Unit/ Formation: Royal Marines
Location: North America
Period/ Conflict: War of 1812
Year: 1814
Date/s: 24 August 1814
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A British force of army regulars including a Company of Royal Marines routed a combined U.S. force of Regular Army and state militia troops at Bladensburg, Maryland, 8.6 miles (13.8 km) northeast of the federal capital of Washington, D.C.. U.S. defeat resulted in the capture and burning of Washington.
A company fought at the Battle of Bladensburg, and the other two companies including a rocket detachment from the Royal Marines battalion took part in the burning of Washington.
One of the firing parties was led by Second Lieutenant Lewis Agassiz (1793–1866); for his part in the battle, his family was later granted a coat of arms depicting a torch.
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Casualties suffered by the Colonial Marines during this action were one man killed and three wounded.
Few buildings were spared but of those were the Marine Barracks and Commandant's House, left untouched as a mark of respect for the bravery shown by the US Marines at the battle of Bladensburg.
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The Marines had brought heavier field guns and artillery to support Commodore Barney’s troops, which likely would have been able to hold their ground had they not then been peppered with cannon fire.
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