Virginia Argus

Admiralty Office, April 15, 1815.

Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, G. C. B. etc. to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated on board his majesty's ship Tonnant, off Mobile Bay, the 11th of February, 1815.

It being the intention of Major Gen. Lambert and myself to have attacked Mobile, and finding the entrance into the Bay so guarded by Fort Bowyer, as to render it unsafe to attempt forcing a passage with the smaller ships of war, the Major General and myself thought it advisable to attack the Fort by land; and on the 7th a detachment of ships, under the command of Captain Ricketts, of the Vengeur, effected a landing of the troops intended for this service about three miles to the eastward of the fort, which was immediately invested, and our trenches, in the course of forty-eight hours pushed to within pistol shot of the enemy's works.

The batteries being completed on the 11th, the fort was summoned, when the officer commanding it, seeing the impossibility of effecting any good by further resistance, agreed to surrender upon the terms proposed to him by Major Gen'l. Lambert (a copy of the capitulation is enclosed) and on the following day the garrison consisting of about 365 soldiers of the enemy's second regiment of infantry and artillery, marched out and grounded their arms, and were embarked on board the ships of the squadron.

The fort was found to be in a complete state of repair, having 22 guns mounted, and being amply provided with ammunition. To Capt. Ricketts, and to the hon. Capt. Spencer, who commanded the seamen landed with the army, I am indebted for their zeal and exertions in landing and transporting the cannon and supplies, by which the fort was so speedily reduced.