the Leopard, although it did not punish him; but Vice-Admiral Berkley
was never again employed in the British navy. It also restored the
three men it had taken from the Chesapeake to the deck of the American
frigate.
After this affair it began to be plain that the United States must
either boldly repulse the efforts of Great Britain in her claims to
right of search, or else tamely submit. The latter was not to be
thought of. The war of 1812 was fought for the principle of protecting
sailors in American ships, and for the right to carry goods in free
bottoms; hence its motto was: "Free trade and sailors' rights."
These were agitating times for the navy, as officers of intelligence
realized that war was coming and it would be chiefly a naval war;
and they therefore strove diligently to perfect themselves in their
profession, so that when they came in conflict with the seasoned
sailors of England the American navy might give a good account of
itself.
Lawrence was among the most earnest and ambitious of these young
officers, and he acquitted himself so well in those intervening years
that it was plain he would do well in whatever situation he was placed.
In 1808 he was made first lieutenant of the Constitution, and that was
the last subordinate place he held. In 1809 he got the Vixen, which
he exchanged for the Wasp, and finally the Argus. In 1811 he got the
Hornet, a fast and beautiful little cruiser, carrying eighteen guns,
and was in command of her when the long-expected declaration of war
came in 1812.
The Hornet and the Essex, under Captain Porter, were ordered to
cruise with Captain Bainbridge in the Constitution. But after getting
out from Boston in October, 1812, and cruising a few weeks with the
Constitution, they separated. The Hornet, being off San Salvador,
challenged the Bonne Citoyenne, a vessel of about her own strength,
to come out and fight. As the Bonne Citoyenne had a large amount of
specie on board which her captain was under orders to deliver, he
very properly declined to fight, and was blockaded by the Hornet for
nearly three weeks. The Montagu, ship of the line, appearing however,
Captain Lawrence thought it time to be off, and managed to slip out to
sea in the darkness of an autumn night. He cruised some time, taking
a few prizes, and on the 24th of February came in sight of a large
man-of-war brig, the Peacock. She was called "the yacht" from the
beautiful brightness and order in which she was kept, and was commanded
by Captain Peake, a gallant and skilful officer. The Peacock showed a
perfect willingness to fight, and the two vessels stood for each other
at once. About five o'clock, being very near each other, their ensigns
were hoisted, and the battle began by exchanging broadsides as they
passed. After one or two rounds the Hornet came down, her batteries a
sheet of flame, and her fire frightfully destructive to her adversary.
The Peacock stood the blast of fire a very short time, fifteen minutes
being the longest time estimated,--Lawrence afterward said it was
eleven minutes by his watch, but, his clerk having put it down fifteen
minutes, he allowed it to stand,--when the Peacock lowered her colors
and displayed signals of distress in her forerigging. She was in a
sinking condition, when a prize crew was thrown aboard; and in spite
of every effort on the part of the officers and men of the Hornet, the
Peacock went down, carrying nine of her own people and three of the
Hornet's. The prize-master of the Hornet and his boat's crew saved
themselves with difficulty in the launch.
The Peacock was well handled and fought by her commander, who lost his
life in the engagement. But the Hornet was so skilfully manoeuvred,
and her gunnery, besides being extremely accurate, was so rapid, that
she had the advantage from a few minutes after the beginning of the
combat. She was slightly superior to the Peacock both in men and metal,
but the damage she did was far beyond the small difference of strength
between her and her antagonist. When the Peacock surrendered, her
mainmast had gone by the board, her hull was riddled, and she had six
feet of water in her, which soon carried her to the bottom; while, by
nine o'clock that night, every injury to the Hornet had been repaired,
and she was ready to go into action again.
Lawrence treated his prisoners with characteristic generosity, and his
example was not lost on his men. The Peacock's crew had lost everything
by the sinking of the ship, and the Hornet's men took up a subscription
among themselves to provide each of the prisoners with two shirts, a
blue jacket, and trousers.
Finding himself crowded with prisoners, Lawrence stood for home, and
arrived at New York late in March, 1813. The officers of the Peacock,
on being paroled at New York, addressed him a very handsome letter of
thanks, in which they said, "We cannot better express our feelings than
by saying that we ceased to consider ourselves prisoners."
