ilt upon the bay, and possessing
a tolerable harbour, we stood in so close as to discern the
inhabitants flying from their houses; carts and waggons loaded
with furniture hurrying along the roads, and horsemen galloping
along the shore, as if watching the fearful moment when the boats
should be hoisted out, and the troops quit the vessels. Wherever
a lighthouse or signal station was erected, alarm-guns were fired
and beacons lighted. In a word, all the horrors of doubt and
apprehension seemed to oppress the inhabitants of this devoted
district.

The fair wind continuing to blow without interruption, on the
11th we came in sight of the projecting headland, where it was
designed to disembark the troops. It was a promontory washed by
the Patapsco on one side, and a curvature of the bay itself on
the other. It was determined to land here, rather than to ascend
the river, because the Patapsco, though broad, is far from deep.
It is, in fact, too shallow to admit a line-of-battle ship; and,
as no one could guess what impediments might be thrown in the way
to obstruct the navigation, prudence forbade that five thousand
men should be intrusted to the convoy of the smaller vessels
alone. Besides, the distance from the point to Baltimore did not
exceed fourteen or fifteen miles, a space which might easily be
traversed in a day.

But while the land forces moved in this direction upon Baltimore, it
was resolved that the frigates and bomb-ships should endeavour to
force their way through every obstacle, and to obtain possession of
the navigation of the river, so as, if possible, to co-operate with
the army by bombarding the place from the water. A frigate was
accordingly dispatched to try the depth, and to take soundings of the
channel, whilst the remainder of the fleet came to an anchor off the
point. In the meantime all was again bustle and preparation on board
the troop-ships and transports. Three days' provisions were cooked, as
before, and given to the men; and as we were now to carry everything
by a coup-de-main, twenty rounds of ammunition were added to the sixty
with which soldiers are usually loaded; whilst a smaller quantity of
other baggage was directed to be taken on shore. A blanket, with a
spare shirt and pair of shoes, was considered enough for each man on
an expedition of so rapid a nature; whilst brushes and other articles
of that description were divided between comrades, one carrying what
would suffice