The Officers and those who were on the central float sprang ashore, as they were expected ; received and repulsed a charge which the enemy's guard made on them; but failed to receive the slightest support from those who were on the other two floats, who, instead of landing, sullenly " lay upon their oars." The enemy seeing that disaffection, rallied, and returned to the charge, with great spirit; and the Americans, those from the central float, finding themselves deserted, returned to their own float, with heavy loss; and the entire expedition withdrew from the island -- whether the fourth float, on which were the Artillery and which was intended as a covering party, performed any service, is not now known, as nothing whatever has been said of it, in the narrative of the encounter and retreat. It is said that Lieutenant-colonel Jackson received a musket-ball in his leg; that Major Thomas Henley, one of the Aides-de-camp of General Heath, who had insisted on going out with the expedition, as a Volunteer, was shot through his heart, as he was getting into the float; that Major Hatfield was missing ; and that the Americans lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, fourteen men.'^

There was a wide-spread sorrow expressed for the death of Major Henley, who appears to have been a general favorite ; and the cowardice of those who held back their support was as widely reprobated ; but, in the prevailing temper of that period, although the delinquents were arrested and tried by Courtmartial, nothing appears to have been done with them, beyond the cashiering of one of the Captains.^