Evidence of Chesapeake's Defeat Remains Etched in Blood

摘要

On Friday, June 17, 1813, the Boston Advertiser, under the banner head "CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON," reported: "Our melancholy apprehensions have proved too true. In the following account from a Halifax [Nova Scotia] paper ... received by a Swedish vessel which arrived this afternoon, are contained the sad details of our calamity." The Halifax paper, noting the arrival of HMS Shannon with the American frigate Chesapeake in company as its prize, boasted: "It is with pleasure we congratulate our readers of the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake, commanded by Capt. Lawrence, by His Majesty's Ship Shannon, Capt. Broke after an action of eleven minutes."