History of the United States Navy the ship!". Despite their earlier successes, by 1814 many of the Navy's best ships were blockaded in port and unable to prevent British incursions on land via the sea. During the summer of 1814, the British fought the Chesapeake Campaign, which was climaxed by amphibious assaults against Washington and Baltimore. The capital fell to the British almost without a fight, and several ships were burned at the Washington Navy Yard, including the 44-gun frigate USS "Columbia". At Baltimore, the bombardment by Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner", and the hulks blocking the channel prevented the
HMS Atalanta (1814) captured in the Bay of Biscay. Unfortunately, Blakeley took "Atalanta"s captain, mate and supercargo, all of whom were lost shortly thereafter when "Wasp" disappeared at sea. The capture gave rise to a case before the Supreme Court of the United States over the status of a cargo owned by a neutral though carried in a vessel belonging to the enemy. Notes Citations References HMS Atalanta (1814) HMS "Atalanta" was the American letter of marque schooner "Siro", launched in 1812, that the British captured in 1814. There is no evidence that she actually entered into active service with the Royal Navy.