During the War of 1812, British forces entered the Chesapeake Bay and threatened towns, plantations, and the cities of Washington and Baltimore. To counter this threat, Congress ordered the creation of the Chesapeake Flotilla under Commodore Joshua Barney. With 18 row barges and sail-powered gunboats, it was a small force compared to the powerful British Navy. In its first battle in June 1814, the flotilla was forced to retreat and became trapped in St. Leonard's Creek on the lower Patuxent River. After numerous skirmishes, Barney and his flotilla escaped and fled upriver, but British assaults continued through the summer. On August 22, 1814, to prevent its capture, Barney burned the flotilla as British Rear Admiral George Cockburn watched from Mount Calvert. Barney and his men then marched to Washington, gathered reinforcements, and fought at the Battle of Bladensburg before the British prevailed, entered Washington, and burned the Capitol, White House, and other federal buildings.