War of 1812 E46 From Bladensburg to the Bayou

By the summer of 1814, the United States was on its heels. The capital had burned, Fort Washington had fallen without a fight, and Alexandria had surrendered. The British were tearing through the East Coast with little resistance, and it seemed like every decision by U.S. leadership only made things worse. But while the war’s political and military failures were piling up, one thing remained consistent: Marines and sailors kept showing up, ready to fight.

The Navy and Marine Corps played a critical role in slowing the British advance, even when outnumbered and outgunned. Their efforts, alongside local militias and U.S. Army forces, helped shift the tide in Baltimore, a turning point that kept the war from spiraling into total disaster.

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REFERENCES:

Abbot, W. J. (1899). The naval history of the United States. New York: Peter Fenelon Collier.

Brenton, E. P. (1970). The naval history of Great Britain: from the year Mdcclxxxiii. to Mdcccxxxvi. London: H. Colburn.

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Dundonald, T. E. of. (1860). The autobiography of a seaman. London: Bentley.

James, W., & Chamier, F. (1847). The naval history of Great Britain, from the declaration of war by France in 1793, to the accession of George Iv. London: R. Bentley.

Marshall, J. (1835). Royal Naval Biography: Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-Officers, Superannuated Rear-Admirals, Retired-Captains, Post-Captains, and Commanders. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified.

Miller, W. M., & Tyson, C. A. (1965). A chronology of the United States Marine Corps. Washington: Historical Branch, G-3 Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

Roosevelt, T. (2011). The Naval War of 1812, or, The history of the United States Navy during the last war with Great Britain: to which is appended an account of the Battle of New Orleans. United States: publisher not identified.