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American gunboat engaged with British on Lake Borgne, Dec. 14, 1814. Water color attributed to Warren. Courtesy Newport News Museum. (Bailey Collection).
out of range to await reinforcements. Four more barges joined the first three, and the seven renewed the attack. Johnson had chosen his defensive position well, stationing his vessel near the two 6-pounders mounted ashore. Each attacking barge carried a cannon and the sailors and marines on board all possessed small arms. For morethri 30 minutes the battle raged, but in the end the British broke off the action, having, Jones reported, ?one Boat apparently much injured, and with the loss of several men killed and wounded.? Nevertheless, the odds were stacked too heavily against the gallant little schooner and her crew of stalwart sailors. That evening an explosion and a large fire from Bay St. Louis announced to Jones the destruction of Sea Horse and the public property there.
The young lieutenant was playing for time. His withdrawal forced the British to keep coming after
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