Watt prevented each other. Several fled over the bows; 1818. and, while part, as it is believed, plunged into the sea, June. another part reached the main deck through the bridle-ports. The remainder laid down their arms and submitted. Lieutenant Watt, with several quarterdeck men, and sergeant Richard Molyneux, corporal George Osborne, and the first division of marines; also lieutenant Charles Leslie Falkiner, third of the Shannon, with a division of the maindeck boarders, quickly followed captain Broke and his small party. Lieutenant Watt, just as he Lieut. had stepped on the Chesapeake's taffrail, was woundshot through the foot by a musket-ball fired from ed. the mizen top, and dropped on his knee upon the quarterdeck; but, quickly rising up, he ordered lieutenant of marines James Johns to point one of the Shannon's 9-pounders at the enemy's top. In the mean time lieutenant Falkiner and the marines, with the second division of which lieutenant John Law had now arrived, rushed forward; and, while one party kept down the men who were ascending the main hatchway, another party answered a destructive fire still continued from the main and mizen tops. The Chesapeake's main top was presently stormed by midshipman William Smith (now lieutenant lantry and his top-men, about five in number; who either of middestroyed or drove on deck all the Americans there stationed. This gallant young man had deliberately Will. passed along the Shannon's fore yard, which was braced up, to the Chesapeake's main yard, which was nearly square; and thence into her top. All further annoyance from the Chesapeake's mizen top had also been put a stop to by another of the Shannon's midshipmen, Mr. Cosnahan, who, from Also the starboard main yard-arm, had fired at the Ame- Cosnaricans, as fast as his men in the top could load the muskets and hand them to him. Gal ship man Smith. of Mr. han. Broke After the Americans upon the forecastle had sub- Captain mitted, captain Broke ordered one of his men to treachestand sentry over them, and then sent most of the rously, 1813. others aft where the conflict was still going on. He June. was in the act of giving them orders to answer the wound- fire from the Chesapeake's main top, (this was just ed by before Mr. Smith's gallant and successful exploit,) Ameri- when the sentry called lustily out to him. On turning round, the captain found himself opposed by three life of the Americans; who, seeing they were superior he had to the British then near them, had armed themselves an can whose saved. afresh. Captain Broke parried the middle fellow's pike, and wounded him in the face; but instantly received, from the man on the pikeman's right, a blow with the but-end of a musket, which bared his scull, and nearly stunned him. Determined to finish the british commander, the third man cut him down with his broadsword, but, at that very instant, was himself cut down by Mindham, the Shannon's seaman, already known to us. Captain Broke was not the only sufferer upon this occasion: one of his men was killed, and two or three were badly wounded. Can it be wondered, if all that were concerned in this breach of faith fell victims to the indignation of the Shannon's men? It was as much as captain Broke could do, to save from their fury a young midshipman, who, having slid down a rope from the Chesapeake's fore top, begged his protection. Mr. Smith, who had just at that moment descended from the main top, assisted Mindham and another of the Shannon's men in helping the captain on his legs. While in the act of tying a handkerchief round his commander's head, Mindham, pointing aft, called out, "There, sir, there goes up the old ensign over the yankee colours." Captain Broke peake saw it hoisting, (with what feelings may well be deren imagined,) and was instantly led to the Chesapeake's quarterdeck, where he seated himself upon one of the carronade-slides. Chesa surren Death The act of changing the Chesapeake's colours had of lieut. proved fatal to a gallant british officer, and to four Watt or five fine fellows of the Shannon's crew. by a fire We left lieutenant Watt, just as, having raised himself on Shannon. his legs after his wound, he was hailing the Shannon, 1813. to fire at the Chesapeake's mizen top. He then June. called for an english ensign; and, hauling down the from american ensign, bent, owing to the halliards being the tangled, the english flag below instead of above it. A few seconds before this, the Chesapeake's quarter gallery had given way, and the two ships were gradually separating. Observing the american stripes going up first, the Shannon's people reopened their fire; and, directing their guns with their accustomed precision at the lower part of the Chesapeake's mizenmast, killed their own first lieutenant (a grapeshot took off the upper part of his head) and four or five of their comrades. Before the flags had got half-way to the mizen peak, they were lowered down