Gordon rejoined Cochrane on September 9. Although, the raid had been very successful in financial terms, the delays caused by the difficult navigation of the Potomac prevented him from supporting the attack on Washington. Cochrane had been forced to wait for Gordon for several days, partly in case Gordon required rescue and also because Gordon's flotilla included most of the available bomb-ketches and rocket vessels in Cochrane's fleet. This delay gave the defenders of Baltimore time to reinforce their defences and allowed them to repulse the British attack on that city.