During the War of 1812, the Navy Yard was important not only in its support capacity, but also as a link in the defenses of Washington, D.C.. Sailors from the yard were hastily assembled to resist the British advance at Bladensburg.
An independent volunteer militia rifle company of civilian workers there were organized by naval architect William Doughty and trained regularly after working hours. They were designated the Navy Yard Rifles. They were under the overall command of Washington's first mayor, Major Robert Brent of the 2nd Regt. of the District of Columbia Militia.
In late August the company was ordered to assemble at Bladensburg, Maryland, to form the first line of defense against the approaching British. When the first line was ordered to retreat, the Navy Yard Rifles fell back to the third line of defense and joined the Chesapeake Bay Flotilla sailors and U.S. Marines and with devastating artillery fire and desperate hand-to-hand combat before being forces to withdraw.
This defense slowed the British advance.
--Brock-Perry
