Raid on Chesconessex Creek

Scott had scouted the area around the fort before the raid and on 25 June commanded the lead British boat, directed by a local guide who was one of Joynes' escaped slaves.^[6][4] Other runaway slaves who had joined the Corps of Colonial Marines formed part of Scott's force. The runaways formed an important part of the British force; their knowledge of American positions and the local landscape allowed the British to raid further inland than otherwise would have been possible.^[6] The overall command of the British force was with Lieutenant George Urmston, first lieutenant of the Albion. The British troops comprised several hundred sailors, Royal Marines and Colonial Marines from Albion, Dragon and Endymion.^[7][8] Joynes' battery was manned by a force of the Accomac Shire militia.^[7]

Favourable wind and wave conditions allowed the British to approach the fort undetected by cover of night.^[7] Scott's boat landed at 1:30 a.m., on the shore around 0.25 miles (0.40 km) in front of the fort, which opened fire at point blank range with its six-pounder cannon to no effect.^[7][4] With drawn sword, Scott led his marines in a charge over the ramparts, catching the Americans by surprise.^[4] Other British forces worked around the rear of the fort.^[7] The American garrison broke and ran almost immediately, Joynes being seen by Scott to run away unarmed and clothed only in his sleeping shirt and boots. Scott formed a group of his marines into line at the fort's entrance, but was only able to fire one significant musket volley before the Americans disappeared into the forest.^[4]

The British troops dismounted the American cannon, which was taken back to the fleet, and destroyed the fort. Scott took Joynes' hat, coat, and sword from his office as trophies.^[4] A number of American guard houses in the area were also burnt.^[8]

Cockburn reported the raid to his superior Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane by letter on 25 June, enclosing a report by Urmston. Cockburn noted that it was the third American battery and second gun captured by his forces in shoreline raids since 9 May.^[8] The raid was a complete success, removing the threat posed by the fort and disheartening local American forces.^[4] The raid, together with the Ocracoke raid of 1813 and the Pongoteague raid of 30 May 1814, helped develop the Colonial Marines' reputation as enthusiastic, obedient and effective troops. They went on to serve in the August Battle of Bladensburg and Burning of Washington, the US capital.^[9]

Scott gave the clothing he had captured from Joynes to a black sergeant of the Colonial Marines, eliciting a letter of complaint from the American that he had allowed them to be worn by "a G[o]d d[amne]d black nigger".^[6] Joynes went on to become colonel and commander of the 2nd Regiment of Virginia Militia.^[2]

Urmston was promoted to commander on Cockburn's recommendation for good service in the American theatre in 1814, and he remained in this rank at death in Dieppe, France, in 1820.^[10] Scott went on to serve as aide-de-camp to Cockburn during his land campaign and was present at Bladensburg and Washington. He was mentioned in dispatches ten times during the war and went on to command ships in the First Opium War and ended his career as an admiral and knight commander of the Order of the Bath.^[11][12]