Action of 13 December 1814 (Louisiana Campaign)

Action of 13 December 1814
Part of the War of 1812
A schooner, name unknown, similar to USS Sea Horse
Date December 13, 1814 Location near Lake Borgne, Louisiana Result American victory
Belligerents
British Empire	United States
Commanders and leaders
Nicholas Lockyer	William Johnson
Strength
42 armed boats	Land: Unknown artillery 1 shore battery Sea: 1 schooner
Casualties and losses
Unknown killed or wounded Several armed longboats damaged	2 killed 2 wounded 1 schooner damaged
The American schooner was scuttled shortly after the engagement to prevent capture.

The Action of 13 December 1814 was a naval action during the War of 1812. A flotilla of British longboats were on their way to fight the Battle of Lake Borgne. Before reaching the lake, they would encounter an American schooner of the United States Navy.

The Louisiana Campaign had begun, British ships were sailing off the American southern coast, destination New Orleans. The British landing area for the invasion of Louisiana was set for Lake Borgne but in order to land, a squadron of American gunboats and other ships, had to be destroyed. At night, on December 13, 1814, the British set course for the lake.

Alexander Cochrane, of the Royal Navy, ordered Captain Nicholas Lockyer to proceed to the lake with a force of forty-two armed longboats, armed barges, armed launches and three armed gigs. Manned by 1,000 to 1,200 sailors and marines with 8 to 24 pound guns, mounted at the bow of the longboats. The force pushed off from HMS Armide at an unknown time of evening.

American forces, on USS Sea Horse and commanded by Sailing Master William Johnson were on a mission to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to destroy a store of weapons to prevent its possible capture by the British fleet sailing in the region. Sea Horse was armed with only one 6 pound cannon and had a crew of fourteen men. The Americans also had a shore battery and unknown amount of artillery on land.

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