The Marines in the War of 1812-- Part 2: Frigate Action

Marine detachments took place in the great frigate fights which resulted in many American victories.  They acquired the reputation as marksmen in ship-to-ship actions.

On 27 April 1813, they assisted the U.S. Army in Colonel Winfield Scott's attack on York, Upper Canada (now Toronto).

Under Navy Commodore Joshua Barney and Captain Samuel Miller, they helped delay the British advance on Washington, D.C., at the Battle of Bladensburg by holding the line after the Army and militia retreated, though they were eventually overcome.  Tradition hold s it that the British did not destroy the Marine Barracks and Commandant's house when they burned Washington out of respect for their fight at Bladensburg, though it is thought that they might have been intending to use them as headquarters.

There is also an unfounded tale that two Marine NCOs buried treasure there to prevent its capture.

At the Battle of New Orleans they held the center of Andrew Jackson's defensive line.

During the war, the Marines had 46 killed and 66 wounded.

--Brock-Perry