sentences:  American independence led to Bermuda's designation as the headquarters and dockyard of the Royal Navy's North America and West Indies Squadron, with a heavy buildup of regular British Army units for both the defence of the colony, and for launching potential expeditions and campaigns throughout the region, as was demonstrated during the War of 1812, when most of the Atlantic ports of the United States were blockaded by the fleet based in Bermuda, and the Chesapeake Campaign, which included the Burning of Washington, was launched from the colony.During the American Civil War, St. George's, Bermuda was the primary harbour from which British and European war material was smuggled into the South aboard blockade runners (also built in Britain).Cotton travelled in the reverse direction in payment.