Capt. James Lawrence USN had been promoted from commander after his USS HORNET captured HMS PEACOCK on 24 February 1812. His wife was seriously ill and he did not want the appointment to command the USS CHESAPEAKE which was under repair at Boston together with CONSTITUTION, CONGRESS and PRESIDENT.Capt. Philip Vere Broke RN of HMS SHANNON was about 4 years older than the American and had held post rank since 1801.
SHANNON and TENEDOS had been keeping a close watch on Boston harbour since early April 1813, but PRESIDENT and CONGRESS managed to escape. On 25 May Broke took supplies from TENEDOS and detached her to return after 14 June. Seven days later he addressed a letter to Capt. Lawrence and sent it ashore by a Mr Slocum, one of the 13 American prisoners on board. The letter challenged CHESAPEAKE to a single ship-to-ship combat. Mr Slocum`s boat had not reached the shore when CHESAPEAKE got under way from her anchorage in President Roads at about 1 pm.
Letter from Captain Philip Broke to Captain the Hon. T. Bladen.
SHANNON, Halifax, June 6 1813Sir, -- I have the honour to inform you, that being close in with Boston light-house in H.M.S. under my command, on the 1st inst. I had the pleasure of seeing the US frigate CHESAPEAKE (whom we had long been waching) was coming out of the harbour to engage the SHANNON; I took a position between Cape Ann and Cape Cod and then hove-to for him to join us. The enemy came down in a very handsome manner, having three American ensigns flying. (NOTE. she also had, at the fore, a large white flag with the words "Free Trade and Sailors` Rights); when closing with us he sent down his royal-yards.I kept SHANNON`s up, expecting the breeze would die away.
At half past 5 PM the enemy hauled up within hail of us on the starboard side, and the battle began, both ships steering full under their topsails; after exchanging between two and three broadsides, the enemy`s ship fell on board us, her mizen channels locking in with our fore rigging. I went forward to ascertain her position; and observing the enemy were flinching from their guns, I gave orders to prepare for boarding. Our gallant hands appointed to the service immediately rushed in, under their respective officers, upon the enemy`s decks, driving everything before them with irresistible fury. The enemy made a desperate but disorderly resistance. The firing continued at all the gangways, and between the tops, but in two minutes time the enemy were driven sword in hand from every post. The American flag was hauled down and the proud British Union floated triumphant over it.In another minute they ceased firing from below and called for quarter. The whole of this service was achieved in 15 minutes from the commencement of the action.I have to lament the loss of many of my ship-mates, but they fell exulting in their conquest. My brave first Lieutenant, Mr Watt, was slain in the moment of victory, in the act of hoisting the British colours; his death is a severe loss to the service. Mr Aldham, the purser, who had spiritedly volunteered the charge of a party of small-arm men, was killed at his post on the gangway. My faithful old clerk was shot by his side; Mr Aldham has left a widow to lament his loss. I request the Commander in Chief will recommend her to the protection of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
My veteran boatswain, Mr Stephens has lost an arm. He fought under Lord Rodney on 12 April 1782. I trust his age and service will be duly rewarded. I am happy to say that Mr Samwell, a midshipman of much merit, is the only other officer wounded besides myself, and he not dangerously. Of my gallant seamen and marines, we had 23 slain and 56 wounded. No expression I can make use of can do justice to the merits of my valiant officers and crew; the calm courage they displayed during the cannonade and the tremendous precision of their fire, could only be equalled by the ardour with which they rushed to the assault. I reccomend them all warmly to the protection of the Commander in Chief.Having received a severe sabre wound at the first onset, whilst charging a party of the enemy who had rallied on their forecastle, I was only capable of giving command till asured our conquest was complete; and then directing second Lieutenant Wallis to take charge of SHANNON and secure the prisoners, I left the third Lieutenant, MrFalkiner (who headed the main deck boarders), in charge of the prize. I beg to recommend these officers to the commander in chief`s patronage, for the gallantry they displayed during the action and the skill and judgment they evinced in the anxious duties which thereafter devolved upon them.
To Mr Etough, the acting master, I am much indebted for the steadiness with which he conned the ship into action. Lieuts. Johns and Law of the marines, bravely boarded at the head of their respective divisions.
It is utterly impossible to particularize every brilliant deed performed by my officers and men; but I must mention, when the ships` yard-arms were locked together, that Mr Cosnahan, who commanded in our main-top, finding himself screened from the enemy by the foot of the top-sail, laid out along the main-yard-arm to fire upon them, and shot three in that situation. Mr Smith, who commanded in our fore-top, stormed the enemy`s fore-top from the fore-yard-arm and destroyed all the Americans remaining on it. I particularly beg leave to recommend Mr Etough, the acting master; and Messrs. Smith, Leake, Clavering and Littlejohn, midshipmen. The latter is the son of Capt. Littlejohn who was slain in the BERWICK.
