HMS Shannon page 2
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The frigate USS Chesapeake returned to Boston after a cruise against the English merchant ships. Weeks earlier, she has been refited, and received a new commander, Captain James Lawrence, recently promoted. Many officers have been replaced, and much of the crew.
In
the 90 years, Americans have built these great frigate of 44 guns. When war
breaks out between the US and Britain, they win a series of duels. USS
Constitution captures HMS Guerriere and HMS Java,
and The USS United States overwrites HMS Macedonian.
USS Chesapeake is a good ship, but it would take time to men to become a disciplined and trained to combat crew. This time, they do not have. Ensuring the blockade off the coast of Boston is HMS Shannon, commissioned seven years by Captain Philip Broke. During this long period, Broke had drilled his crew to an extremely high standard of naval gunnery.
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"The weekly routine at sea was for the watch on deck to be exercised at the great guns on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, and in the afternoons the first division of the watch was exercised at small arms. Wednesday and Thursday forenoons saw the watch on deck at the carronades, and in the afternoons the second division of the watch at small arms. Friday was reserved for the Midshipmen – great guns in the morning, small arms in the afternoon. Thus each man had one morning at the 18-pounders, one morning at the carronades and two afternoons with musquets in every week." Source: wikipedia.org |
In addition to these gunnery exercises Broke imagine different scenarios to test its crew. For example, after sending all men to quarters, he informs them of a theoretical attack and see how they would act to defend the ship. Or then after have thrown a barrel into the sea, he organizes a competition to see which gunner team is the most accurate and quickest to sink it.a
A game called 'singlestick' is often practised. Rather violent blows and parries are as in a battle, but with sticks, which makes the game often painful but rarely dangerous. The game develops quickness of eye and dexterity.ul
Wishing to engage and defeat one of the American heavy frigates which until then won many duels against the Royal Navy, Broke prepares a challenge.The USS President has already slipped out of the harbour under the cover of fog. The Constitution is undergoing extensive repairs and will not be ready for sea in the foreseeable future. However, the Chesapeake appears to be ready to put to sea. Broke decides to send his challenge to the USS Chesapeake.
At first he removes the HMS Tenedos, hoping a escape of the American frigate, but he begins to despair of seeing the Chesapeake exit port.
He finally decides to send a written challenge.
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The letter begin "As
the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favour to
meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective
flags. The Shannon mounts twenty-four guns upon her broadside and one light
boat-gun; 18 pounders upon her main deck, and 32-pounder carronades upon her
quarter-deck and forecastle; and is manned with a complement of 300 men and
boys, beside thirty seamen, boys, and passengers, who were taken out of
recaptured vessels lately. I entreat you, sir, not to imagine that I am urged by
mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, or that I depend
only upon your personal ambition for your acceding to this invitation. We have
both noble motives. You will feel it as a compliment if I say that the result of
our meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; and I
doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel convinced that it is
only by repeated triumphs in even combats that your little navy can now hope to
console your country for the loss of that trade it can no longer protect. Favour
me with a speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water, and cannot stay
long here." Source: wikipedia.org |
HMS Shannon has been off Boston for 56 days and is running short of provisions. A long period at sea has tired the ship. This is a disadvantage, facing the Chesapeake, freshly refited.
The invitation is sent, brought by Captain Slocum, an American prisoner. The messenger is scarcely to reach the shore as the Chesapeake go out of port...
