Marines had been enlisted by the War Department starting about six months before July 1798 as crews for the frigates authorized by Congress.

During the first several months that he was Commandant, his principal concern was the supplying and keeping up to strength the Marine detachments for the vessels of the Navy.

A small detachment of Marines was sent to the new capital in March of that year to protect the newly established navy yard, while Major Burrows, with his staff and headquarters troops, moved to Washington in late July and set up their camp.

The Barbary Wars broke out soon afterwards and the main concern of the Corps was to supply detachments to naval vessels for duty in the Mediterranean.

Lieutenant Colonel Burrows is credited with beginning many of the Corps' institutions, including, most notably, the U.S. Marine Band, which he financed in part by levying contributions from his officers.