USS Chesapeake (1799)
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''Chesapeake'' was a 38-gun wooden-
hulled Husk (or hull) in botany is the outer shell or coating of a seed. In the United States, the term husk often refers to the leafy outer covering of an ear of maize (corn) as it grows on the plant. Literally, a husk or hull includes the protective ...
, three- masted
heavy frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
of the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794.
Joshua Humphreys Joshua Humphreys (June 17, 1751 – January 12, 1838) was an American ship builder and naval architect. He was the constructor of the original six frigates of the United States Navy and is known as the "Father of the American Navy". Humphreys wa ...
designed these frigates to be the young navy's
capital ship The capital ships of a navy are its most important warships; they are generally the larger ships when compared to other warships in their respective fleet. A capital ship is generally a leading or a primary ship in a naval fleet. Strategic im ...
s. ''Chesapeake'' was originally designed as a 44-gun frigate, but construction delays, material shortages and budget problems caused builder Josiah Fox to alter his design to 38 guns. Launched at the Gosport Navy Yard on 2 December 1799, ''Chesapeake'' began her career during the
Quasi-War The Quasi-War (french: Quasi-guerre) was an undeclared naval war fought from 1798 to 1800 between the United States and the French First Republic, primarily in the Caribbean and off the East Coast of the United States. The ability of Congres ...
with France and later saw service in the
First Barbary War The First Barbary War (1801–1805), also known as the Tripolitan War and the Barbary Coast War, was a conflict during the Barbary Wars, in which the United States and Sweden fought against Tripolitania. Tripolitania had declared war against Sw ...
. On 22 June 1807 she was fired upon by of the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
for refusing to allow a search for deserters. The event, now known as the ''Chesapeake–Leopard'' affair, angered the American public and government and was a precipitating factor that led to the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
. As a result of the affair, ''Chesapeake''s commanding officer,
James Barron James Barron (September 15, 1768 – April 21, 1851) was an officer in the United States Navy. He served in the Quasi-War and the Barbary Wars, during which he commanded a number of famous ships, including and . As commander of the frigate , h ...
, was
court-martial A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
ed and the United States instituted the
Embargo Act of 1807 The Embargo Act of 1807 was a general trade embargo on all foreign nations that was enacted by the United States Congress. As a successor or replacement law for the 1806 Non-importation Act and passed as the Napoleonic Wars continued, it repr ...
against the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. Early in the War of 1812 she made one patrol and captured five British
merchant ship A merchant ship, merchant vessel, trading vessel, or merchantman is a watercraft that transports cargo or carries passengers for hire. This is in contrast to pleasure craft, which are used for personal recreation, and naval ships, which are u ...
s. She was captured by shortly after sailing from Boston, Massachusetts, on 1 June 1813. The Royal Navy took her into their service as HMS ''Chesapeake'', where she served until she was broken up and her timbers sold in 1819. They gave form and structure to the Chesapeake Mill in Wickham, England.


