HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake Painting.

HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake painting, depicting the Naval battle that took place on June 1st 1813. Also known in some quarters as The Battle of Boston Harbor. During the war when this battle was fought, in the months preceding it, the British Royal Navy had lost several ships to the young American Navy. Although the new US Navy had few ships, they were starting to build their reputation. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Royal Navy was getting complacent and gunnery skills were starting to fall, probably due to a lack of practice.

Prelude to Battle.

On the 1st of June 1813, Captain Philip Broke of HMS Shannon was short on food, water and supplies after blockading Boston Harbour. He was going to have to sail soon to replenish his supplies. He sent captured American Merchantmen with an invitation, to Captain James Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake to come out of the harbour and fight him, one on one. Apparently he never received the invite.

The American people and its Navy were still revelling in the recent victories and moral was high. Captain Lawrence was newly appointed to the Chesapeake, she was ready to sail, so he did. He knew there was now only one ship, the Shannon, as she came in close to Boston to look at the situation and provoke them. It worked. Apparently, against orders, he sailed out to meet the Shannon at sea. For some reason he underestimated Capt. Broke and thought he could put another victory on the board. Probably because of recent success.

The Battle

The Chesapeake sailed out to sea, met the Shannon and the battle began. The Chesapeake was to windward of the Shannon and could have cut across her stern, unleashing a devastating broadside through her from stern to stem. However, being a Gentleman and honourable, he wanted to fight on equal terms and came alongside the Shannons Starboard side. The ships were as equally matched as two ships could be. They both fired their first shots, the Shannon, enflicting the worst damage. Fearing his ship was going to fast, to slow her down, Capt. Lawrence turned her slightly toward the wind to check her speed.

This is the moment I decided to depict. The wind stopped her in her tracks, but Chesapeake’s stern was now facing the Shannon. She began unleasing a deadly broadside, sending cannonballs, shrapnel and splinters down the length of the Chesapeake’s decks. After this, the wind backed the Chesapeakes sails, sending her into the Shannons side. The Shannons managed to secure her to them, board and win the battle.

The battle has been described as one of the bloodiest, single Frigate actions of its time. It lasted less than 15 minutes. They then sailed with the captured Chesapeake into Halifax, Nova Scotia. A much needed victory had been won for the Royal Navy, and the British people.

The Chesapeake , after extensive repairs became HMS Chesapeake. She was broken up in 1819 and her timbers sold.

HMS Shannon remained in commission until 1830.She wasn’t broken up until 1859