by John Marshall

“ The orderly and exemplary conduct of the men while on shore, particularly with respect to their sobriety, has been a principal cause of saving many valuable lives, and the return of the expedition with comparatively so small a loss [1] ; their conduct while on shore has drawn forth praise from the enemy they assailed, who speak of their behaviour with gratitude, acknowledging that the destruction of the shipping was their only object, and that no sort of injury was done to their persons, or to their properties. ”

“ It is with grief and mortification we perform the task of announcing to our readers, that on Friday morning last, four of the enemy’s barges and two launches, commanded by Captain Richard Coote, of the brig Borer, with 200 men, proceeded up Connecticut river to Pettipague point, and destroyed upwards of twenty sail of vessels, without sustaining the loss of a single man. ”

“ The enemy immediately after commenced the act of burning the vessels, and such as exposed the buildings on the wharfs they hauled into the stream; a party of fourteen men were sent in the mean time a quarter of a mile above the point, who put fire to several vessels which were on the stocks. At 10 o’clock, they left the shore entirely, and took possession of a brig and schooner which were built for privateers. These they attempted to beat down the river; but the brig getting on shore they burnt her, and the schooner was so light as to be unmanageable ”