to cover the landing of the brigade. Upon the whole being disembarked, a disposition was made to move on towards the fort, covered by the light companies. The enemy was not seen until about 1000 yards in front of their works; they gradually fell back, and no firing took place, until the whole had retired into the fort, and our advance had pushed on nearly to within three hundred yards. Having reconnoitred the fort with lieutenant-colonels Burgoyne and Dickson, we were decidedly of opinion, that the work was formidable only against an assault; that batteries being once established, it must speedily fall. Every exertion was made by the navy to land provisions, and the necessary equipment o the battering train and engineer stores. We broke ground on the night of the 8th, and advanced a firing party to within one hundred yards of the fort during the night. T'he position of the batteries being decided upon the next day, they were ready to receive their guns on the night of the 10th, and on the morning of the 11th, the fire of a battery of four eighteenpounders on the left, and two eight-inch howitzers on the right, each about one hundred yards distant, two six-pounders at about three hundred yards, and eight small cohorns adVOL. IV.

(Rr7

vantageously placed on the right, with intervals between of one hundred and two hundred yards, all furnished to keep up an incessant fire for two days, were prepared to open. Preparatory to commencing, I summoned the fort, allowing the commanding officer half an hour for decision upon such terms as were proposed. Finding he was ficlined to consider them, I prolonged the period at his request, and at 3 o'clock the fort was given up to a British guard, and British colours hoisted; the terms being signed by major Smith, military secretary, and captain Ricketts, R. N., and finally approved of by the vice-admiral and myself, which I have the honour to inclose. I am happy to say our loss was not very great; and we are indebted for this, in a great measure, to the efficient means attached to this force. Had we been obliged to resort to any other mode of attack, the fall could not have been looked for under such favourable circumstances.

We have certain information of a force having been sent from Mobile, and disembarked about 12 miles off, in the night of the 10th, to attempt its relief; two schooners with provisions and an intercepted letter fell into our hands, taken by captain Price, royal navy, stationed in the bay.

I cannot close this despatch without naming to your lordship, again, lieutenant-colonels Dickson, royal artillery, and Burgoyne, royal engineers, who displayed their usual zeal and abilities; and lieutenant Bennett, of the 4th, who commanded the light companies, and pushed up close to the enemy's works.

Captain the honourable R. Spencer, royal navy, who had been placed with a detachment of seamen under my orders, greatly facilitated the service in every way by his exertions.

From captain Ricketts, of the royal navy, who was charged with the landing and disposition of the naval force, I received every assistance. (Signed)

JOHN LAMBERT,

Major-general, commanding. Earl Bathurst, 85c.

Fort Bowyer, February 14, 1815. Return of ordnance, ammunition, and stores, captured from

the enemy in this place, on the 12th instant: 1 24-pounder, 2 9-pounders, outside of the fort.

Guns. Iron-3 32-pounders, 8 24-pounders, 6 12-pounders, 5 9.pounders.

Brass-1 4-pounder.

Mortar-1 8-inch.

Howitzer-1 5-inch.

Shot.

32-pounder-856 round, 64 grape, 11 case.
24-pounder-851 round, 176 bar, 286 grape, 84 case.
12-pounder-535 round, 74 grape, 439 case.

9-pounder-781 round, 208 grape, 429 case.

6-pounder-15 round, 75 bar, 13 case. 4-pounder-231 round, 38 grape, 147 case. Shells-25 8-inch, 74 54-inch.

183 hand grenades.

5,519 pounds of powder. 1 triangle gin, complete.

16,976 musket-ball cartridges. 500 flints.

Return of casualties in the army under the command of MajorGeneral Lambert, employed before Fort Bowyer, between the 8th and 12th of February, 1815.

Royal sappers and miners-1 rank and file wounded.

4th foot-8 rank and file killed; 2 serjeants, 13 rank and file wounded.

21st foot-2 serjeants, 2 rank and file, killed; 1 rank and file wounded.

40th foot-1 rank and file killed; 1 rank and file wounded. Total-13 killed, 18 wounded. (Signed)

F. STOVEN, Deputy-adjutant-general..

Return of the American garrison, of Fort Bowyer, which surrendered to the force under major-general Lambert, 11th February, 1815.