and hoisted properly; and the aggrieved and mortified men of the Shannon ceased their fire. An unexpected fire of musketry, opened by the AmeriAmericans who had fled to the hold, killed a fine cans fire the kill a british young marine, William Young. On this, lieu- from tenant Falkiner, who was sitting on the booms, very properly directed three or four muskets, that were and ready, to be fired down. Captain Broke, from his seat upon the carronade-slide, told lieutenant Falkiner marine. to summon the Americans in the hold to surrender, if they desired quarter. The lieutenant did so. The Americans replied, "We surrender ;" and all hostility ceased. The Shannon was now about 100 yards astern of the Chesapeake, or rather upon her larboard quarter. To enable the Shannon to close, captain Broke ordered the Chesapeake's main yard to be braced flat aback, and her foresail to be hauled Capt. close up. Almost immediately afterwards captain Broke Broke's senses failed him from loss of blood; and, ea to the Shannon's jollyboat just then arriving with a the fresh supply of men, he was conveyed on board his own ship. Between the discharge of the first gun, and the period of captain Broke's boarding, 11 minutes only elapsed; and, in four minutes more, the Chesa remov Shannon. 1813. peake was completely his. The following diagram June. will explain the few evolutions there were in this quickly decided action. f Da to the non. Now for the damage and loss of men sustained ma by the respective combatants. Five shot passed Shan through the Shannon; one only below the main deck. Of several round shot that struck her, the greater part lodged in the side, ranged in a line just above the copper. A bar-shot entered a little below the water-mark, leaving a foot or 18 inches of one end sticking out. Until her shot-holes were stopped, the Shannon made a good deal of water upon the larboard tack; but, upon the other, not more than usual. Her fore and main masts were slightly injured by shot; and her bowsprit (previously sprung) and mizenmast were badly wounded. No other spar was damaged. Her shrouds on the starboard side were cut almost to pieces; but, from her perfect state aloft, the Shannon, at a moderate distance, appeared to have suffered very little in the Her men. action. Out of a crew, including eight recaptured seamen loss of and 22 irish labourers two days only in the ship, of 306 men and 24 boys, the Shannon lost, besides her first lieutenant, her purser, (George Aldham,) captain's clerk, (John Dunn,) 13 seamen, four marines, three supernumeraries, and one boy killed, her captain, (severely,) boatswain, (William Stevens, mortally,) one midshipman, (John Samwell, mortally,) and 56 seamen, marines, and supernumeraries wounded; total, 24 killed and 59 wounded. Da mage to the Chesa The Chesapeake was severely battered in her hull, peake. on the larboard quarter particularly. A shot passed through one of her transoms, equal in stoutness to a 1813. 64-gun ship's; and several shot entered the stern June. windows. She had two maindeck guns and one carronade entirely disabled. One 32-pounder carronade was also dismounted, and several carriages and slides broken. Her three lower masts, the main and mizen masts especially, were badly wounded. The bowsprit received no injury; nor was a spar of any kind shot away. Her lower rigging and stays were a good deal cut; but neither masts nor rigging were so damaged, that they could not have been repaired, if necessary, without the ship's going into port. loss of men. Out of a crew of at least 381 men and five boys Her or lads, the Chesapeake, as acknowledged by her surviving commanding officer, lost her fourth lieutenant, (Edward I. Ballard,) master, (William A. White,) one lieutenant of marines, (James Broom,) three midshipmen, and 41 petty officers, seamen, and marines killed, her gallant commander and first lieutenant, (both mortally,) her second and third lieutenants, (George Budd and William L. Cox,) acting chaplain, (Samuel Livermore,) five midshipmen, her boatswain, (mortally,) and 95 petty officers, seamen, and marines wounded; total, 47 killed and 99 wounded, 14 of the latter mortally. This is according to the american official account; but, it must be added, that the total that reported themselves, including several slightly wounded, to the Shannon's surgeon, three days after the action, were 115; and the Chesapeake's surgeon wrote from Halifax, that he estimated the whole number of killed and wounded at from 160 to 170. side ship. Of the Chesapeake's guns we have already given Broada full account: it only remains to point out, that the force of ship had three spare ports of a side on the forecastle, each through which to fight her shifting long 18-pounder and 12-pounder boat-carronade. The former is admitted to have been used in that way; but, as there is some doubt whether the carronade was used, we shall reject it from the broadside force. This |