Design and construction

American
merchant vessel A merchant ship, merchant vessel, trading vessel, or merchantman is a watercraft that transports cargo or carries passengers for hire. This is in contrast to pleasure craft, which are used for personal recreation, and naval ships, which are us ...
s began to fall prey to
Barbary Pirates The Barbary pirates, or Barbary corsairs or Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Salé, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, Libya, Tripoli. This area was known i ...
, mainly from
Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, in the
Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
during the 1790s. Congress responded with the Naval Act of 1794.Allen (1909), pp. 41–42. The act provided funds for the construction of six frigates, and directed that the construction would continue unless and until the United States agreed peace terms with Algiers.Beach (1986), p. 29.''An Act to provide a Naval Armament''. (1794).
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
Joshua Humphreys Joshua Humphreys (June 17, 1751 – January 12, 1838) was an American ship builder and naval architect. He was the constructor of the original six frigates of the United States Navy and is known as the "Father of the American Navy". Humphreys wa ...
' design was long on
keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
and narrow of
beam Beam may refer to: Streams of particles or energy *Light beam, or beam of light, a directional projection of light energy **Laser beam *Particle beam, a stream of charged or neutral particles **Charged particle beam, a spatially localized grou ...
(width) to allow for the mounting of very heavy guns. The design incorporated a diagonal
scantling Scantling is a measurement of prescribed size, dimensions, or cross sectional areas. Shipping In shipbuilding, the scantling refers to the collective dimensions of the framing (apart from the keel) to which planks or plates are attached to form th ...
(rib) scheme to limit hogging (warping) and included extremely heavy planking. This gave the hull greater strength than those of more lightly built frigates. Since the fledgling United States could not match the number of ships of the European states, Humphreys designed his frigates to be able to overpower other frigates, but with the speed to escape from a
ship of the line A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactic known as the line of battle, which depended on the two colu ...
.Toll (2006), pp. 49–53.Beach (1986), pp. 29–30, 33.Allen (1909), pp. 42–45. Originally designated as "Frigate D", the ship remained unnamed for several years. Her keel was laid down in December 1795 at the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk County – now the city of Portsmouth in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where Josiah Fox had been appointed her naval constructor and
Richard Dale Richard Dale (November 6, 1756 – February 26, 1826) was an American naval officer who fought in the Continental Navy under John Barry and was first lieutenant for John Paul Jones during the naval battle off of Flamborough Head, England again ...
as superintendent of construction. In March 1796 a peace accord was announced between the United States and Algiers and construction was suspended in accordance with the Naval Act of 1794. The keel remained on blocks in the navy yard for two years.Beach (1986), p. 30. The onset of the
Quasi-War The Quasi-War (french: Quasi-guerre) was an undeclared naval war fought from 1798 to 1800 between the United States and the French First Republic, primarily in the Caribbean and off the East Coast of the United States. The ability of Congres ...
with France in 1798 prompted Congress to authorize completion of "Frigate D", and they approved resumption of the work on 16 July. When Fox returned to Norfolk he discovered a shortage of timber caused by its diversion from Norfolk to Baltimore in order to finish . He corresponded with Secretary of the Navy
Benjamin Stoddert Benjamin Stoddert (1751 – 18 December 1813) was the first United States Secretary of the Navy from 1 May 1798 to 31 March 1801. Early life and education Stoddert was born in Charles County, Maryland in 1751, the son of Captain Thomas Stoddert. ...
, who indicated a desire to expedite construction of the ship and reduce the overall cost. Fox, always an opponent of Humphreys' large design, submitted new plans to Stoddert which called for utilizing the existing keel but reducing the overall dimensions substantially in length and partially of beam. Fox's plans essentially proposed an entirely different design than originally planned by Humphreys. Secretary Stoddert approved the new design plans.Allen (1909), p. 56.Beach (1986), pp. 30–31. When construction finished, ''Chesapeake'' had the smallest dimensions of the six frigates. A length of
between perpendiculars Length between perpendiculars (often abbreviated as p/p, p.p., pp, LPP, LBP or Length BPP) is the length of a ship along the summer load line from the forward surface of the stem, or main bow perpendicular member, to the after surface of the ster ...
and of beam contrasted with her closest sisters, and ''Constellation'', which were built to in length and of beam.Toll (2006), p. 289. The final cost of her construction was $220,677—the second-least expensive frigate of the six. The least expensive was ''Congress'' at $197,246. During construction, a sloop named ''Chesapeake'' was launched on 20 June 1799 but was renamed between 10 October and 14 November, apparently to free up the name ''Chesapeake'' for "Frigate D". In communications between Fox and Stoddert, Fox repeatedly referred to her as ''Congress'', further confusing matters, until he was informed by Stoddert the ship was to be named ''Chesapeake'', after
Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...
. She was the only one of the six frigates not named by President
George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
, nor after a principle of the United States Constitution.Beach (1986), p. 31.


