Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 5: 'Don't Give Up the Ship'

Perry is known for his "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag, which serves even to this day as a rallying cry for the U.S. Navy.

As a tribute to his dying friend Captain James Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake, killed in a June  1813 battle in Boston Harbor.  Lawrence had issued a plea to his crew during his clash with the HMS Shannon as he lay dying.  (Sadly, they did surrender.)

Perry had a group of women in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was building his fleet.  The flag became a symbol of victory and perseverance when it flew over Perry's flagship, the USS Lawrence, at the Battle of Lake Erie.  When his ship was so battered that it could no longer fight, Perry transferred himself and that flag to the USS Niagara, continued the fight and won dramatically.

--Brock-Perry  (The Perry in my signoff is for Oliver Hazard Perry.)

This Month in the War of 1812

From the June American Battlefield Trust calendar.

JUNE 6, 1813

**  Engagement at Stoney Creek.

JUNE 18, 1812

**  U.S. declares war on Great Britain.

JUNE 22, 1807

**  The HMS Leopard fires on the USS Chesapeake.

JUNE 22, 1812

**  A mob in Baltimore destroys the printing offices of an anti-war newspaper.

JUNE 22, 1813

**  Battle of Craney Island.

JUNE 1, 1813

**  The USS Chesapeake captured by the British frigate HMS Shannon.    Captain James Lawrence of the Chesapeake dies days later.  He is the person who gave the U.S. Navy the "Don't Give Up the Ship" motto.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 3: It's the HMS Shannon vs. USS Chesapeake

Two broadsides were exchanged between the two ships.  When the two ships became entangles, Broke order his men to board the Chesapeake.  What ended was a huge loss for the Americans.  With more than a third of her crew killed or wounded and its commander, James Lawrence mortally wounded and taken below for treatment, the ship struck her colors just 15 minutes after the engagement had begun.

Captain Lawrence reportedly uttered these famous words as he was being taken below, "Don't Give Up the Ship."

The Chesapeake became the first American frigate lost during the war

--Brock-Perry.

Dueling Frigates-- Part 3: The Shannon Versus Chesapeake

Proud of their ships and eager to fight them, captains sometimes went to the extreme of issuing an outright challenge  for a ship-to-ship duel.

One of the most famous ones of these took place between the HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake on June 1, 1813.

British Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke had such a well-trained crew on the HMS Shannon that he was really looking for a fight with an American frigate.  His counter-part, Captain James Lawrence, formerly of the USS Hornet, was also looking for a fight on his USS Chesapeake.

Both ships were rated at 38-guns, but both had  about 50, mostly 18-pounders.  The Chesapeake had a crew of 379 and Shannon 330.

On June 1, 1813, Captain Broke sent a challenge to Captain Lawrence, but he didn't get it as he was already on his way out of Boston Harbor and looking for a fight.  Late that afternoon, about 18 miles off of Boston, the Chesapeake, flying a large white banner reading "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights," came across the Shannon.

--Brock-Perry

John Rodgers, U.S. Navy-- Part 2: Quasi-War, Barbary War and War of 1812

United States Navy officer.

He married Minerva Denison in 1806 and they had eight children.  Many of the children served in the military.

He became a hero in the pre-War of 1812 naval squabbles with France and Great Britain.  Served with distinction in the Quasi-War with France.  Helped defeat the Tripolitan naval forces in the Barbary War and defeated  a British sloop-of-war  in 1811, which brought back a measure of respect  for the U.S. Navy in the wake of the USS Chesapeake-HMS Shannon affair.

He commanded several squadrons in the War of 1812 and helped defend to successfully defend Baltimore against the British  in 1814.

After the war, he was named President of the U.S.  Navy Board of Commissioners (which included fellow  commodores Isaac Hull and David D. Porter).

--Brock-Perry

Casualties in the USS Chesapeake-HMS Shannon Engagement

HMS Shannon

24 killed, 59 wounded, including Captain broke who received a head wound while leading the boarding party.  Lt. Provo Wallis took command of the Shannon after the wounding of his captain.

USS Chesapeake

56 killed, 85 wounded.

Captain Lawrence died of wounds received on June 4.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Shannon Legacy-- Part 3: Books, Coins, Parks

**  A fine detailed account of the battle between the USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon is in the book "Enduring Journey of the USS Chesapeake" by Chris Dickon.

