Colmar Manor in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Marines & Flotillamen

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

— Battle of Bladensburg —

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 18, 2016

1. Battle of Bladensburg Marker

Inscription. U.S. Marines, under Captain Samuel Miller, joined Commodore Joshua Barney’s flotillamen at the third line near here. Colonel William Thornton of the British Light Brigade led a charge and ran directly into the cannons under Barney’s command. A dangerous crossfire ensued between Barney’s forces—backed with the smaller guns of Major Peter’s Georgetown Artillery—and the British forces. An American quartermaster under Miller recalled, “Whole companies were cut down to a man as they approached our lines..”

Joshua Barney was an American war hero before making a stand at the Battle of Bladensburg. A native of Maryland, he was the youngest commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy during the Revolutionary War. In the War of 1812, he was in charge of the Chesapeake Flotilla, a “mosquito fleet” of boats intended to annoy the British. The flotilla he designed, consisting of low draft barges equipped with large guns, as ideally suited for the shallow waters along the Chesapeake Bay. Barney’s flotilamen were a diverse group, including escaped slaves like Charles Ball. They also were some of the toughest

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and best-trained troops on the field at Bladensburg.

“Barney Leave the Girls Alone”
Described as having a gentle face with dark blue eyes, Joshua Barney had a swashbuckling life. He was taken prisoner three times and escaping prison once in the Revolutionary War. As a dashing naval officer, he met Marie Antionette whereupon she offered her cheek instead of her hand. Legend holds that the song “Barney Leave the Girls Alone” was written about him.

(Inscription under the image on the left)
Battle of Bladensburg. Courtesy NPS/c Richard Schlecht.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series list.

Location. 38° 55.998′ N, 76° 57.097′ W. Memorial is in Colmar Manor, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It is on 37th Avenue. The marker is located at the entrance to Colmar Manor Park near Dueling Creek. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Brentwood MD 20722, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 18, 2016

2. Battle of Bladensburg Marker

This marker is the marker on the left.

is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Valiant Stand (a few steps from this marker); The Road to the Capitol (a few steps from this marker); Dueling Grounds (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Road to the Capital (about 400 feet away); Bladensburg Dueling Grounds (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Dueling Grounds (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Second Line Falls (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Fort Lincoln Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colmar Manor.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Second Line Falls (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Sign at the entrance to Colmar Manor Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 18, 2016

3. Sign at the entrance to Colmar Manor Park

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 651 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.