On December 14, 1814, a small squadron of five American gunboats, a tender, and one dispatch boat under the command of Lt. Thomas ap Catesby Jones fought a desperate delaying action against a large flotilla of armed British barges carrying about 1,200 troops to begin the invasion of New Orleans. With no wind, both sides rowed for position. The British overwhelmed the Americans and won the battle, but Jones bought Andrew Jackson valuable time.