**  A fictionalized account of the battle appears in the book "Fortunes of War" by Patrick O'Brien.

**  A special Canadian ten dollar coin was made to commemorate the War of 1812 and depicts the HMS Shannon.

**  South West Western Australia has a Broke Inlet and a Shannon River.  There is also a Chesapeake Road in Shannon National Park.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Shannon Legacy-- Part 2: Provo Wallis

**  The Shannon's bell is displayed at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.  It also has a surgeon's chest and mess kettle from the Chesapeake.

**  A cannon, believed to have been from the Shannon, is on the north side of Province House., Nova Scotia's legislative building.

A lieutenant named Provo Wallis was acting captain of the Shannon for six days following the wounding of Captain Broke.  because of this, he became senior to many other lieutenants during the Napoleonic-era Royal Navy.

This enabled him to eventually become Admiral of the Fleet.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Shannon Legacy-- Part 1: Graves and Point Pleasant Park

From Wikipedia.

**Graves of the Shannon's crew, killed during the battle with the Chesapeake are marked in the cemetery of the Royal Navy Dockyard in Halifax and the city's St. Paul's Church, at the time the cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia.

A plaque was erected in 1927 to commemorate the battle and is in the Point Pleasant Park.  This park was also the site of several artillery batteries over the years and also the Prince of Wales Tower, the oldest martello tower in North America.  Also, there is the Halifax Monument, more commonly called the Sailor's Memorial to honor Canadians who have died at sea and especially the 3257 who died during the world wars.

**  Shannon Park in Nova Scotia.

--Brock-Perry

William Sitgreaves Cox: Victim or Coward?-- Part 2

William Cox was convicted in an 1814 court martial for dereliction of duty and for abandoning his watch station while under fire.  he was discharged from the Navy in disgrace.

His great grandson, New York architect Electus D. Litchfield fought for many years to have William Cox's conviction overturned.  Finally, in 1952, a resolution passed by Congress was signed by President Truman overturning the conviction and restoring Cox's rank.

Personally, from what I have read, I think this was long overdue.

--Brock-Perry

William Sitgreaves Cox: Victim or Coward?-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

In the last post I mentioned what happened to the USS Chesapeake's Third Lt, William Sitgreaves Cox who ended up taking the blame for the loss of the USS Chesapeake to the HMS Shannon on June 1, 1813, off the shore of Boston.  For this he was found guilty at a court martial the next year.

I had never heard of him or the case before so did a little more research.

1790-1874.

Served below deck in charge of a gun crew during the battle, but when his crew abandoned their post, he went to the upper deck to continue the fight.  When his Captain James Lawrence was wounded, he took him below deck to the ship's doctor.

However, the rest of the officers were all wounded or killed so Cox had become the senior, non-wounded officer present.

--Brock-Perry

The Real, Shameful Story Behind 'Don't Give Up the Ship'-- Part 8: A Scapegoat

No American heroes arose from the engagement at first.  The first and second lieutenants of the Chesapeake had been wounded and were out of action.  The 4th lieutenant had been killed.

The 3rd lieutenant, William Cox, had not been able to get back up on deck after taking Lawrence below and he was made the scapegoat by the disbelieving American public.  It was his fault that the ship was lost.  he was tried by military court and found guilty of leaving his place of duty and dismissed from the U.S. Navy in disgrace.

His family and descendants tried for years to clear his name.  Finally, in 1952, President Truman pardoned him and restored him to his former rank.

James Lawrence was the clear culprit in the Chesapeake's loss.  But the American public would not allow any blame to be given to him.  If they couldn't have a victory, at least they would have a hero.

And, Captain Lawrence was that man.

Hero or Culprit?  --Brock-Perry

The Real, Shameful Story Behind 'Don't Give Up the Ship'-- Part 7: Who Surrendered the Ship?

The Shannon and Chesapeake collided and British Captain Philip Broke led a boarding party onto the USS Chesapeake.  Very close quarter hand-to-hand fighting ensued and Broke was wounded by a saber cut on his skull.

It didn't take long before the American colors came down and the British ensign was hoisted.  The battle was over.

Captain James Lawrence's exhortations to his crew came to naught.  They did give up the ship, but perhaps not actually.  There were no American officers on the deck to formally surrender the ship.  The British officers themselves simply declared the fighting over and the ship theirs.

The remaining Americans and Lawrence were taken prisoner and the two ships sailed away in tandem to Nova Scotia, leaving the Boston spectators dumbfounded.

