Captain James Lawrence disobeyed orders not to engage the enemy and then committed a series of tactical blunders that all but guaranteed that he and his ship would lose the battle.
In May 1813, British Captain Philip Broke, commanding the flagship of the British blockading squadron off Boston, the HMS Shannon, sailed into Massachusetts Bay, daring the Americans to come out and fight him. Captain Lawrence and his ship, the USS Chesapeake took the bait and sailed out to fight.
This was a big deal in Boston and everyone wanted to watch the fight. Spectators were on the roofs of the city to see an expected easy American victory. After all, U.S. frigates like the USS Constitution had been highly successful in one-on-one engagements with the British.
Small boats accompanied the Chesapeake out to get an even closer view of the battle. The two commanders had to warn them to keep their distance.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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