200 YEARS AGO TODAY, on Friday, December 9, 1814:THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE ARRIVED OFF OF DAUPHIN ISLAND (from Judge Alexander Walker's 1856 book, JACKSON AND NEW ORLEANS)

"The pilots, who have accompanied the fleets from the 
West Indies, have announced that the land is not far 

off and all parties are on deck, eagerly

straining their eyes for a view of the desired shore.

There, in the distance, they soon discover a

long, shining white line, 

which sparkles in the sun like an island of fire.

Presently it becomes more distinct and substantial 

and the man at the look-out proclaims 'land ahead'. 

The leading ships approach as near 

as is prudent and their crews, especially the land 

troops, experience no little disappointment at the 

bleak and forbidding aspect of Dauphin Island, 

with its long, sandy 
beach, its dreary, stunted pines, and the entire 

absence of any vestige of settlement or cultivation. 

Turning to the west, the fleet avoids the island and 

proceeds towards a favorable anchorage in the 

direction of the Chandeleur islands, the wind in the 

meantime having chopped around and blowing 

too strong from the shore to justify 

an attempt to enter the lake at night. 

As the Tonnant and Seahorse pass near to Dauphin 
Island, the attention of the Vice-Admiral 

is called to two small vessels, 

lying between the island and the 

shore. They are neat little craft, sloop-rigged, and 

evidently armed. They appear to be watching the 

movements of the British ships and when the latter 

take a western course, they weigh anchor and 

follow in the same direction. 

At night-fall the signal 

'to anchor' is made from the Tonnant and the order 

is quickly obeyed by all the vessels in the squadron.
The suspicious little sloops, as if in apprehension 

of a night attack of boats, then press all sail and 

proceed in the direction of Biloxi Bay. 

They prove to be the United States gunboats No. 23, Lieutenant 

McKeever (now Commodore McKeever, [and] No. 163, 

Sailing Master Ulrick, which had been detached from 

the squadron of Lieutenant Thomas Ap Catesby Jones..."

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