Jackson knew that one of the best approaches for the British would be Lake Bourgne. Lake Bourgne was the first major body of water between the Gulf of Mexico and actual land. Small islands and shallow water were the only boundaries. Jackson sent five gunboats to defend on the muddy waters of Lake Bourgne. This must have been the most important avenue as the five gunboats left only one other gunboat in the fleet. Cochrane saw this and sent Captain Lockyer to begin an assault. On December 14, 1814, the battle had begun. The five gunboats were no match for the 45 oar-rowed boats Cochrane ordered into the water for the attack. The small US fleet was destroyed, four men killed, and the rest captured. Lieutenant Jones, commanding the fleet, was able to dispatch a rider to inform Jackson of the amphibious invasion. Jones was one of the men killed in the first attack (Fleming,