Armament

''Chesapeake''s nominal rating is stated as either 36 or 38 guns. Originally designated as a 44-gun ship, her redesign by Fox led to a rerating, apparently based on her smaller dimensions when compared to ''Congress'' and ''Constellation''. Joshua Humphreys may have rerated ''Chesapeake'' to 38 guns,Chapelle (1949), p. 128. or Secretary Stoddert may have rerated ''Congress'' and ''Constellation'' to 38 guns because they were larger than ''Chesapeake'', which was rated to 36 guns.Beach (1986), p. 32. The most recent information on her rating is from the ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'', published in 2011, which states she was rerated "from 44 guns to 36, eventually increased to 38". Her gun rating remained a matter of confusion throughout her career; Fox used a 44-gun rating in his correspondence with Secretary Stoddert. In preparing for the War of 1812 Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton directed Captain Samuel Evans to recruit the number of crewmen required for a 44-gun ship. Hamilton was corrected by
William Bainbridge William Bainbridge (May 7, 1774July 27, 1833) was a Commodore in the United States Navy. During his long career in the young American Navy he served under six presidents beginning with John Adams and is notable for his many victories at sea. He ...
in a letter stating, "There is a mistake in the crew ordered for the ''Chesapeake'', as it equals in number the crews of our 44-gun frigates, whereas the ''Chesapeake'' is of the class of the ''Congress'' and ''Constellation''."Roosevelt (1883), p. 50. When sold for scrap by the Royal Navy in 1819, she was rated as a 48-gun ship. Gun ratings did not correspond to the actual number of guns a ship would carry. ''Chesapeake'' was noted as carrying 40 guns during her encounter with in 1807 and 50 guns during her engagement with in 1813. The 50 guns consisted of twenty-eight 18-pounder (8 kg) long guns on the
gun deck The term gun deck used to refer to a deck aboard a ship that was primarily used for the mounting of cannon to be fired in broadsides. The term is generally applied to decks enclosed under a roof; smaller and unrated vessels carried their guns ...
, fourteen on each side. This main battery was complemented by two long 12-pounders (5.5 kg), one long 18-pounder, eighteen 32-pounder (14.5 kg)
carronade A carronade is a short, smoothbore, cast-iron cannon which was used by the Royal Navy. It was first produced by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland, and was used from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century. Its main func ...
s, and one 12-pound carronade on the
spar deck A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary or upper deck is the horizontal structure that forms the "roof" of the hull, strengthening it and serving as the primary working surface. V ...
. Her
broadside Broadside or broadsides may refer to: Naval * Broadside (naval), terminology for the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship, or their near simultaneous fire on naval warfare Printing and literature * Broadside (comic ...
weight was .Cooper (1856), pp. 225–226. The ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns; guns were completely portable and were often exchanged between ships as situations warranted. Each commanding officer modified his vessel's armament to his liking while taking into consideration factors such as the overall tonnage of cargo, complement of personnel aboard, and planned routes to be sailed. Consequently, a vessel's armament would change often during its career; records of the changes were not generally kept.Jennings (1966), pp. 17–19.


Quasi-War

''Chesapeake'' was launched on 2 December 1799 during the undeclared
Quasi-War The Quasi-War (french: Quasi-guerre) was an undeclared naval war fought from 1798 to 1800 between the United States and the French First Republic, primarily in the Caribbean and off the East Coast of the United States. The ability of Congres ...
(1798–1800), which arose after the French navy seized American merchant ships. Her
fitting-out Fitting out, or outfitting, is the process in shipbuilding that follows the float-out/launching of a vessel and precedes sea trials. It is the period when all the remaining construction of the ship is completed and readied for delivery to her o ...
continued until May 1800. In March Josiah Fox was reprimanded by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert for continuing to work on ''Chesapeake'' while ''Congress'', still awaiting completion, was fully manned with a crew drawing pay. Stoddert appointed
Thomas Truxton Thomas Truxtun (or Truxton) (February 17, 1755 – May 5, 1822) was an American naval officer after the Revolutionary War, when he served as a privateer, who rose to the rank of commodore in the late eighteenth century and later served in the Quas ...
to ensure that his directives concerning ''Congress'' were carried out.Toll (2006), p. 138. ''Chesapeake'' first put to sea on 22 May commanded by Captain Samuel Barron and marked her departure from Norfolk with a 13-gun salute.Toll (2006), p. 139. Her first assignment was to carry currency from Charleston, South Carolina, to Philadelphia.Cooper (1856), p. 139. On 6 June she joined a squadron patrolling off the southern coast of the United States and in the West Indies escorting American merchant ships.Allen (1909), p. 217. Capturing the 16-gun French
privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...
''La Jeune Creole'' on 1 January 1801 after a chase lasting 50 hours, she returned to Norfolk with her
prize A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people (such as sporting teams and organizations) to recognize and reward their actions and achievements.
on 15 January. ''Chesapeake'' returned briefly to the West Indies in February, soon after a
peace treaty A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring ...
was ratified with France. She returned to Norfolk and decommissioned on 26 February, subsequently being placed in reserve.Allen (1909), pp. 217, 252.


