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Joshua Barney (1759-1818) was a commodore in the United States Navy, born in Baltimore, Maryland, who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Joshua Barney in Trail of Glory[]
During the Battle of Bladensburg, Joshua Barney and his men were able to give a good account of themselves until they were overrun by the British after the militia that were supposed to be supporting Barney's men had fled. Barney himself received an injury to his thigh and was captured. He was visited by General Robert Ross and Admiral George Cockburn, who paroled him.
Sailors that had served with Barney joined Lt. Patrick Driscol and Captain Sam Houston in defending Washington. When the British learned this, they carried Barney to the Capitol Building under a flag of truce. While Barney was the senior officer present, he was too badly wounded to participate. He was pleased to see someone defending the city, however, and gave Houston his blessing.
Barney was removed to a more secure part of the building, along with Cherokee children Tiana Rogers, John and Nancy Ridge, and Buck Watie, a group of children who'd come with Houston to Washington at the insistence of Major Ridge, who'd wanted them to have a more American education. Barney's wounds were tended by Tiana, who surprised him by speaking English. He was nonetheless pleased with her skill, as he had little faith in "proper doctors."
Just prior to the outbreak of the fighting, Driscol consulted Barney about the British Congreve rockets. Barney's experience was that the rockets were inaccurate, just as likely to harm the British as the Americans, and were more useful for frightening opponents than inflicting damage upon them. Barney was impressed with how Driscol carried himself, and soon concluded that between Driscol and Houston, the Americans might win the day.
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