What had happened?

--Brock-Perry

The Real, Shameful Story Behind 'Don't Give Up the Ship'-- Part 6

The carnage from these broadsides was enormous.  In less than fifteen minutes the Chesapeake had lost 40 killed and 90 wounded.  Meanwhile, on the Shannon there were 34 killed and 56 wounded.  The Chesapeake's headsail and wheel were quickly shot away and the Chesapeake now drifted helplessly downwind towards the Shannon which continued firing.

Sharpshooters in the Shannon's fighting tops fired down on American targets on the Chesapeake's decks.  One shot felled James Lawrence who was taken below for treatment.  It was below decks where he allegedly uttered those famous words.

--Brock-Perry

The Real, Shameful Story Behind 'Don't Give Up the Ship"-- Part 5: Big British Advantage

Meanwhile, Captain Lawrence's adversary on the HMS Shannon had commanded that ship for seven years and an experienced crew that was so well trained that he didn't have to issue many orders.  They knew what they were doing.  They had trained long and hard on their gunnery and were additionally helped by special sights designed by Captain Broke and affixed to the top of their cannons.

Broke brought the Shannon to within a few miles of Boston and hove to, waiting for the USS Chesapeake.  Captain Lawrence brought his ship down on the near stationary Shannon from upwind, giving him a huge advantage.  But, for some reason, perhaps an act of bravado, swung around to be parallel with the British ship.

Both ships then exchanged broadsides at close range.

--Brock-Perry

The Real, Shameful Story of 'Don't Give Up the Ship'-- Part 4: Clearly Overmatched

The USS Chesapeake and James Lawrence were hopelessly overmatched in this battle with the HMS Shannon.  Lawrence had just taken command of his ship two weeks earlier and had not had the time to train his crew and officers.  Even worse, he was unhappy with his new command as he had really wanted to command the USS Constitution, but that ship was in drydock for repairs and was unavailable..

Half of his crew were new to the Navy and untrained in working together.  These men were also not happy because they hadn't been paid for weeks.  There are some reports that some of the crew were drunk when they met the Shannon on June 1.

--Brock-Perry

The Real, Shameful Story Behind 'Don't Give Up the Ship!'-- Part 3

The first shots fired in the battle came at 6 p,m..  The USS Chesapeake surrendered to the HMS Shannon just 15 minutes later.  A shocked and disappointed Boston had been planning a huge victory banquet to fete Captain Lawrence and his crew.  Plans were immediately canceled.

And, there were other reasons why Captain Lawrence lost the battle which I will write about in the next post.

--Brock-Perry

The Body of James Lawrence-- Part 2: Many Burials

The battle between the USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon took place on June 1, 1813, off Boston.  James Lawrence, the Chesapeake's commander, was mortally wounded, taken below and taken prisoner when the ship surrendered a few moments later.  He died on June 4, en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia,  where he was buried with full military honors at what was Her Majesty's Canadian Dockyard.  It is now the Canadian Forces Base Halifax (CFB-Halifax).

However, his body is  no longer there.

It was disinterred at some time afterwards and taken to Boston where another funeral was held.  Later, he was reburied in Salem, Massachusetts.  Later, again, he was dug up and buried for a final time at the trinity Church cemetery in Manhattan, New York City.

A Long Way From Halifax.  --Brock-Perry

HMS Shannon, After the Battle With the USS Chesapeake-- Part 1

The HMS Shannon was a 38-gun British frigate.

The British buried American Captain James Lawrence in Halifax with full military honors.  Six senior British naval officers served as his pall bearers.

The Shannon was in ordinary in Portsmouth 1814-1815.  Between July 1815 and March 1817 the ship was at Chatham undergoing extensive repairs that cost 26,328 pounds.  It was then returned to ordinary where it stayed until 1826 when it underwent some minor repairs at a cost of 4,969 pounds and then fitted for sea between August-December 1828 for 14,746 pounds.

It became a receiving ship and a temporary hulk at Sheerness in 1831.  On 11 March 1844 and was broken up at Chatham in 1859.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Shannon-- Part 1: Statistics

Tonnage--  1,065

150 feet long

39.11 foot beam

Crew:  330 officers and enlisted

Armament, Upper deck--  twenty-eight 18-pdrs.

Lower decks--  eight 9 pdrs. and fourteen 32-pdr. carronades.

--Brock-Perry