First Barbary War

During the Quasi-War, the United States had paid
tribute A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
to the Barbary States to ensure that they would not seize or harass American merchant ships.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 215–216. In 1801
Yusuf Karamanli Yusuf (ibn Ali) Karamanli, Caramanli or Qaramanli or al-Qaramanli (most commonly Yusuf Karamanli), (1766 – 1838) was the longest-reigning Pasha of the Karamanli dynasty of Tripolitania (in present-day Libya). He is noted for his role in th ...
of
Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis may refer to: Cities and other geographic units Greece *Tripoli, Greece, the capital of Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in ...
, dissatisfied with the amount of tribute he received in comparison to that paid to Algiers, demanded an immediate payment of $250,000.Allen (1905), pp. 88, 90.
Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...
responded by sending a squadron of warships to protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean and to pursue peace negotiations with the Barbary States.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 228.Allen (1905), p. 92. The first squadron was under the command of Richard Dale in ''President'' and the second was assigned to the command of
Richard Valentine Morris Richard Valentine Morris (March 8, 1768 – May 13, 1815) was a United States Navy officer and politician. Early life He was born on March 8, 1768, in Morrisania, then a town in Westchester County, which became in 1898 a neighborhood in the boro ...
in ''Chesapeake''. Morris's squadron eventually consisted of the vessels ''Constellation'', , , , and . It took several months to prepare the vessels for sea; they departed individually as they became ready.Allen (1905), pp. 105–106.Cooper (1856), p. 155. ''Chesapeake'' sailed from Hampton Roads on 27 April 1802 and arrived at
Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...
on 25 May; she immediately put in for repairs, as her main mast had split during the voyage.Cooper (1856), p. 158. Morris remained at Gibraltar while awaiting word on the location of his squadron, as several ships had not reported in. On 22 July ''Adams'' arrived with belated orders for Morris, dated 20 April. Those were to "lay the whole squadron before Tripoli" and negotiate peace.Allen (1905), pp. 113–114. ''Chesapeake'' and ''Enterprise'' departed Gibraltar on 17 August bound for Leghorn, while providing protection for a convoy of merchant ships that were bound for intermediate ports. Morris made several stops in various ports before finally arriving at Leghorn on 12 October, after which he sailed to
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
. ''Chesapeake'' undertook repairs of a rotted
bowsprit The bowsprit of a sailing vessel is a spar extending forward from the vessel's prow. The bowsprit is typically held down by a bobstay that counteracts the forces from the forestays. The word ''bowsprit'' is thought to originate from the Middle L ...
.Allen (1905), pp. 114–116.Cooper (1856), p. 159. ''Chesapeake'' was still in port when ''John Adams'' arrived on 5 January 1803 with orders dated 23 October 1802 from Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith. These directed ''Chesapeake'' and ''Constellation'' to return to the United States; Morris was to transfer his command to ''New York''.Allen (1905), p. 117. ''Constellation'' sailed directly as ordered, but Morris retained ''Chesapeake'' at Malta, claiming that she was not in any condition to make an Atlantic voyage during the winter months.Allen (1905), p. 118. Morris now had the ships ''New York'', ''John Adams'', and ''Enterprise'' gathered under him, while ''Adams'' was at Gibraltar. On 30 January ''Chesapeake'' and the squadron got underway for Tripoli, where Morris planned to burn Tripolitan ships in the harbor. Heavy gales made the approach to Tripoli difficult. Fearing ''Chesapeake'' would lose her masts from the strong winds, Morris returned to Malta on 10 February.Allen (1905), p. 120.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 235. With provisions for the ships running low and none available near Malta, Morris decided to abandon plans to blockade Tripoli and sailed the squadron back to Gibraltar for provisioning. They made stops at
Tunis ''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois , population_note = , population_urban = , population_metro = 2658816 , population_density_km2 = , timezone1 = CET , utc_offset1 ...
on 22 February and Algiers on 19 March. ''Chesapeake'' arrived at Gibraltar on 23 March, where Morris transferred his command to ''New York''.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 236–237. Under
James Barron James Barron (September 15, 1768 – April 21, 1851) was an officer in the United States Navy. He served in the Quasi-War and the Barbary Wars, during which he commanded a number of famous ships, including and . As commander of the frigate , h ...
, ''Chesapeake'' sailed for the United States on 7 April and she was placed in reserve at the
Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy. The Yard currently serves as a ceremonial and administrativ ...
on 1 June.Allen (1905), pp. 121–123. Morris remained in the Mediterranean until September, when orders from Secretary Smith arrived suspending his command and instructing him to return to the United States. There he faced a
Naval Board of Inquiry Naval Board of Inquiry and Naval Court of Inquiry are two types of investigative court proceedings, conducted by the United States Navy in response to an event that adversely affects the performance, or reputation, of the fleet or one of its shi ...
which found that he was censurable for "inactive and dilatory conduct of the squadron under his command". He was dismissed from the navy in 1804.Allen (1905), pp. 133–135.Beach (1986), p. 45. Morris's overall performance in the Mediterranean was particularly criticized for the state of affairs aboard ''Chesapeake'' and his inactions as a commander. His wife, young son, and housekeeper accompanied him on the voyage, during which his wife gave birth to another son. Midshipman Henry Wadsworth wrote that he and the other midshipman referred to Mrs. Morris as the "Commodoress" and believed she was the main reason behind ''Chesapeake'' remaining in port for months at a time.Toll (2006), p. 173.Fowler (1984), p. 73. Consul
William Eaton William Eaton or Bill Eaton may refer to: * William Eaton (soldier) (1764–1811), United States Army soldier during the Barbary Wars * William Eaton (athlete) (1909–1938), British long-distance runner * William Eaton (guitarist), American luth ...
reported to Secretary Smith that Morris and his squadron spent more time in port sightseeing and doing little but "dance and wench", rather than blockading Tripoli.Fowler (1984), pp. 74–75.