The city of New York, anticipating the thanks of Congress, and the gold
medal for Lawrence, with prize money for the crew, gave Lawrence the
freedom of the city and a handsome piece of plate. On the 6th of April
a great dinner was given at Washington Hall, then a splendid place of
entertainment in New York, to Lawrence and his officers, while in the
ball-room of the building the petty officers, sailors, and marines
of the Hornet were entertained. The sailors landed at Whitehall, and
with music playing, marched up Pearl Street, Wall Street, and Broadway
to Washington Hall amidst the greatest enthusiasm on the part of the
inhabitants. After a fine dinner Captain Lawrence and his officers,
accompanied by the members of the city government of New York, visited
them, and the party was received by the sailors rising and giving
three times three for their commander. The whole body of sailors was
afterward invited to occupy the pit at the theatre, with Lawrence and
his officers and their hosts in the boxes. The audience cheered the
sailors vociferously, and the sailors seem to have cheered everything;
and they were highly pleased with their entertainment.
This was the last glimpse of brightness in Lawrence's short life. He
had a prospect of getting the Constitution, but his hopes were dashed
by being ordered to command the Chesapeake, then fitting at Boston.
The ship had become more and more an object of dislike in the navy
since her unfortunate experience in 1807. Sailors hated her, and would
not enlist in her if they could help it. No officer would serve in
her if he could get any other ship; consequently she was officered by
juniors who had to take her because they could do no better. She had
lately returned from a cruise in which she had sailed many thousands of
miles, under an active and enterprising captain, without once meeting
a chance to distinguish herself, and capturing only a few trifling
prizes. Lawrence was dismayed at the offer of this command. He begged
to remain in the Hornet rather than go to the Chesapeake. He told his
friends that the frigate was a worthless ship, and he would not have
her if he could honorably refuse; but this he could not do. In May,
1813, he took command of her. Up to the last moment he hoped to be
relieved by Captain Stewart, but it was not to be.
He found the ship short of officers, and those he had very young. His
first lieutenant, Augustus Ludlow, was a brilliant young officer,
but twenty-one years of age, who had never served before as first
lieutenant in a frigate. His other sea lieutenants were midshipmen
acting as lieutenants. His crew was largely made up of foreigners; and
one, a Portuguese boatswain's mate, was doing what he could to spread
dissatisfaction among the men because they had not been paid the
small amount of prize money due from the last cruise. The marine guard
was made up wholly of Americans, and there were a few men from the
Constitution. These men afterward gave a good account of themselves.
Outside the harbor of Boston it was known that the Shannon, a fine
thirty-eight-gun frigate, lay in wait for the Chesapeake. Her
commander, Captain Philip Broke, was one of the best officers in the
British navy, and had had the ship seven years. He had not followed
the example of so many British captains who neglected gunnery practice
with their crews, and paid dearly for their rashness with their ships
and sometimes with their lives. Captain Broke was a chivalrous man,
and, desiring to engage the Chesapeake on equal terms, wrote Captain
Lawrence a letter, proposing a meeting any time within two months in
any latitude and longitude he might choose. Unfortunately, this letter
never reached Lawrence. On the first day of June, 1813, the Shannon
stood in toward President's Roads, expecting an answer from Lawrence
to Captain Broke's challenge. Lawrence, however, took the Shannon's
appearance as a challenge, and, lifting his anchor, made sail to meet
her.
At soon as the anchor was up, Lawrence had a flag hoisted with the
inscription "Free trade and sailors' rights." He then made a short
address to his men, which was coldly received, not a cheer being raised
at the prospect of meeting the enemy.
The ship was cleared for action, and as she passed out, the Shannon was
waiting for her on an easy bowline. Both ships proceeded under a good
breeze until about thirty miles beyond Boston Light. They then came
together under short fighting canvas, and in the manoeuvring for a
few moments Lawrence was in position to rake his enemy; but whether it
escaped him, or he preferred to fight it out alongside, is not known.
