History of Washington, D.C. problems, and plans for further construction to reach the Ohio River were abandoned. During the War of 1812, British forces conducted an expedition between August 19 and 29, 1814, that took and burned the capital city. On August 24, the British routed an American militia, which had gathered at Bladensburg, Maryland to protect the capital (see Battle of Bladensburg). The militia then abandoned Washington without a fight. President James Madison and the remainder of the U.S. government fled the capital shortly before the British arrived. The British then entered and burned the capital during the most notably destructive raid of
USS Wasp (1814) She remained at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, until late spring awaiting sailing orders and, upon receipt of them, put to sea on 1 May 1814 for a war cruise to the western approaches to the English Channel. "Wasp" captured her first vessel, the 207-ton barque "Neptune", on 2 June 1814, embarked her crew as prisoners, and burned the prize at sea. On 13 June 1814, she took "William", a 91-ton brig, and burned her as well. "Wasp" encountered the 131-ton armed brig "Pallas" on 18 June 1814, captured her, apparently without resistance, and scuttled her. Her fourth victim, 171-ton galiot "Henrietta",