USS Chesapeake

These manifold grievances culminated in an outrage that shook even Jefferson out of his composure and evoked a passionate outcry for war from all parts of the country.

While a number of British war vessels were lying in Hampton Roads watching for certain French frigates which had taken refuge up Chesapeake Bay, they lost a number of seamen by desertion under peculiarly annoying circumstances.

In one instance, a whole boat's crew made off under cover of night to Norfolk and there publicly defied their commander.

Three deserters from the British frigate Melampus had enlisted on the American frigate Chesapeake, which had just been fitted out for service in the Mediterranean.

But on inquiry, these three were proven to be Native Americans who had been impressed into British service.

Unfortunately, inquiry did disclose one British deserter who had enlisted on the Chesapeake, a loud-mouthed tar by the name of Jenkin Ratford.

These irritating facts stirred Admiral Barclay at Halifax to high-handed measures.

Without waiting for instructions, he issued an order to all commanders in the North Atlantic squadron to search the Chesapeake for deserters if she should be encountered on the high seas.

Captain James Lawrence in the year 1813 was mortally wounded.

aboard the USS Chesapeake during the War of AP-12, his dying command was, quote, tell the men to fire faster.

Don't give up the ship.

His friend, Oliver Perry, later sewed the phrase on a battle flag.

What's going on, mate ? Great to have you along for some more Half-Arsed History.

This week on the agenda, we're going to be having a chat about the capture of the USS Chesapeake, and we're doing so for a reason quite different to the usual ones that make me, you know, look into or investigate a, uh, a topic for this show.

Uh, many topics that we cover are, of course, suggested by alert listeners.

Uh, I'm immensely grateful to everyone who writes in week i- week in and week out with their topic suggestions.

Heinlein had made references to other actual historical events in this book, so I wondered while I was reading this section if this had actually happened as well.

And I was pleased when later in the chapter, this event was, uh, furnished with more detail.

It was said to have taken place, quote, "On 1 June 1813 Old Style between USF Chesapeake and HMF Shannon." And as soon as we landed, I looked it up, and sure enough, the USS Chesapeake and the HMS Shannon did indeed face one another in battle on the 1st of June 1813 as part of the War of 1812.

That was, you know, in this book, one of those bush wars that hared up on the edges of the Napole- Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812.

That, he said, he had suspected, partly because he had never been permitted to land on that shore, though the ships were there so much.

"And the men," said he, laughing, "brought off a good deal besides furs." Then he went back, heavens, how far, to ask about the Chesapeake, and what was done to Barron for surrendering her to the leopard, and whether Burr ever tried again.

And he ground his teeth with the only passion he showed.

But in a moment that was over, and he said, "God forgive me, for I am sure I forgive him." Then he asked about the old war, told me the true story of his serving the gun the day we took the Java, asked about dear old David Porter, as he called him.

Scores of American vessels were condemned in British admiralty courts, and American seamen were impressed with increasing frequency until in the early summer of 1807 These manifold grievances culminated in an outrage that shook even Jefferson out of his composure and evoked a passionate outcry for war from all parts of the country.

While a number of British war vessels were lying in Hampton Roads watching for certain French frigates which had taken refuge up Chesapeake Bay, they lost a number of seamen by desertion under peculiarly annoying circumstances.

In one instance, a whole boat's crew made off under cover of night to Norfolk and there publicly defied their commander.

Three deserters from the British frigate Melampus had enlisted on the American frigate Chesapeake, which had just been fitted out for service in the Mediterranean.

But on inquiry, these three were proven to be Native Americans who had been impressed into British service.

Unfortunately, inquiry did disclose one British deserter who had enlisted on the Chesapeake, a loud-mouthed tar by the name of Jenkin Ratford.

These irritating facts stirred Admiral Barclay at Halifax to high-handed measures.

Without waiting for instructions, he issued an order to all commanders in the North Atlantic squadron to search the Chesapeake for deserters if she should be encountered on the high seas.

In 1807, a British squadron lay in a bay on the coast of Virginia.

The American frigate Chesapeake put to sea from Hampton Roads, when the Leopard, one of the English ships, stopped her and demanded the delivery of three or four alleged deserters on board of her.

When the demand was refused, the Leopard sent no less than twenty round shot through the surprised and unprepared Chesapeake, and British officers boarded her and carried away the men.

This outrage excited a hot war spirit among the Americans.

The government ordered all armed British vessels to leave American waters immediately.