The Washington herald., 1908-01-05
WANT FLAG OF CHESAPEAKE
Boston Patriotic Societies Urge Pur-
chase of Relic of Great Sea Fight.
Don't Give Up the ship" Lawrence
Killed and Emblem Captured
by the British.

Boston, Jan. 4.-Hearing that the flag cf
the United States frigate Chesapeake,
captured by the British frigate Shannon
in a battle off Boston harbor in 1913, IS
81 be sold at auction in London January
officers of several patriotic societies
s have expressed a determination 10 nave
Slhe flag brought TO this country.
THE flag should certainly be brought
to this country" said Mrs. William Al
! line, treasurer of the Daughters of 1872,
and l will introduce the subject at the
meeting of our association next Tues
day"
THE flag belongs in this country and
should be added To our large number Of
relics which remind US of our brave
ancestors and Of the odds they over
came" said Mrs. Charles G. Chick, State
corresponding secretary Of the Daughters
Of the Revolution.
.'The flag of brave Lawrence, who left
that watchword 10 the American sailor of
Don't give up the ship and who died
in a battle fought against great odds,
belongs 10 us fin this country, and some
thing should be done TO bring it here,
said Mrs. Samuel W Vinson, vice presi-
dent OF the Daughters OF 1872.
The flag which was taken from the
Chesapeake after its commander, Law
renee. and all the officers had been killed
or wounded is one of a collection OF an
tiquities that belonged to the late T. q.
Middlebrook. OF London and is to be
offered for sale at the end of this month
at auction.
The Chesapeake, 20 which Lawrence
had Just been assigned, was lying in the
harbor of Boston on June !. lSI3. when
the British frigate Shannon appeared off
the haTbor and signaled a challenge
Lawrence, though conscious of the great
disparity between the two ships, imme-
diately accepted.
The Shannon was prime vessel She
had an unusually numerous crew Of pick
ed men. thoroughly disciplined and we'll
differed. Against this ship Lawrence
pitted the Chesapeake. with a crew of re-
cruits, not yet disciplined, while his chief
officer was sick on shore. and his acting
lieutenants young men recently appointed
to the ship.
At p. IN the battle began off Boston.
In sight OF thousands Of witnesses on
shore. perched On r0oftops and hiltOps.
At the first exchange OF broadsides Capt.
Lawrence was shot through the leg. He
continued TO give orders with his usual
cooIness. The Chesapeake had three men
shot from the wheel, each man grabbing
II as the other fell, and the ship veered
so that its anchCr caught in one of the
Shannon's after ports. in this position
she could not use her guns. while the
shannon swept her decks with raking
shots.
As Capt Lawrence turned to summon
bis boarders he was struck by another
musket bali and carried below seriously
wounded crying out as he was borne
bleeding from the deck, Don't give up
the shipr
With the fall Of Lawrence. the ship
was carried by the British, and soon sur
rendered. Lawrence, who died after the
hattie, was buried with honor by the
British at Halifax, where the prisoners
We're taken by the eOnquerors. 1T was
a victory over which the conqueror
mourned-so many suffered" Lawrence's s
body was later taken 10 Salem.