''Chesapeake''–''Leopard'' Affair

In January 1807 Master Commandant Charles Gordon was appointed ''Chesapeake''s commanding officer (captain). He was ordered to prepare her for patrol and convoy duty in the Mediterranean to relieve her sister ship , which had been on duty there since 1803. James Barron was appointed overall commander of the squadron as its commodore.Toll (2006), p. 290.Cooper (1856), p. 224. ''Chesapeake'' was in much disarray from her multi-year period of inactivity and many months were required for repairs, provisioning, and recruitment of personnel.Fowler (1984), p. 152. Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair was tasked with the recruiting. Among those chosen were three sailors who had deserted from . The British ambassador to the United States requested the return of the sailors. Barron found that, although they were indeed from ''Melampus'', they had been impressed into Royal Navy service from the beginning. He therefore refused to release them back to ''Melampus'' and nothing further was communicated on the subject.Fowler (1984), p. 153.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 305–306. In early June ''Chesapeake'' departed the Washington Navy Yard for Norfolk, Virginia, where she completed provisioning and loading armaments. Captain Gordon informed Barron on the 19th that ''Chesapeake'' was ready for sea and they departed on 22 June armed with 40 guns. At the same time, a British squadron consisting of HMS ''Melampus'', , and ''Leopard'' (a 50-gun
fourth rate In 1603 all English warships with a compliment of fewer than 160 men were known as 'small ships'. In 1625/26 to establish pay rates for officers a six tier naval ship rating system was introduced.Winfield 2009 These small ships were divided i ...
) were lying off the port of Norfolk blockading two French ships there. As ''Chesapeake'' departed, the squadron ships began signaling each other and ''Leopard'' got under way, preceding ''Chesapeake'' to sea.Toll (2006), p. 295. After sailing for some hours, ''Leopard'', commanded by Captain Salusbury Humphreys, approached ''Chesapeake'' and hailed a request to deliver dispatches to England, a customary request of the time.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 306. When a British lieutenant arrived by boat he handed Barron an order, given by Vice-Admiral George Berkeley of the Royal Navy, which instructed the British ships to stop and board ''Chesapeake'' to search for deserters. Barron refused to allow this search, and as the lieutenant returned to ''Leopard'' Barron ordered the crew to
general quarters General quarters, battle stations, or action stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the arme ...
.Cooper (1856), pp. 227, 229. Shortly afterward ''Leopard'' hailed ''Chesapeake''; Barron could not understand the message. ''Leopard'' fired a shot across the bow, followed by a broadside, at ''Chesapeake''. For fifteen minutes, while ''Chesapeake'' attempted to arm herself, ''Leopard'' continued to fire broadside after broadside until Barron struck his colors. ''Chesapeake'' only managed to fire one retaliatory shot after hot coals from the galley were brought on deck to ignite the cannon.Fowler (1984), p. 155. The British boarded ''Chesapeake'' and carried off four crewmen, declining Barron's offer that ''Chesapeake'' be taken as a prize of war.Cooper (1856), p. 230. ''Chesapeake'' suffered three sailors killed and Barron was among the eighteen wounded.Toll (2006), pp. 295–298. Word of the incident spread quickly on ''Chesapeake''s return to Hampton Roads, where the British squadron that included ''Leopard'' was provisioning. Mobs of angry citizens destroyed two hundred water casks destined for the squadron and nearly killed a British lieutenant before local authorities intervened. The fourth death of a "Chesapeake" sailor two days later came in the midst of the growing outrage. The coffin holding the body of Robert MacDonald was transported across the Elizabeth River, which flowed between Portsmouth and Norfolk, amid cannon tributes and ships at half mast and an estimated 4,000 citizens to receive it at the Norfolk wharf. In subsequent days, the event would lead to the angry resolutions of town governments on the east coast and into the Midwest. In Pennsylvania, a group representing the state's First Congressional District declared the attack “an act of such consummate violence and wrong, and of so barbarous and murderous a character that it would debase and degrade any nation and much more so a nation of freemen to submit to it.” President Jefferson recalled all US warships from the Mediterranean and issued a proclamation: all British warships were banned from entering US ports and those already in port were to depart. The incident eventually led to the
Embargo Act of 1807 The Embargo Act of 1807 was a general trade embargo on all foreign nations that was enacted by the United States Congress. As a successor or replacement law for the 1806 Non-importation Act and passed as the Napoleonic Wars continued, it repr ...
.Fowler (1984), pp. 155–156.Toll (2006), pp. 299, 301. As the first significant conflict between America and Great Britain after the Revolutionary War, it would give energy to what some historians would deem the second Revolutionary War, the War of 1812. ''Chesapeake'' was completely unprepared to defend herself during the incident. None of her guns were primed for operation and the spar deck was filled with materials that were not properly stowed in the cargo hold.Toll (2006), p. 294. A court-martial was convened for Barron and Captain Gordon, as well as Lieutenant Hall of the Marines. Barron was found guilty of "neglecting on the probability of an engagement to clear his Ship for action" and suspended from the navy for five years. Gordon and Hall were privately reprimanded, and the ship's gunner was discharged from the navy.Fowler (1984), p. 156.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 307–308.


