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On June 1, 1813, the USS "Chesapeake" is attacked and captured by the HMS "Shannon." The "Shannon," which was a 52-gun frigate,is better prepared then the "Chesapeake"; but Captain Lawrence, the commander of the "Chesapeake," is goaded into going to battle with the "Shannon." Lawrence is killed in the fight.
Captain James Lawrence was appointed the commander of the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake was considered a hard-luck ship ever since its encounter with the HMS Leopold. The Chesapeake was in Boston Harbor when Lawrence took command. Outside the harbor was the HMS Shannon commanded by Captain Philip Broke. Brokes orders were to intercept any ship that tried to enter or exit the harbor. At first glance the Chesapeake and the Shannon were well matched. The Chesapeake mounted 50 guns and could throw a total broadside weight of 540 pounds and the Shannon could had 52 guns with a broadside of 542 pounds. There was however one crucial difference between the two ships. The Shannon’s crew had been sailing together for almost two years, while the crew of the Chesapeake, were all new. Broke sent a message to Lawrence goading him to battle, but before Lawrence could receive the note, he had already set sail. At approximately 12 noon on June 1, 1813 the USS Chesapeake cleared Boston harbor. Broke believed hat his challenge had been met and he allowed the Chesapeake approach h him. The ships neared each other and each opened a broadside on the second. The Shannon was doing more damage then the Chesapeake. Before long the two ships had been lodged together. Both captains called on their men to be ready to board. But before Lawrence could lead a boarding party he was fatally wounded. When he as carried below, he was quoted at saying, “don’t give up the ship, fight to the last man” these words immortalized him. With Lawrence dying there were not American officers left alive above to deck to lead a charge onto the Shannon, in fact there was no one who could lead the resistance to the British. Within five minutes of Brokes arrival on the decks of the Chesapeake, all resisted was over the Shannon had won the day. |
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