""Don't give up the ship" - The Capture of USS ..." Topic

…"Chesapeake" during the War of 1812

"1 June 1813, off Boston during the War of 1812, the British frigate HMS "Shannon", Cpt. Philip Broke, captured USS "Chesapeake", Cpt. James Lawrence, in a brief, bloody action.

"As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags. The Shannon mounts twenty-four guns upon her broadside and one light boat-gun; 18 pounders upon her maindeck, and 32-pounder carronades upon her quarterdeck and forecastle; and is manned with a complement of 300 men and boys, beside thirty seamen, boys, and passengers, who were taken out of recaptured vessels lately. I entreat you, sir, not to imagine that I am urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, or that I depend only upon your personal ambition for your acceding to this invitation. We have both noble motives. You will feel it as a compliment if I say that the result of our meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; and I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel convinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in even combats that your little navy can now hope to console your country for the loss of that trade it can no longer protect. Favour me with a speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long here."…"

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Amicalement
Armandd

Such politeness in war, very noble that Captain Broke in the best of British tradition he even gave his broadside delivery.

Agree.

Amicalement
Armand

Captain Broke went on to wright the manual on British naval gunnery, it was used for the next 40 years