Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1909-09-05

NOFneFs
longs. because no trophy was better
earned in a fair fight
Unfortunately, this fact our histori-
ans have generally refused to admit.
for ever since that disastrous LIST OF
June, 1913, we have cherished a
sacred myth about the loss of the
Chesapeake and taught it as fact,
declares the New York Times This
legend twined around the story be
cause at the time the facts looked too.
ugly to be fiattering. The Chesa-
peake had been captured by the Shan
non in less than Is minutes, after a
frightful slaughter OF officers and men,
including Capt. Lawrence, the darling
of the nation. The shock of defeat
was all the worse because Of the mad
exultation that followed the success
sive captures of the frigates Guer-
riere, Macedonian and Java. and the
sloops Peacock and Frolic in single
ship actions. This Notifying defeat
had to be explained somehow. and the
explanation most soothing to cur pride
still passes current as history.
The following version of this bit OF
patriotic fiction is quoted from the
largest and most pretentious of our
naval histories, the one, in fact, which
is used as text book in the Naval acad-
envy at Annapolis:
THE Chesapeake-s crew, as finally
brought together. was composed IN
large part of landsmen, foreigners
the boatswain's mate being a Portu-
guese-and the least desiIaJle sail
oTs in port Besides this un-'
fortunate condition of the ship (the
fact that officers and men were I'M
acquainted with each other) 2 large
proportion of the sailors. in keeping
with their tiEe-henored custom of get
ting intoxicated before leaving port
on an extended voyage, were lying
round the ship in a drunken stupor
from which even the excitement and
turmoil of battle did not arouse them
He Uawrence) gave his men
short harangue. In the midst of his
speech he was interrupted by the loud
murmurs and the mutinous attitude of
his men. When allowed to finish his
remarks, "a scoundrel Portuguese who
was boatswain's mate spoke up in an
insolent manner and demanded /.
prize money due to some Of their num-
Der several weeks Filled with
gloomy forebodings by the dastardly
conduct of his crew, deeply wounded
by the treacheEy Of the men on whom
he relied. Cant. Lawrence bravery
faced his doom"
Having disposed of these time-hon-
ored explanations" Of our defeat, we
may consider briefly what did happen
To begin with, the Chesapeake was
a shining example OF the "uniucky'
ship. She made only one capture in
the brief war with France, disgraced
the flag in 1907 by submitting to
search by a British ship, ran aground
repeatedly, did nothing worthy of
mention il the war Of 1872. and her
fight with the Shannon was her first
and last
The end of May, 1873, found her at
Boston, under the command of Capt
James Lawrence, blockaded by several
British ships. Capt. Broke of the
Shannon, anxious 10 meet the Chesa-
peake In single combat, dismissed the
rest Of his squadron and stood block
ade alone. In order that Lawrence
might not suspect 2 trap. Broke " ote
| him long and courteous challenge.
sending it by a released prisoner. The
messenger, however. did not reach
I Boston until the battle was over, for
I Lawrence as soon as he saw the Shan
Don alone, made sail as soon as pos
/ sible to offer battle.
Writers who cid net Ike the out.
come Of the fight have criticised him
for going out "rashly" and ''unpre-
pared" but from the tone of his let.
Jers & is clear that. ne, at least. re
I gaTded his own ship as in tip-top cen
( diticn. and as the Shannon was Jus,
ner equal In force. il is hard 10 sec
how brave commander could have
coae anything else.