On the way up, they came upon Ft. Washington on the Maryland side of the river. This formidable fort was recently renamed from the old name Warburton. The British came toward it cautiously and prepared a landing party to do what they could. It was quite likely the fort could reduce the mini-fleet to splinters.
To the Britisher's great surprise, they witnessed a great explosion as the fort garrison panicked and detonated charges to destroy everything lest it fall into British hands. The US garrison then ran. The fort was no longer a problem for the invaders.
The residents of Alexandria, the next town south of Washington, had seen what became of Washington and were thoroughly convinced that the same fate awaited them from this additional invasion force if they did not comply. The British were busy aboard their ships thinking about what they wanted to demand when the boat of Alexandria's negotiating officials appeared to plead for mercy. The payment in wheat, tobacco, and other goods was steep, but repairs would cost even more. Payment was soon made after the British had landed at Alexandria's ports.
It might be kept in mind by the reader that this was "George Washington country". His estate, Mt. Vernon, was just a few miles down the Virginia riverside country road from Alexandria. Mr. Washington, deceased by the time of this attack, knew Alexandria very well.
There was a minor disturbance in the peace of temporary British occupation of Alexandria when a team of US soldiers, not having discussed their actions with any officials, decided Alexandria was giving in too easy and being disgracefully trod upon. They made a bit of a ruckus with weapons fire, but didn't accomplish anything but to panic the Alexandria officials. Things were soon smoothed out and the US soldiers disappeared down the road to Mt. Vernon.
Believe it or not, the US was actually planning to DO something.
US Militia General Hungerford had some soldiers and guns (cannon) at his disposal. He had some experience chasing British raiding parties earlier that summer (and previous) in and along Virginia's river mouths, and was ready for action. Overshadowing his name were the famous naval commanders Porter and Perry who had been summoned for help. Commadore Oliver Hazard Perry was best known then and now for his defeat of the British mini-fleet on the great lakes and his message "We have met the enemy and they are ours". Now he was in town to do what he could. Captain Porter is less world reknown today but at the time his exploits in the Pacific Ocean, and his subsequent capture and escape were more famous than Perry. Sadly, today he is generally forgotten.
Another odd and confusing fact is that a well known house and landmark below Mt. Vernon was called "the White House", but had nothing to do with the President. Curiouser still was the fact that British Admiral Cockburn owned land nearby!
With Porter and his men and guns on one side of the Potomac river, and Perry and his men and guns on the other, and Hungerford and his men and guns near the White House, the US forces awaited the British to pass them on their return to the Chesapeake Bay.
Indeed, late in August, for a few days, these forces fired upon each other. While War of 1812 history buffs such as your auther find the details facinating as well as frustrating, the end result is that the US forces had no significant effect upon the British mini-fleet and it escaped to join the rest of the fleet for the move to Baltimore.
It may be just as well. The only "rocket ship" of the fleet that attacked Ft. McHenry (the Erebus) and resulted in our National Anthem mentioning "the rocket's red glare" was with this mini-fleet in the Potomac and kept its appointment with destiny. Two of the five bomb ships that provided "the bombs bursting in air" were also in the Potomac fleet.
Chagrined by this failure, Perry and Porter travelled on to Baltimore to lend a hand.