Thomas Buttersworth
⚈ Sold
British (1768-1837)
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Thomas Buttersworth
British (1768-1837)
H.M.S. Shannon Boards U.S.S. Chesapeake off Boston
(Famous Naval Battle of 1813)
⚈ Sold
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This historic depiction of the Battle of Boston Harbor illuminates one of the most famous sea battles in both American and British Naval history. On the afternoon of June 1, 1813 the U.S.S. CHESAPEAKE sailed out of Boston to meet the challenge of the waiting H.M.S. SHANNON. Although a British victory, by a supreme irony, the Americans would emerge from the defeat with the greater benefit. For it was in this battle that the gallant young American Commander James Lawrence spoke the immortal words "Don't Give Up The Ship" as he lay mortally wounded on CHESAPEAKE's deck. This famous phrase infused the fledgling U.S. Navy with an even more vigorous determination to fight and win. The battle was brief but intense. In about fifteen minutes, 252 men were killed or wounded between the two sides, a large number of casualties for such a conflict. Though the ships were evenly matched, CHESAPEAKE's crew was primarily made up of men new to the ship, who, while themselves well trained, had had little time to drill together or with Captain Lawrence, also new to the ship. In contrast, SHANNON's Commander, Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, was an expert in naval gunnery who had modified his cannons for greater aim and maneuverability and then spent a long voyage with his crew training them to fire on key targets to quickly disable opposing ships. CHESAPEAKE took more serious hits in their early exchanges of cannon fire, the fatal blow being the loss of her ship's wheel. With no way to maneuver, the wind and waves carried CHESAPEAKE into SHANNON's starboard side where she took another barrage of heavy fire before the British crew lashed the two ships together. When the ... Read More |
