HISTORY

December 14, 1814
Battle of Lake Borgne

Lake Borgne was defended by the USS Sea Horse, a one-gun schooner and five small boats which carried 23 small caliber cannon and 180 men between them under the command of Navy Lt. "Tac" Jones.

On December 10th, British forces unable to cross the shallow bar that blocked the lake entrance began to transfer troops into 45 small boats, each armed with a 12 or 24 pound carronade (short barrel cannon.) Manned by over 1,000 marines and protected by the HMS Sophie an 18-gun sloop.

Facing overwhelming odds, On December 14th Jones performed the only available option and retreated his force to the protection of the guns at Ft. Petites Coquilles. The British, however, were determined to destroy Jones' flotilla. The first victim was the USS Sea Horse. Caught trying to remove stores from a side bay, Sailing Master Johnson held off the British for 30 minutes before the surrounded Johnson blew up both the USS Sea Horse and the stores.

Shortly afterwards Jones was reinforced by the USS Alligator, a sloop armed with a single 4-pounder. Hopelessly outgunned, the USS Alligator put up only token resistance before being captured.

Jones' luck was no better. On the way to the fort, three of his gunboats ran aground and the wind died, trapping the little force. The Americans had lost their only advantage: the ability to out maneuver the British with sails and the protection of an American fort. Jones and his men still managed to sink two British boats before they were boarded and the American crews taken captive.