The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-10-09
THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE Z.
CHESAPEAKE aRoa tie Shaaao.q,

There are doubtless, some survivors
who could give thrilling recollections
OF that memorable battle, in which the.
portion killed and wounded to the sur.
vivofs, 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
and in that time the Chesapeake
had nearly two hundred killed and
wounded and the Shannon one hund-
red being about three hundred in all,
or twenty for every minute the action
lasted!
Although young at the time, living
near the scene of action. well recollect
the exciting events of the day, and ]
heard the distant roar of the cannonade
ON the svill beautiful summer afternoon:
thousands crowded the wharves and
Of Boston and the battle it.
self l think was visible with glasscs)
from the top of the old Exchange Cot.
fee House. All the pleasure boats and
floating crafts were III requisition, and
filled the harbor and bay down to with
in a few miles of the hostile frgates.
Captain Lawrence had taken COM
mand OF the Chesapeake but few DAYS
previous, and was stranger to his
officers and crew. A large part of the
latter were drunken, riOtous set, and
in a state of great INSTRUMENTATION
from not having had some prize mo-
ney paid which was due for the previ-
ous captures. His officers were young,
his first lieutenant Ludlow hardly 81
years of age but snch was his conf
dcnce in the skill and confidence of
Lawrence, that public opinion pressed,
and would not allow him to remain at
anchor while a British irigate ofcqual
size lay nsultinSIy, off and OH the har-
bor. a - -. ..r...- .a .
Captain Broke of the Shannon. was
a noble officer, and a great discipline
rian. lie paid particular attention to
exerc sing his men at the guns; till the
and accuracy Of their fire was
celebrated amongstthe British cruisers.
As soon as he saw the Chesapeake loos.
ell lier sails he exercised his men at tile
cannon (withOutfiring) for two orthree
hours, it Was stated by the Shannon of
ticers some years after. lie also adj
vised tire nunlersNs fishermen about
the bay to haul otf a few miles, as there
would be bloody work before night,
and they might be injured by the can.
non balls of both friend and foe. This
fact ] learnt from a Hingman fisherman
whowa out on the lower harbor that
4, Inv = - aFf #..s. ... - .,r.f... .s
.The Chesapeake lifted her anchor
about noon, the Shannon being then in
sight. The former ship was waited
gently down the harbor, the Shannon
slowly drawing off, so as to get plenty
of sea room for mannvering. At a
little before five, the Chesapeake fired
her first gun of defiance, and to init
mate that she would not be drawn off
any farther. The Shannon instantly
and promptly 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 quarter deck of the Chesa-
peake was nearly swept OF its officers
and men. s',as s'
'fho fire was promptly returned
with as much efficiency as possible
and the weather being calm and sea
smooth, the ships hung foul OF each
other, and in fifteen minutes were
both perfect charnel houses, 3nearly
one half of file crew Of the Chesa.
peake being killed or wounded /;
Captain Lawrence, three lieutenants,
three midshipmen, the sailing master
and boatswain were al killed or NOR
tally wounded by the first two broad.
sides Of the Shannon; and eventually
every officer on whom the command
of the ship could dcvolve was either
killed or wounded.
Capt. Lawrence was wounded in the
leg by the first broadside, soon after he
received a grape shot through the body.
On being carried below, aud for a day
or two after, while hi. mind was wan
dering and he in excruciating agony,
his constantcry--since become mem.
morable. was don't gioe qtp tie ship.
He lived Eve days, and was then
laid out ON the quarter deck and galley
Of his ship, and shrouded with ths
American flag. Ills first lieutenant
T,udlcer xvas ,nortallv wannded IN, Mt