The Trinity journal., 1856-08-23
The Chesapeake and the Shannon.

/
memorable battle, in which the proportion
of killed and wounded to the survivors, was
said to be greater, for the short time the
battle lasted, than any other fight between
single frigates on record. The battle lasted
but fifteen minutes, and in that time the
Chesapeake had nearly two hundred killed
and wounded, and the Shannon one hundred; ;
being about three hundred in all, or twenty
for every minute the action lasted
Although young at that time, living
near the scene of action, / well recollect the
exciting events of the day, and heard the
distant roar of the cannon on that still, beau
tful summer afternoon thousands crowded
the wharvcs and housetops of Boston and
the battle itself, | think, was visible with
glaSses) from the top of the old Exchange
Coffee House. All the pleasure boats and
floating crafts were in requisition, and filed
the harbor and bay down to within few
miles of the hostile frigates.
Captain Lawrence haG taken command
of the Chesapeake but few days previous,
and was a stranger to his officers and crew.
A large part of the latter were drunken
riotous set and in q state of great insubor-
dnation from not having had some prize
money paid which was due for their preyi-
GUS captures. His officers were young his
first Lieut.. Ludlow hardly 81 years old.
But such was the confidence in the skill and
bravery Of Lawrence, that public opinion
pressed and would not allow him to remain
at anchor whilea British frigate Of equal size
lay inSUltiugly off the harbOr
Captain Brooke, of the Shannon, was a
noble officer, and great iscpIinarian.-
! He paid particular attention to exercising
his men at the great guns, till the rapdity
and accuracy Of their fire was celebrated
amongst the British cruisers. AS soon as
he saw the Chesapeake loosen her sails, he
exercised his men at theiF cannon (without
fring) for two or three hours, as was stated
by the ShannOn's officers some years after.
He also advised the numerous fisherman
about to haul of few miles, as there would
be bloody work before night, and they might
beFiujured by the cannon balls of both friend
and foe. This fact learned from Hing
ham fisherman who was out in the lower
harbor that day.
The Chesapeake lifted her anchor about
noon, the Shannon being then in sight The
former ship was gently waited down the
harbor, the Shannon slowly drawing off, so
as to get plenty Of searoom for manouyering
AT little before five, the Chesapeake fired
her first gun of defiance, and to intimate
that she would not be drawn off any farther
The Shannon instantly and proudly hauled
up the crew of the Chesapeake gave three
cheers, while the former poured in the broad
sides, at scarcely pistol-shot distance, with
such fatal precision and rapidity that the
quarterback of the Chesapeake was nearly
swept Of its officers and men,
The fire was promptly returned with as
much efficiency as possible and the wealth
er being calm and the sea smooth, the ships
hung foul of each other, and in fifteen min
uteS were both perfect charnel houses, near
ly One-half of the crew of the Chesapeake
being killed or wounded; Captain Lawrence,
three lieutenantS, three midshipmen, the
sailing-master and boat-swain, were all
killed or mortally wounded by the first two
broadsideS of the Shannon and eventually
every officer on whom the command of the
ship could deyolye, was either killed or
mortally wounded.
Capt. Lawrence was wounded in the
leg by the first broadside, and soon after
wards received grape shot through the
body. On being carried below, and for
day or two after, while his mind was wander
ing, and he in excrucating agony, his CON
slant cry, (since become memorable, was,
Don't gire up the Shjp" He lived five
days, and was then laid out on the quarter
deck galley of his ship and shrouded with
the American flag. His first lieutenant
Ludlow, was mortaly wounded in attempt
ing to repel the hesitating boarders of the
Shannon, his head and face being almost
hewed to pieces by their cutlasses. They
were both buried in Halifax with the hon
orS of war Soon after, Capt. Crownsheld,
of Salem, volunteered to bring them home
at his own expense they were buried in
Salem with great pomp, enlogy being de-
llyered on the occasion by Judge Story
They were afterwards removed to New
York, where a monument was erected to
their memory in Trinity Churchyard
During the afternoon and night of the
battle, the public excitement in Boston and
neighbOring towns was intense. The streets
were full of people all night, and it was ten
days before any particulars could be ascer-
tanned. 1t was Only known that desperate
fight had taken place, and both frigates had
afterwards sailed out of the harbor, instead
of coming in. Probably no battle during
that war Occasioned greater modification on
the part of the Americans, or more exulta-
ton in England. Capt Brooke was well
coined there with great distinction, and
knighted. The Chesapeake was an unlucky,
clumsy old frigate, and source of trouble
and expense to this country. She was taken
to England, but thing never refitted for
service. She was moored in the river Med
way for long time, and finally broken up
about ten years since, and some of her tim
bers used in the construction of mill on
small stream running into that river, the
best use to which they were ever put"
AN HONoR-A friend at West Point tells
us a cOmical anecdote of very dif1ident