Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-05-20
BY C. L. SHOLES.
SHANNON AND CHESAPEAKE.

SHANNON AND CHESAPEAKE.
We copy the following account of the battle be
tween the Chesapeake and Shannon, from the Mil
waukee Courier. 1t was written by gentleman
with whom acquainted, who was on board
the Shannon during the fight. 1t is probably the
fullest and most accurate account OF the matter
published, and our readers will find it interesting;
About the 1st March, 1913, the Shan
non and Ienedos, irigates rated Be guns.
but mounting, the former 50 and the latter
As guns, sailed from Halifax 10 blockade
Boston-(and the ports IN the vicinity OF
Massack usetts Bay in which port lay The
President and Congress frigates-;he
former rated "A and mounting S. guns,
the latter reted 36 and mounting 50 guns,
ready for sea, with royal yards across
On the LIST or I'd Of May, gale Of wind
from the northward and eastward sprung
up, accompanied with thick fog-made
it necessary for the British frgales TO haul
their wind, and stand off the coast. The
gale was heavy and continued with the fog
for three days-upon its subslding, the wea-
Their being clear, made sail, and the next
day hove too close into Boston light house,
Looked into the harbor, found only one ship
of war there and from intelligence suisse
quenlly received, proved to be the Chesa-
peake Frigate SO, mounting 40 guns. Cap
;ain Evans, which arrived during the gale
with The loss of her main top mast-Com-
modore Rodgers run out in the gale having
been forced out by the clamor Of the citizens
of Boston, according 10 intelligence re-
caived from fishing boats. Instead, how
ever, Of Destroying the two enemies Frig-
ated W hich lay in plain sight o. him from
his anchorage for days and weeks, ii APP
pears he ran OFF the banks OF Newlolnd-
land and from thence TO Greenland, cap
turing merchant vessels, and thus mixing
MS fortune. Captain Evans being disabled
from active command by n disease of the
eyes, was superseded by Captain James
Lawrence, formerly commander Of the
Hornet which sunk the British Peacock in
| fifteen minutes-as brave an officer as ever
lrod The quarter deck Of any ship of any
| nation, ancient or modern.
During the period the Pres; dent and
Congress were being blockade in Boston,
by the two Frigates above alluded TO-
Captain Broke OF the Shannon, sent two
or three challenges by fishing smacks to
Commodore Rodgers, TO come cut and en-
gage for the honor Of their respective
countries 1t is not known whether Com
modore Rogers ever received these letters
or not.
Shortly after Captain Lawrence took
command Of the Chesep 'ake, several SINH
lar challenges were also sent 10 him by
Broke, and the Ienedos Fngate ordered or
by am 10 Sherburn, considerable DIS
lance from the scene where these things
were acting and Transporting. All the
changes which took place in Boston we're
known TO the British shipping. by traitors
who visited the ships in fishing boats, la
den with the Injuries Of that part OF New
England, such as turkles, geese, chickens,
fresh butter, oysters, &c. &c, for which
they were paid enormous prices. This
was almost daily or rather nightly occur
renee, while the ships lay in Boston Bay.
In the meantime, Captain Lawrence an
swercd some Of the letters he received, and
stated, that rs soon as he was ready for
sea, and only one enemy's ship in The off
ing. he should come out-or rather "that
one British ship should not keep him in
port" Abou, the Both of May, Captain
Broke wrote another letter profering to
Captain Lawrence, to sail 500 miles under
a flag of truce, and on Il concerted signal
being given, 10 commence the Engagement,
pIedging his honor as a British officer,
.that no other British vessel Of war, ifthey
L. {,
1t is confidently believed that Captain Law
renee never received this letter.
1t might be proper here TO remark, that
in all accounts OF This euga cement. whe-
Their official or otherwise, by Great Britain
or tho United States, the grand reason
why the Chesapeake was captured remains
unaccounted for, or crroncousl y ascfioed
10 other causes than the proper one-as
errors exist in the details thereot-on both
sides. Having re Gently read in the news
papers oil the day "reminiscences Of the
ships, &c all which reasons has induced
tho writer OF this plain narrative, one of
the actors in the affair, to endeavor to give
O true and impartial account Of the trans
act on, and thereby rescue from unmerted
ab'oquy, some Of the departed worthless,
and also TO expose 10 contumely and scorn
those who merited it. Very few now sur
vive who figured on the stage Of action then
To resume my narrative: On the MORN
ing Of the 1st Of June, 1913, about s
O'Clock, the sgnel-man at the masthead Of
he Shannon, (she being close in to Boston
light house) reported the Chesapeak Ike as
having fired gun and commenced I'M
moorng ship, sending mp top gallant and
royal yards, &c. Intense anxiety now
pervaded the officers and men Of the Shan
non-aI the spy glasses OF the ships were
in requisilion on deck and aloit. The
Captain went up aloit with his glass and
after viewing the ChesaPeak for some ilme'
he came down and gave orders 10 beat to
quarters. About twelve o'clock, the Chesa-
peake up anchor, fired gun, loosed sail
and stood out OF the harbor with light
breeze. The top of the state house in
Boston was observed TO be crowded with
people. The Shannon. which had been
hove 10 previously with her maintoPsail 10
to the mast now set her top gallant sails,
and stood off from the land under easy sail,
rr ra,r that oerhaOs DriyateerS or gun