War of 1812

After the heavy damage inflicted by ''Leopard'', ''Chesapeake'' returned to Norfolk for repairs. Under the command of
Stephen Decatur Stephen Decatur Jr. (; January 5, 1779 – March 22, 1820) was an American naval officer and commodore. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County. His father, Stephen Decatur Sr., was a commodore in the Unite ...
, she made patrols off the New England coast enforcing the Embargo Act throughout 1809.Toll (2006), pp. 289, 310. The ''Chesapeake''–''Leopard'' Affair, and later the ''Little Belt'' affair, contributed to the United States' decision to declare war on Britain on 18 June 1812. ''Chesapeake'', under the command of Captain Samuel Evans, was prepared for duty in the Atlantic.Toll (2006), p. 402. Beginning on 13 December, she ranged from
Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
and traveled clockwise to the
Cape Verde Islands , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...
and South America, and then back to Boston. She captured six ships as prizes: the British ships ''Volunteer'', , ''EarlPercy'', and ''Ellen'', the brig ''Julia'' (an American ship trading under a British license), and ''Valeria'' (an American ship recaptured from British privateers). During the cruise an unidentified British ship-of-the-line and a frigate chased ''Chesapeake'' but, after a passing storm squall, the two pursuing ships were gone the next morning. The cargo of ''Volunteer'', 40 tons of pig iron and copper, was sold for $185,000. ''Earl Percy'' never made it back to port as she ran aground off the coast of Long Island. ''Liverpool Hero'' was burned as she was considered leaky. ''Chesapeake''s total monetary damage to British shipping was $235,675 (equivalent to $ million in ). She returned to Boston on 9 April 1813 for refitting.Calhoun (2008), pp. 6–8, 14–16.Roosevelt (1883), p. 163. Captain Evans, now in poor health, requested relief of command. Captain
James Lawrence James Lawrence (October 1, 1781 – June 4, 1813) was an officer of the United States Navy. During the War of 1812, he commanded in a single-ship action against , commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, ...
, late of and her victory over , took command of ''Chesapeake'' on 20 May. Matters on board the ship were in disarray. The term of enlistment for many of the crew had expired and they were daily leaving the ship. Those who remained were disgruntled and approaching mutiny, as the prize money they were owed from her previous cruise was held up in court.Cooper (1856), p. 305. Lawrence paid out the prize money from his own pocket in order to appease them. Some sailors from ''Constitution'' joined ''Chesapeake'' and they made up the crew, along with sailors of several nations.Roosevelt (1883), p. 178. Meanwhile, HMS ''Shannon'', a 38-gun frigate, under Captain
Philip Broke Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, 1st Baronet (; 9 September 1776 – 2 January 1841) was a distinguished officer in the British Royal Navy. During his lifetime, he was often referred to as "Broke of the ''Shannon''", a reference to his notable comm ...
was patrolling off the port of Boston on blockade duty. ''Shannon'' had been under the command of Broke since 1806 and, under his direction, the crew held daily great gun and small arms drills lasting up to three hours each. Crew members who hit their bullseye were awarded a pound (454 g) of tobacco for their good marksmanship. Broke had also fitted out his cannons with dispart and tangent sights to increase accuracy as well as degree bearings on the decks and gun carriages to allow the crew to focus their fire on a specific target. In this regard ''Chesapeake'', with traditional gun practice and a crew that had only been together for a few months, was inferior.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 179–180.


