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Commodore Joshua Barney Commodore Barney commanded a small group of gunboats . . . little more than cannons mounted or barges . . . In the Washington-Baltimore area. Despite being completely outgunned, Barney's flotilla repeatedly escaped attempts to capture them by the British. Admiral Cockburn considered the commodore the only serious threat in the region. Finally ordered to burn his boats to prevent their capture, Barney's cannon and sailors were the only troops to hold their ground at Bladensburg in August 1814. Seriously outnumbered, Barney's cannon inflicted serious losses on the British before being overrun. Barney himself took a bullet in the thigh as he directed the cannons final withdrawal. Ordering his men to leave him behind, he was captured by the British. British General Ross himself met with Barney. "I am really very glad to see you, Commodore" the English officer commented. Barney replied: "I am sorry I cannot return your compliment." Joshua Barney would die of this wound in 1818.
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