 By 10 May , Tangier Island off the Virginia coast had been occupied by the British and offered an accessible location for those seeking refuge . Male refugees were given the option " to become blue Jackets , take up arms or [ to ] join the working party " constructing Fort Albion and its infrastructure . The Corps was embodied on 18 May 1814 and made its combat debut in the raid on Pungoteague Creek on 30 May 1814 where , in a skirmish known as the Battle of Rumley 's Gut , it helped capture an American artillery battery . James Ross , captain of HMS Albion , later described their involvement as " a most excellent specimen of what they are likely to be . Their conduct was marked by great spirit and vivacity , and perfect obedience " . One , a soldier named Michael Harding , was killed early in the battle but " it did not daunt or check the others , but on the contrary animated them to seek revenge " . Cockburn 's initial impressions were positive ; he observed that the new recruits were " getting on astonishingly " and were " really fine fellows " . After this , the Corps participated in the Chesapeake campaign ; in subsequent correspondence , Cockburn wrote that the recruits had behaved " unexpectedly well " in several engagements and had not committed any " improper outrages " . 
