The Washington Navy Yard in the War of 1812-- Part 1: the Navy Yard Rifles and Battle of Bladensburg

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

Back to Lawrence Rousseau-- Part 2: The USS Erie and USS Ontario

From the Baltimore Heritage Site.

On March 3, 1813, Congress authorized the construction of six sloops-of-war to the design of naval architect William Doughty.  In Baltimore, Thomas Kemp took the design on began work on the USS Ontario and USS Erie at his Fells Point shipyard.

The Erie was launched on November 3, 1813 and the Ontario on Nov. 28.

Master Commandant Robert T. Spence of the Ontario spent the winter months of 1814 recruiting a crew, but the delay caused him to become stuck in Baltimore because of the British blockade.  It stayed there until the end of the war.

--Brock-Perry