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.)

Oliver Hazard Perry & the Battle of Lake Erie-- Part 4

Instead of striking his colors, much to the surprise of the British, Perry lowered his flag on the USS Lawrence and rowed across the water to the USS Niagara, which was still in the fight.   He then raised his colors, a flag with the inscription "Don't Give Up the Ship," the last words of his friend James Lawrence.  He then continued the fight.

He forced the British to surrender.

His victory at the Battle of Lake Erie was a decisive turning point of the War of 1812.  The American people had something positive to cling to and celebrations in dozens of cities took place.  Now there was hope that the momentum of the war would shift.

And it sure did.

Today, Perry's legacy lives on, and perhaps most symbolic of this is the Victory and International Peace Memorial, which was built in 1936  in Put-In-Bay, Ohio, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie.  This dedication to Perry represents lasting peace between Canada, the United States and Great Britain, which in turn created stability and made it possible for surrounding  areas such as Trumbull County to thrive and grow.

--Brock-Perry

Standing Tall on Lake Erie-- Part 4: 'Don't Give Up the Ship'

At 7:00 am, Perry ordered his two largest ships, the USS Niagara and the USS Lawrence, to set full sail and proceed directly toward the British line.  But the Great  Lakes' notorious winds put up a long resistance.  Despite Perry's wishes, the wind wouldn't back his ships.  

Nonetheless, at 10:00, just as he was readying to steer his ships away, the tricky wind suddenly shifted, situating itself directly behind the Americans.

Commanding the British vessels was Commander Robert Heriot Barclay, an experienced Royal Navy officer from Scotland, who ordered his ships to go with the wind, taking the British vessels into battle.

The British ship HMS Detroit crippled the American flagship USS Lawrence, forcing Perry to transfer his men to the USS Niagara.  He made sure to bring his battle flag --  emblazoned with the words "Don't Give Up the Ship," the dying words of his friend James Lawrence, who had been killed earlier in the war.

--Brock-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

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 3: Lawrence, Ludlow and the HMS Moselle

BETWEEN WARS

The Vixen was placed in ordinary at Washington Navy Yard as soon as she got back from the Mediterranean.  She left the yard one year later and operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.  During this time, she was commanded by Lieutenant James "Don't Give Up the Ship" Lawrence and Charles Ludlow.

On 18 June 1810,  the Vixen came upon the brig-sloop HMS Moselle off Barbados, which opened fire on her with no provocation.  The Moselle's captain, Commander Henry Boys apologized, saying he had been unable to make out the Vixen's colors and that he had thought she was a French privateer he had been seeking.

And, of course, this was the era of impressment which was such a sticking point between the United States and Britain.

The Vixen suffered one casualty, a man who was wounded in the mouth by a splinter.

--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

War of 1812 Naval Officers in My Cooter's History Thing Blog:

The last two days, I have written about three naval officers from the War of 1812 who got their experience in the First Barbary War.  They are Thomas Macdonough, Charles Morris and James Lawrence.

Check it out by clicking on the Cooter's History Thing blog in the My Blogs section to the right of this.

--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 2

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

The Real, Shameful Story Behind 'Don't Give Up the Ship!'-- Part 1

From the Mat 19, 2013, Boston Globe" by Tom Halsted.

On June 1, 1813, a few miles north of Boston, a mortally wounded Captain James Lawrence, as his crew was locked in a vicious hand-to-hand combat,  was taken below deck and allegedly uttered those faomus words, "Don't Give Up the Ship."

These words were published a few weeks later in a Baltimore newspaper and it went on to become the unofficial motto of the U.S. Navy.  This predated the famous slogans "Remember the Maine" and "Remember Pearl Harbor."

Later that year, Oliver Hazard Perry had a flag with those words on his flagship, the USS Lawrence at the Battle of Lake Erie.

But, those words did not mark a historic or heroic moment.

Not So Don't.  --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

The Body of James Lawrence-- Part 1

In the last post I mentioned the burial of U.S. Navy Captain James Lawrence in Halifax, Nova Scotia, by the British with full military honors.

From Wikipedia.

The body of James Lawrence was reinterred at Trinity Church in New York City which also contains quite a few other notables:  Robert Fulton, Albert Gallatin, Horatio Gates, Alexander Hamilton and John Peter Zenger.

Also buried there are two War of 1812 veterans:

Franklin Wharton (1767-1868).  Commandant USMC 1804-1818.
Silas Talbot 1750-1813, U.S. Navy.  Second captain of the USS Constitution.

--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

The USS Chesapeake's Legacy-- Part 1 "Don't Give Up the Ship"

From Wikipedia.

**  Captain James Lawrence's last words, "Don't Give Up the Ship" has become a rallying cry for the U.S. Navy.

**  In September 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry named his flagship the USS Lawrence.  At the Battle of Lake Erie, he flew a broad blue flag with the words "Don't Give Up the Ship" on it.

**  The USS Lawrence's blood-stained, bullet-riddled flag was sold at auction in 1908 and purchased by William Waldorf Astor (American-born, but moved to Britain).  It is now at the Britain's National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, along with her signal book.

--Brock-Perry