''Chesapeake'' vs ''Shannon''

Lawrence, advised that ''Shannon'' had moved in closer to Boston, began preparations to sail on the evening of 31 May. The next morning Broke wrote a challenge to Lawrence and dispatched it to ''Chesapeake''; it had not arrived when Lawrence set out to meet ''Shannon'' on his own accord.Cooper (1856), p. 304.Roosevelt (1883), p. 182. Leaving port with a broad white flag bearing the motto "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights", ''Chesapeake'' met ''Shannon'' near 5 pm that afternoon. During six minutes of firing, each ship managed two full broadsides. ''Chesapeake''s first broadside was fired while the ship was heeling, causing most shots to strike the water or ''Shannon''s
waterline The waterline is the line where the hull of a ship meets the surface of the water. Specifically, it is also the name of a special marking, also known as an international load line, Plimsoll line and water line (positioned amidships), that indi ...
, causing little damage; although carronade fire caused serious damage to ''Shannon''s rigging. A second round of fire was more effective, landing hits on ''Shannon''s 12-pounder shot locker. ''Chesapeake''s 32-pound carronades punished ''Shannon''s forecastle, killing three men, wounding others and disabling ''Shannon''s nine-pounder bow gun. ''Chesapeake'' suffered far more heavily in the exchange, as accurate British fire caused heavy losses among American gun crews, and crippling losses to the men and officers on ''Chesapeake''s
quarterdeck The quarterdeck is a raised deck behind the main mast of a sailing ship. Traditionally it was where the captain commanded his vessel and where the ship's colours were kept. This led to its use as the main ceremonial and reception area on bo ...
. A succession of helmsmen were killed and her
wheel A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle Bearing (mechanical), bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the Simple machine, six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction wi ...
was destroyed. At the same time, her foretopsail
halyard In sailing, a halyard or halliard is a line (rope) that is used to hoist a ladder, sail, flag or yard. The term ''halyard'' comes from the phrase "to haul yards". Halyards, like most other parts of the running rigging, were classically made of ...
was shot away causing the ship to lose maneuverability.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 182–183. Unable to maneuver, ''Chesapeake'' " luffed up" and her port stern quarter caught against the side of ''Shannon'' amidships and the two ships were lashed together. Confusion and disarray reigned on the deck of ''Chesapeake''; Captain Lawrence tried rallying a party to board ''Shannon'', but the
bugler The bugle is one of the simplest brass instruments, normally having no valves or other pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player's embouchure. History The bugle developed from early musical or communication i ...
failed to sound the call.Cooper (1856), p. 306. At this point a shot from a
sniper A sniper is a military/paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities. Snipers generally have specialized training and are equipped with high-precision r ...
mortally wounded Lawrence; as his men carried him below, he gave his last order: "Don't give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks."Cooper (1856), pp. 305–307.Roosevelt (1883), p. 184. There are varying historical accounts of what Lawrence may actually have uttered. Captain Broke boarded ''Chesapeake'' at the head of a party of 20 men. They met little resistance from ''Chesapeake''s crew, most of whom had run below deck. The only resistance from ''Chesapeake'' came from her contingent of marines. The British soon overwhelmed them; only nine escaped injury out of 44.Roosevelt (1883), p. 185. Captain Broke was severely injured in the fighting on the forecastle, being struck in the head with a sword. Soon after, ''Shannon''s crew pulled down ''Chesapeake''s flag. Only 15 minutes had elapsed from the first exchange of gunfire to the capture.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 186–187.Cooper (1856), p. 307. Reports on the number of killed and wounded aboard ''Chesapeake'' during the battle vary widely. Broke's after-action report from 6 July states 70 killed and 100 wounded. Other contemporary sources place the number between 48 and 61 killed and 85–99 wounded.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, p. 459.Beach (1986), p. 110. Discrepancies in the number of killed and wounded are possibly caused by the addition of sailors who died of their wounds after the battle.Toll (2006), p. 415. The counts for ''Shannon'' have fewer discrepancies with 23 killed and 56 wounded. Despite his serious injuries, Broke ordered repairs to both ships and they proceeded on to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Captain Lawrence died en route of his wounds and was buried in a Halifax cemetery with full military honors. The dead crewmen were buried on Dead Man's Island in
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...
. Captain Broke survived his wounds and was later made a
baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...
.Roosevelt (1883), p. 187.Cooper (1856), p. 308.


