The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-02-22
Capture Of the chesapeake.

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The national vanity of the Amer lean
never received a rebuke more severe o.
merited than in the engagement between
the Shannon.and the Chesapeake. tn,
action was fought off Boston, and wa
witnessed by thousands of the inhabit
ants; and 90 confident were these goot
citizens of the success of their country
men, that supper was ordered to vel
come them on their victory, to which
the captured British officers were to be
invited, no doubt to give additional grace
to the triumph.
The Commander of the Shannon Cap.
tain Broke, had long been anxious to
engage the Chesapeake, although she
was superior In tonnage, number of guns,
weight of metal, and complementof men.
Accordingly, while laying off Boston, in
June, 1918, Captain Broke sent chal-
lenge to Captain Lawrence, of the Chesa-
peake, to meet, 'sship to ship, to try the
fortune Of their respective flags" The
letter was written in very gentlemanly
style, with great candor and spirit. 1t
concluded in the true spirit of q British
sailor anxious only for a battle, 'tChoose
your terms, but let us meet"
Before thechallenge reached the Chess-
peake she was observed to be under
weigh. She came down upon the Shan
mons quarters with three ensigns G..
She had also flying at the fore large
flag, inscribed with these words: Gree
Trade and Sailors Rights" upon sup
position that this fayerite American
mstto might paralyze the efforts or damp
the energy of the Shannon's men. The
vessels were soon in action. The shot of
the Shannon was very destructive. After
ten minutes fighting, Captain Broke
perceived that the Chesapeake'squarter-
deck division were deserving their guns.
He instantly called out, "3oartip and
accompanied by the First Lieutenant
and twenty men, sprang upon the Chesa-
peake's quarterback. Here not an Off
Ger or q naan was to be seen; upon her
gangways about twenty Americans made
q slight resistance. These were instantly
driven toward the forecastle, where q few
endeavored 10 getsdown the fore hatch
way, but in their eagerness prevented
each other; q lew fed over the bows,
and reached the main deck, and the re-
mainder laid down their arms. The
Chesapeake's fore top was now stormed
by Midshipman Smith sand his top men,
about five ia number, who either de-
stroyed or drove on deck all the Amer
leans there stationed. This gallant young
officer had deliberately passed along the
Shannon's iose-yard, which was braeed1
up, to the chesapeake's, also braced up,
and thenceiinto her top.
.Afterithose on the Iorecastle had sub
mitted Captain Broke ordered one of his
men to stand sentry over them; and
sent most OF The Others aft, where the
conflict was still going on. He was in
the act Of giving them ordeE to answer
the fire from the Chesapeakess main-top
when three treacher0us Americans, sees
ing they were superior to the British,
then near them, had armed themselves
airesh. Captain Broke parried the mid
ale fellows pike and wannded him I'M
he face; but instantly received from
he man on the pikeman's right a blow
vich the butt-end of "a musket, which
,ased his skull and astunned ihi&a. DE II
ermSned to finish the British com
naptier, the third man cut him down
githihis broadsword; and at that very
nstaDt agas himself eat down by one of !,
be ShsnRon's seaMen. Captain Brake |
nd his tlzSachesons Zoe now lay side by 4
de-; each. although nearly powerles,
ruggling ts regain his sword, when al !
agine dispatched the American With (
8 bayonet Captain Broke was severely j
bundled by this affair, aud, while "a sea- i
an WAS lying q handkerchief round his q
mmander's head. he called out, point- u
) aft, aThere, air there goes up the =
ensign over the Yankee col0rs" The u
ptain saw ii hoisting, and Was In b