The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-06-10
MISS. sosros, June s.
Hp TuE CHESAPEAKE FRIG.f1'E.


80 fUE CHE SdTt~fAE Fhf1.1I u.
III our last we mentioned the sailing of the
frigate Chesapeake, capt. Lawrence, and the
expected battle with the Shannon frigate,
then in sight. Although we are yet withou.
satisfactory particulars as 10 the result OF the
actiou, yet il is our painful duty to say that
there is no reason TO doubt her capture. The
following is the best account we have of this
distressing affair
The Chesapeake got under weigh, and
proceeded out in gallant manner Al TO, r.
NJ the action commenccd, and in IL minutes
after the ships were yard arm and yard arm
alongside of each other, as il in the act OF
boarding-At that moment an immense cy-
plosion took place on board the Chesapeake,
<vhether by accident, or any new conibus,Ible
used 10y the enemy, we are yet to learn) which
spread fire from ihe foremast to the mizen-
mast, spparen,ly as high as the tops--on
which both vessels were enveloPcc inyis,bly
in smokc, and on the smoke clearing away
the English coiors were seen Ryinea on board
the Chesapeake over the American, and both
vessels were standing to the eastward, neither
appearing to be much injured, except the
Shannon in her spars. !,
The Chesapeake fred moro than two shot
to her encmy's one and the crews Of both
vessels must have suffered severely from the
desperate contest. The Chesapeake had an
evident disadvantage In being directly out Of
port whereas the Shannon had been some
time preparing, with full picked crew,
which have been daily exercised, and calcula-
scd for boarding. To these circumstances,
4nd tho probable artifice of the enemy in ma
king use Of com6usti5les and stink -hots, which
threw the crew of ths Chesapeake into the
greatest confusion, the unfortunate tsrmina-
ton OF the battle Is generally ascribed and
If such is the fact it will prove the conscious
infcriori,y of the enemy, and that they dare
not engage on equal, manly, and honorable
terms.
In ravsl warfare NC find many singular In.
stances OF ships being iost and taken in the
most unexpected and extraordinary manner
I'VE find that British frigste was subducd
and taken in the Bay Of Biscay, by the Freach
corvette Bsyonnovise, of ~ gnnA in the fol-
lowing extrsord dinary manner ALTER the
engagement had lasted some minutes, the
mast of the corvette fell on board Of the Bri-
tish frigate, when the French Captain instant-
ly gave orders to board, and actually succeed
ed in clearing the upper deck Of the friga;c,
and finally capturcd her. The British Captain
did not dr-am of being boarded by a corvette,
any more than by gun boai---it was q dcs-
pcrate efort--fhe Joriorn honr---and such we
, consider with she problblc aid of combus,i.
bles, the attempt OF boarding the Chesa.
pcake.
II Is, we'll known that the Captain of the
Shannon had sent repeated messages for the
Chesapeake to meet bin. Would man OF
honor send challenge 10 another TO fight
him at single combat, and t.sen dig a pit ard
cover it over, OH the groaod marked out for
the duel, in order to ,riumph ever STUN
bling man We will not admit the Disgrace
fnl idea We scarcely believe ths, even the
captain Of the La Hoguc would be guilty OF it.
Neither Csp,sin Lawrence, nor captain
Brooke hoisred the flg nf their respective
nations, and rushed into battle for the paire
Of frigase but for naval glory Tor nation
al character FOR the srreah q honor for
the hofni eF 1Scforv no, for the bombsst o'
S,eeie's Gss but for the far hagr Of glorious
hisfory. We wait in painful expectation toe
an explanation Of hi, yet myserious affair.
We care little for the iHfsfrd' Chesapeake,
while our hearts blced.for the imAgiact scf-