A few minutes before six, the ships being fairly alongside, and not
more than fifty yards apart, the Shannon fired her first broadside, and
was immediately answered by the Chesapeake. The effect of these first
broadsides in smooth water and close range was terrific. Three men at
the Chesapeake's wheel were shot down one after another. Within six
minutes her sails were so shot to pieces that she came up into the wind
and was raked repeatedly. In a short while Captain Lawrence was shot in
the leg, but kept the deck. Mr. White, the sailing-master, was killed,
and Mr. Ludlow, the first lieutenant, Lieutenant Ballard, Mr. Brown,
the marine officer, and the boatswain were all mortally wounded. The
Shannon had not escaped scatheless, although the execution aboard
of her was not to be mentioned with the Chesapeake's. Some of the
British frigate's spars and sails being shot away, she fell aboard her
antagonist, and the two ships were prevented from drifting apart by the
fluke of an anchor on the Shannon hooking in the Chesapeake's rigging.
Captain Broke immediately ordered the ships lashed together. This was
done by the Shannon's boatswain, who had his arm literally hacked off
in doing it, but who did not flinch from his task.
As soon as Captain Lawrence saw the ships were fast, he ordered the
boarders called away. But instead of this being done by the boatswain,
the bugler, a negro, was called upon to sound his bugle. The man, in a
paroxysm of terror, had hid under a boat, and when found was perfectly
unable to sound a note. The remaining officers on the Chesapeake's deck
shouted for the boarders, and at this moment the gallant Lawrence,
conspicuous from his commanding figure, and wearing his full uniform,
fell, shot through the body. As he was being carried below, he uttered
those words which are a part of the heritage of the American navy,
"Don't give up the ship."
The carnage on the Chesapeake's deck was now frightful, and the men
began to flinch from their guns. Captain Broke, seeing this, gave
the order to board, and, himself leading the boarders with great
intrepidity, sprang upon the Chesapeake's quarterdeck. At this the
Portuguese mate and some other mercenaries threw the berth-deck
gratings overboard, and ran below, crying, "So much for not paying men
prize money!"
A young lieutenant, coming up from the gun-deck, was seized with
a panic, and, throwing his pistol down, ran below in a cowardly
manner.[21] But there were still gallant souls left upon the
unfortunate frigate's deck. Mr. Livermore, the chaplain,--the only
officer on deck when the British entered the ship,--advanced boldly,
firing his pistol at Captain Broke, and made a brave defence, although
his arm was nearly cut from his body by Broke in defending himself.
The few marines who were left fought desperately, and severely wounded
Captain Broke. All of these men were Americans, and were cut down to
a man. The officers of the gun-deck tried to rally the men below, and
succeeded in inducing the few Americans to follow them above; the brave
Ludlow, in fearful agony from his wounds, struggled up the hatchway.
But it was too late, and they were soon overpowered. The flag had
been hauled down by the triumphant enemy; the ship was theirs. The
battle lasted only about fifteen minutes, and seldom in the history of
naval warfare has there been more dreadful slaughter. The Chesapeake
suffered most, her captain and three lieutenants, her marine officer,
her sailing-master, boatswain, and three midshipmen being killed, and
her few remaining officers wounded. She lost, besides, one hundred and
thirty-six men killed and wounded. The Shannon had her captain badly
wounded, and lost several officers, and had seventy-five men killed and
wounded.
The English ensign was immediately hoisted over the American, and
as soon as possible sail was made for Halifax. Lawrence and his
wounded officers lay together in the ward room of the Chesapeake, the
cabin having been much shattered. For four days Lawrence lingered in
extreme anguish. He bore his sufferings with silent heroism, and it
is remarkable that he never spoke except to make known the few wants
that his situation required. On the Shannon Captain Broke lay, raving
with delirium from his wounds, and only occasionally rational. At these
times he would ask anxiously after Lawrence, muttering, "He brought
his ship into action in gallant style," and other words of generous
admiration. When it was known that Lawrence was no more, it was thought
best to keep it from Broke, as it was known it would distress him
greatly.
On Sunday, the 6th of June, the two ships entered Halifax harbor,
the body of Lawrence wrapped in the battle flag of the Chesapeake,
and lying on her quarterdeck. The people took the Chesapeake for the
President, and shouting multitudes lined the shores and docks. But when
it was known that it was Lawrence's ship, and her brave commander lay
dead upon her, an instant silence fell upon the people. They remembered
Lawrence's kindness to the officers and men of the Peacock, and they
paid him the tribute of silent respect.
