Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-07-14

ia ;lkstarred fortunes Of this
NAepsNH tsmemory when we re-
5i' afs 81, q re deck was the death scene
cssSl lsorits hero, with victory almost
az Oo we inyoluntarily adopt the
By ,l i Miiton's monody upon his
l11a:sssrssked friend =
. stst fatal md perfdioas bark
- s,; s il lie eclipse; ana rugged 'ossA
- sursss dark
nix 50 ,osc that sacred head Of
tiiae
REPORT.
- .o,rt are unanimously of opinion
~ 4, Chesapeake was calamity car
ta ,' ~ aetionby her late brave COM
~ ,a, and no doubt rests with the
maui Iren comparison Of the injury re-
GU s;;,sIy sustained by the frisates. that
sS1 Ga Il the Ctesapeake.Mas much SUI
tf a ~ that oftse skaanoH-the Sham
e y, hc;,,y mach cat in her spars and rig
~ and receiving many shot in and be-
~ H. wafer iine, was reduced almost
:" .;ok;ag condition, after only few
p as,ss cenaonadins from the Chesa-
N ma while the Chesapeake was COM
eIs.sfi,eiy uairRred. And the court have
.Ja,,t fine Chesapeake had not acci-
s.,;s fallen on board the Shannon, anl
as s. ss,anoa's anea"r got foul in the af-
y. !, D,rt Of the Chesapeake, the shannon
M, have very sova surrendered or
sas. !.
,s,s GETTING foul, captain Lawrence or
d,r.d The bqarders to be called. but the
l,Ie man. William Brown, stationed to
,,i,tbe boarders by sounding a bugle,
Id deserted bis quarters, and when dis
,,,er,d and ordered to call, was unable,
finn figbt. TO sound his horn that a
uasipulan ueat below immediately to
mis- tie word for the boarders; uttAese
uytbeng called in the way they had been
u,aaIy exercised, few came upon TIE up
rtdsses; confusion prevailed; greater
Mt d the men deserted their quarters,
ind ran below. It appeared also to the
Uart. That when the shannon cot foul of
he Chesapeake, captain Lawrence. his
tstlicatenaut, tire sailing master. and
lieutenant Of marines, were all killed Or
nahIiy Wounded, aad theteaY the up
mdeck Of the Chesapeake was left with
ut aay commandin5 officer, and with
only one ot t8o you0s mldshipmen. 1t
also appears to TIE court that previously
nfs Ships gettias full, ilany OF the Che
aDesSe's spar deck division lad been
killed add Wounded, and the RuGl,,s.r sta
talsio Oh that deck, tnere5f consIdera-
byredaeel; that trese beiag left with
Olta commissioned officer, or even a war
rant Ohccr, except one or two lnexFerl-
eaced mdshinmen, and not being sup
parted by tie hoardeFs from the gun
t:cS, allost universally deserted their
quarters. And ire eaedly availing him
stcfth defenceiess state of the Che
Nelkes upper deck. bearded s, obtain
NpsseasioA CT the sLip with very little
ggNsitiOy.
fna tais view Of the engagement, and
efeial examination of the evidence, the
curt are unanimously Of opinlon, that
teeapture of the late Z. States frigate
Chesapeake, was occasioned by the fol-
Slns eaases the almost unexampied
e'dy h!l OF captain Lawrence, and all
eeFlnclnal o;hcers; the bas!e-man' de-
sitea Of his quarters, and inability to
s'l'd BIS hotn: ivc the coart are OF Opt.
eoa u toe bern hsd been sounded when
ua ordered, the men being then ut their
S4a'ters. theboarters would have prompt
repaired to the spar deck, probably
Aa'e prevented the enemy from boarding.
certainly lave repealed them, s might
.a'' Returned the boarding. WITH saceess !;
~ The taiiare q! the 5oan,ers OH both
s ssN q 70 s4iiy o. tac spatdeck, after the
s s.,ay s,aa boarded, wa:ch might have
se sa aeae successfully, ii is Believed,
-. ele CAUTIOUS naaAer Ia which tie
''S = came on board.
.ae Court canaet however perceive IN
A., s'oo'sst ineAa'npied concurrence OF
,T ,sa0aa circumstances. that the nation
e,,sS s aas suffered aay lis4oaor from the
x;a, ye u the United states ,tigate Che
IS sS' " tie superior toice OF TIE Bril-
as, sac nhahnon, ri fifty carriase
b., = quo thee huntred and ninety sly
4. 'a. ,,o' % tbs coast apprehead that
l.S G d., q Ills engagement viii lii the
s,a, miscarriage or brave seamen from
s,p. Tie eaielny hereafter Oh equal
slrs I. SQUIRT being also charged to en-
mo the c3ly4iurt ~ iba .uicae., :, >, !