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CAPTURE OF THE AMERICAN FLOTTILLA ON LAKE BORGNE, DECEMBER 14, 1814
Navy Lieutenant Thomas ap Catesby Jones, following Commodore Daniel Patterson's orders to "sink the enemy, or be sunk," placed his five gunboats across the mouth of Lake Borgne to watch the British and block their approach to New Orleans. The British, unable to bring their war ships into the shallow lake, sent Captain Nicholas Lockyer with 45 armed barges and 1200 sailors and marines to attack. Action opened at 11 a.m. the Americans firing furiously at the attacking boats, "but without much effect, the object being too small." By 1 p.m. Jones' flotilla was overwhelmed, with a loss of 6 men killed and 35 wounded to the British 17 killed and 77 wounded. American sailors fighting on Lake Borgne gave General Jackson what he needed most?time to prepare American defenses.