The loss of the enemy was about 70 killed and 100 wounded. Among the former were her fouth Lieutenant, a Lieutenant of Marines, the Master and many other officers. Capt. Lawrence is since dead of his wounds. The enemy came into action with a complement of 440 men; the SHANNON having picked up some recaptured seamen, had 330. The CHESAPEAKE is a fine frigate, and mounts 49 guns, eighteens on her main-deck, two-and-thirties on her quarter deck and forecastle.Both ships came out of the action in the most beautiful order, their rigging appearing as perfect as if they had only being exchanging a salute. I have the honour to be, etc.
(Signed) "P.B.V. BROKE"
To Captain the Hon. T. Bladen, CAPEL.List of those killed:-
Lieut. G.T.L. Watt; G. Aldham, purser; John Dunn, captain's clerk; G. Gilbert, William Birbles, Neil Gilchrist, Thomas Selby, James Long, John Young, James Wallace, Joseph Brown, able seamen; Thos. Barr, Michael Murphy, Thomas Molloy, Thomas Jones, John O'Connelly, ordinary seamen; Thomas Terry, first class boy. Samuel Millard, marine corporal; James Jaynes, Dominique Sader, William Young, marine privates. William Morrisay, John Moriarty, Thomas German, supernumaries.
Letter from Lieutenant George Budd USN to the Secretary of the Navy Board.
Halifax, June 15th 1813SIR, - The unfortunate death of captain James Lawrence, and lieutenant Augustus C.Ludlow, has rendered it my duty to inform you of the capture of the late United States frigate Chesapeake.
Om Tuesday June 1st, at 8 A.M. we unmoored ship, and at meridian got under way from President`s Roads, with a light wind from the southward and wewestward, and proceeded on a cruise. A ship was then in sight in the offing, which had the appearance of a ship of war, and which, from information received from pilot-boats and craft, we believed to be the British frigate Shannon. We made sail in chase, and cleared the ship for action. At half past 4 P.M. she hove to with her head to the southward and eastward. At 5 P.M. took in the royals and top-gallant sails, and at half past 5, hauled the courses up. At 15 minutes before 6 P.M. the action commenced within pistol shot. The first broadside did great execution on both sides, damaged our rigging, killed among others, Mr White, the sailing master, and wounded captain Lawrence. In about 12 minutes after the commencement of the action, we fell on board of the enemy, and immediately after, one of our arm chests on rhe quarter deck was blown up by a hand-grenade thrown from the enemy`s ship. In a few minutes, one of the captain`s aids came on the gun-deck to inform me that the boarders were called. I immediately called the boarders away, and proceeded to the spar deck were I found that the enemy had succeeded in boarding us, and gained possession of our quarter-deck. I immediately gave orders to haul on board the fore-tack, for the purpose of shooting the ship clear of the other, and then made an attempt to regain the quarter-deck, but was wounded and was thrown down on the gun-deck. I again made an effort to collect the boarders, but in the mean time the enemy had gained complete possession of the ship.I there found captain Lawrence and lieutenant Ludlow, both mortally wounded; the former had been carried below, previously to the ship`s being boarded; the latter was wounded in attempting to repel the boarders. Among those who fell early in the action, was Mr Edward J. Ballard, the 4th lieutenant, and lieutenant James Broom, of the marines.I herein enclose to you a return of the killed and wounded, by which you will perceive that every officer, upon whom the charge of the ship would devolve, was either killed or wounded, previously to her capture. The enemy report the loss of Mr Watt, their first lieutenant, the purser, the captain`s clerk, and 23 seamen killed; and captain Broke, a midshipman and 56 seamen wounded.
The Shannon, had, in addition to her full complement, an officer and 16 men belonging to the Belle Poule, and a part of the crtew belonging to the Tenedos.
I have the honour to be etc.
GEORGE BUDD
To the Hon. William Jones, Washington.
NOTE.
Lieut. George Budd, was the senior surviving American officer. Two muster rolls were found on CHESAPEAKE. One contained 391 names but it is believed 30 or 40 extra hands from the CONSTITUTION joined her as she was about to sail.
SHANNON had 276 officers, seamen and marines; 8 recaptured seamen; 22 Irish labourers, of whom only four could speak English, and 24 boys, about 13 of whom were under twelve years of age.
Go to American Courts Martial
Go to Maritime History
