On Sept. 20 and Sept 21, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in St. Leonards hosted the War of 1812 North American Grand Tactical – a re-enactment of the British invasion in 1812. While talking with JPPM’ s executive director, Mike Smolek it was revealed that the War of 1812 was not the second Revolutionary War as most think.

 “The British were protecting their last interest in North America – Canada,” said Smolek.

 The weekend’s events at JPPM culminated with a re-enactment of the Battle of St. Leonard Creek. “The Southern Maryland Militias were involved,” said Smolek, “but the real war was a naval battle between a superior British fleet and the Chesapeake Flotilla.”

 On June 26, 1814 the Battle of St. Leonard Creek occurred at the current site of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum British ships, boats, and rocket barges locked horns with the Chesapeake Flotilla, which had been put together by Commodore Barney after the British had blockaded the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. According to Smolek, “They called the Chesapeake a British Lake. No shipping could enter or leave the bay.”

 Until Barney created the Chesapeake Flotilla, the fledgling U.S. had no navy to protect its shores. Barney’s Flotilla consisted of seven 75-foot barges, six 50-foot barges, two gunboats, one row-galley, one lookout boat and the 49 foot flagship Scorpion.  Barney’s small, under gunned fleet of 18 vessels headed out to engage the British in May of 1814. The target of his fleet was Tangier Island, a British encampment.

 The Chesapeake Flotilla caught up with the British and gave battle – the first Battle of Leonardtown Creek on June 10, 1814. During that battle, after six hours of continual fighting, the Americans escaped without injury, succeeding in its mission to harass the British fleet. The British and Barney engaged again on June 26.

 During the second fight, both fleets retreated up the Patuxent for repairs. The Americans held St. Leonard Creek, but eventually had to retreat further up the Patuxent to an area where Wayson’s Corner is today. Barney ended up having to scuttle the entire Chesapeake Flotilla because of battle damage.

 With the flotilla no longer a threat, the British proceeded up the Patuxent, landed at Benedict and marched on Washington.