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forces off Ship Island consisting only of one ship of the line, two frigates, a brig and two schooners. However, he pointed out that all ?are provided with a number of large Barges, which with the schooners and Brig are always kept in such positions that we cannot approach them with the Gun vessels without first encountering one of the Ships.?
Meanwhile Commander Patterson went down river with General Jackson ?to make him acquainted with it.? They selected sites for forts ?to defend the approach of the enemy by that route.? Patterson returned to New Orleans on December 10. He reported ?as soon as my duties here for the defense of the river will permit? that he would proceed to Lake Borgne and act ?with the gun vessels against the enemy?. Events moved too fast for that ? fortunately, because he was needed for the fateful events below New Orleans.
By the 12th Jones saw that the fleet off Ship Island had increased so much that, as he put it, it was neither safe nor prudent to remain in his present position. He slowly withdrew to the Mal-hereux Islands, ?which situation would better enable me to oppose a further penetration of the Enemy up the Lakes, and at the same time affort me an opportunity of retreating to the Petite Coquilles if necessary.? But the gunboats ha I already had a meaningful impact on the British. They had hoped to ferry their soldiers swiftly into Lake Borgne, land below New Orleans, and set upon the city before Jackson could collect his defenses, and but for Jones? little squadron probably would have. Admiral Cochrane had been fully confident of making good his boast that he would eat his Christmas dinner in New Orleans. He and General Keane now knew that they would have first to dispose of the
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