Royal Navy service and legacy

The Royal Navy repaired ''Chesapeake'' and took her into service as HMS ''Chesapeake''. She served on the Halifax station under the command of Alexander Dixie until 1814, and, in April, was sighted in the Chesapeake Bay, off the coast of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Later that year and under the command of George Burdett she sailed to Plymouth, England, for repairs in October of that year. Afterward she made a voyage to
Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
, South Africa, until learning of the
peace treaty A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring ...
with the United States in May 1815.Beach (1986), pp. 112–113. Later that year a report was made concerning ''Chesapeake''s performance in British service. Her captain observed that she was strongly constructed, but criticized the excessive overhang of the stern. He concluded that she was not a suitable ship to serve as a model for copying. Her speed under sail was not impressive: close-hauled and large. In 1819, the "Chesapeake", constructed in Portsmouth, Virginia, was sold for £500 to Joshua Holmes in Portsmouth, England, and her various components were offered for sale in ""The Telegraph and Sussex"", published in Hampshire County as a “very large quantity of OAK and FIR TIMBER of most excellent quality, and well worth the attention of any person.” Large, unbroken portions of the ship were bought by John Prior to build a new
watermill A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the production of ...
at
Wickham, Hampshire Wickham () is a large village and civil parish in Hampshire, England, about three miles north of Fareham. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 4,816, falling to 4,299 at the 2011 Census. Wickham has a wide and well-proportioned square ...
.Beach (1986), p. 113. The Chesapeake Mill would play a significant role in the agricultural economy of Hampshire County until it became increasingly obsolescent in the 1970s. After failed attempts to preserve the mill as a historical center through the early 2000s, it was given over to commercial operators and operated as an antique mall in 2021. As a watermill, the ""Chesapeake" may be the most originally preserved of the original six frigates of the U.S. Navy. Interpretation of the USS Constitution, preserved in Boston harbor, suggests original wood or components from 0% to 15%. The Chesapeake Mill is constructed of largely intact and unaltered components of the original ship – timber configuration, lintels, stairways, the five main spine beams to each floor, the floor joists, the roof timbers, other wood – some appearing to show the grapeshot of battle. The wood has been preserved within a five-story building with walls and beneath a roof for 200 years. In 1996 a timber fragment from the Chesapeake Mill was returned to the United States. It is on display at the
Hampton Roads Naval Museum The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downt ...
. Almost from her beginnings, ''Chesapeake'' was considered an "unlucky ship", the "runt of the litter" to the superstitious sailors of the 19th century, and the product of a disagreement between Humphreys and Fox. Her unsuccessful encounters with HMS ''Leopard'' and ''Shannon'', the
courts-martial A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
of two of her captains, and the accidental deaths of several crewmen led many to believe she was cursed. Arguments defending both Humphreys and Fox regarding their long-standing disagreements over the design of the frigates carried on for years. Humphreys disowned any credit for Fox's redesign of ''Chesapeake''. In 1827 he wrote, "She 'Chesapeake''spoke his ox'stalents. Which I leave the Commanders of that ship to estimate by her qualifications."Toll (2006), pp. 472–473. Lawrence's last command of "Don't give up the ship!" became a rallying cry for the US Navy.
Oliver Hazard Perry Oliver Hazard Perry (August 23, 1785 – August 23, 1819) was an American naval commander, born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The best-known and most prominent member of the Perry family naval dynasty, he was the son of Sarah Wallace A ...
, in command of naval forces on Lake Erie during September 1813, named his
flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
, which flew a broad blue flag bearing the words " give up the ship!" The phrase is still used in the US Navy today. ''Chesapeake''s battle-damaged ensign was sold at auction in London in 1908. Purchased by
William Waldorf Astor William Waldorf "Willy" Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (31 March 1848 – 18 October 1919) was an American-British attorney, politician, businessman (hotels and newspapers), and philanthropist. Astor was a scion of the very wealthy Astor family of ...
, it now resides in the
National Maritime Museum The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is a maritime museum in Greenwich, London. It is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a network of museums in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Like other publicly funded national museums in the United ...
in
Greenwich Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
, England, along with her signal book. The
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The museum is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection o ...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia, holds several artifacts from the battle including the mess kettle, and an officers chest from ''Chesapeake''. One of the 18-pounder guns from ''Chesapeake'' is mounted beside Province House, the Nova Scotia Legislature. A fictionalized account of the battle between ''Chesapeake'' and ''Shannon'' appears at the conclusion of ''
The Fortune of War ''The Fortune of War'' is the sixth historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by British author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1979. It is set during the War of 1812. HMS ''Leopard'' made its way to Botany Bay, left its prisoners, ...
'', the sixth historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by British author
Patrick O'Brian Patrick O'Brian, Order of the British Empire, CBE (12 December 1914 – 2 January 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of sea novels set in the Royal Navy during t ...
, first published in 1979. In 2021, The U.S. Navy announced that a namesake USS "Chesapeake" would be constructed as a member of a “Constellation Class” of ships in future years.SECNAV Names Future Vessels while aboard Historic Navy Ship > United States Navy > News-Stories
/ref>


Notes


Citations


References

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Further reading

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chesapeake (1799) Sailing frigates of the United States Navy Quasi-War ships of the United States Vessels captured from the United States Navy War of 1812 ships of the United States War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom Ships built in Portsmouth, Virginia 1799 ships Barbary Wars American ships