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
USS Mohawk (1814) Chauncey for service against the British on Lake Ontario, "Mohawk" departed Sackets Harbor on 31 July 1814 in Chauncey’s squadron to challenge the British squadron of Captain Sir James Yeo, Royal Navy, for control of the lake during the crucial Niagara campaign of 1814. Sailing up to the head of the lake seeking the British squadron, the American ships found the enemy had retired to Kingston, Ontario. In mid-July, "Mohawk", in company with the full-rigged ships USS "Superior", USS "General Pike", and USS "Madison", began a blockade of the Canadian port, remaining there for 45 days, providing valuable support for