The funeral was arranged for the 8th of June, and was one of the
most affecting ever witnessed. The British naval and military
authorities omitted nothing that could show their esteem for a brave
and unfortunate enemy. The garrison and the fleet turned out their
whole force, the officers wearing crape upon the left arm. The coffin,
wrapped in the Chesapeake's flag, with the dead officer's sword upon
it, was brought ashore in an admiral's barge, the men rowing minute
strokes, and amid the solemn booming of minute guns. It was followed by
a long procession of man-of-war boats. It was landed at King's Wharf,
where six of the oldest British captains acted as pall-bearers. The
procession to the churchyard of St. Paul's was very long. The American
officers were chief mourners, followed by the officers of the Shannon;
and the presence of the wounded among both the American and English
officers was touching in the extreme. Admiral Sir Thomas Saumerez, one
of Nelson's captains, and the officers of the fleet, and the general
of the forces, with the officers of the garrison, came next in the
procession, followed by a large number of the most respectable citizens
of Halifax. The route was lined with troops, and the funeral was like
that of a great and distinguished British admiral,--so great is the
respect all generous minds must feel for a character like Lawrence's.
His young first lieutenant, Ludlow, survived several days after
landing; but he, too, soon followed his captain to a hero's grave.
Great honors were also paid him at his interment.
The Americans, however, could not allow the British to pay all the
honors to the dead Lawrence, and in August his remains and those of
his faithful lieutenant were transferred to Salem, in Massachusetts,
where they were temporarily buried until they could be transferred to
New York. Lawrence's pall was carried then by six American captains,
among whom were Hull, Stewart, and Bainbridge,--all men who had known
Lawrence, and served with him when he was a dashing and brilliant young
midshipman. Eventually, both Lawrence and Ludlow were buried in Trinity
churchyard, New York, where they still rest. Lawrence left a young wife
and two children, for whom the country provided.
A poignant regret for Lawrence's misfortunes and death was felt by the
country generally. His youth,--he was but thirty-one years of age,--his
brilliant career, the charming generosity of his nature, and the graces
of his person and manner made him beloved and admired. His fault--if
fault it was--in seeking an action when his ship was new to him and ill
manned and scantily officered, was that of a high and daring spirit,
and was readily condoned; while to this day the story of the Chesapeake
is painful to a true American.
At the battle of Lake Erie Perry's flagship bore the name of Lawrence;
but, like Lawrence himself, was unfortunate, and, after being cut to
pieces, was forced to strike. Another vessel was named the Lawrence;
but ships whose names are associated with harrowing events are not
favorites with either officers or men, and she was borne upon the navy
list for only a few years. But the name and fame of Lawrence will last
with his countrymen as long as the American flag flies over a ship
of war, and the pity of his fate will ever be among the most moving
incidents in American history.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See the biography of Commodore Truxtun, who captured L'Insurgente.
[2] See the biography of Decatur.
[3] See the biography of Stewart.
[4] See the biography of Commodore Hull.
[5] See the biographies of Porter and Lawrence.
[6] See Cooper's Naval Biography for this incident.
[7] See the biography of Bainbridge.
[8] See the biography of Decatur.
[9] See the biography of Somers.
[10] It was after this attack that the celebrated scene occurred in
the Constitution between Decatur and Commodore Preble, as related in
Preble's life.
[11] See the biography of Richard Somers.
[12] As in the case of the fight of the Constitution with the Guerrière
and the Java, the Macedonian was a lighter ship, with fewer men and
guns than the Constitution. But the execution done in every case was
far beyond the difference between the American ship and her antagonist.
[13] The late Captain Foxhall Parker, 1st.
[14] Not the original ship, captured and blown up by Commodore Hull,
but one built and named for her.
[15] See the biography of Decatur.
[16] Lieutenant Wadsworth was the uncle of Longfellow, and the poet was
named for this gallant gentleman and brave sailor.
[17] See the biography of Bainbridge.
[18] See the biography of James Lawrence.
[19] Afterward Rear-Admiral Paulding.
[20] See the biography of Decatur.
[21] He was promptly dismissed the navy for cowardice on this occasion.
THE SCRIBNER SERIES OF SCHOOL READING
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
Minor punctuation errors repaired.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=.
p56 while cruising off Gaudeloupe, replaced with
while cruising off Guadeloupe,
End of Project Gutenberg's Twelve Naval Captains, by Molly Elliot Seawell