110] A N N U AL REGISTE R, 1813. 



of his national colours flying, full 

 of confidence, and, it is said, 

 so certain of shortly returning 

 victorious into port, that he had 

 neglected to provide accommoda- 

 tions on board for the wounded, 

 which was the cause of much sub- 

 sequent distress. The action be- 

 gan at half past five, p. m. both 

 ships steering full under top-sails. 

 After the exchange of two or three 

 broadsides, the Chesapeake fell on 

 board the Shannon, and they were 

 locked together. Capt. Broke went 

 forward to ascertain the enemy's 

 position, and perceiving that the 

 men were flinching from their guns, 

 he gave orders for boardipg, and 

 (though he does not mention it) 

 himself set the example of leaping 

 into the adverse ship. In an in- 

 stant the assailahts appointed for 

 the service rushed in upon the 

 enemy's decks, driving all before 

 them with irresistible fury. The 

 Americans opposed a desperate, 

 but disorderly resistance ; and af- 

 ter a sanguinary conflict of only 

 two minutes, they were beaten 

 from every post. The American 

 colours were hauled down, and 

 " the proud old British Union 

 *' floated triumphant over it." In 

 another minute they ceased firing 

 from below, and called for quarter; 

 and the whole action was completed 

 in fifteen minutes from its com- 

 mencement. So short had been 

 the firing, and so much directed to 

 immediate effect, that both ships 

 came out from the engagement in 

 beautiful order, their rigging un- 

 damaged, as if they had only been 

 exchanging a salute. 



Though nothing could be more 

 entire and glorious than the suc- 

 cess, captain Broke had to lament 

 the loss of many gallant comrades. 



He, himself, received a severe 

 wound in the head from a sabre. 

 His first lieutenant, Mr. Watt, was 

 unfortunately shot in the very act 

 of hoisting the victorious colours. 

 The whole loss was 23 killed and 

 56 wounded, out of a crew of 330. 

 The enemy had about 70 killed 

 and 100 wounded. Among the 

 former were the four lieutenants, a 

 lieutenant of the marines, the mas- 

 ter, and many other officers. Capt. 

 Laurence died of his wounds at 

 Halifax, where he was honourably 

 interred. The humiliated feelings 

 of the numerous spectators on 

 shore, who, instead of a new tri- 

 umph, saw their gallant ship in so 

 short a time led away captive, may 

 easily be conceived. A supposed 

 explosion in the Chesapeake at a 

 critical moment, is mentioned by 

 the Americans in excuse of their 

 defeat ; but of this no notice ap- 

 pears in the narrative of captain 

 Broke, whose success was obviously 

 owing to a superiority of courage 

 and discipline- 

 Rear-admiral Cockburn, having 

 received directions from sir J. B. 

 Warren to put an end to the com- 

 merce carried on by the Americans 

 from the port of Ocracoke, in 

 North Carolina, by means of inland 

 navigation, and to destroy any 

 vessels which might be in that 

 harbour, anchored oft" the bar on 

 July 11th, with a light squadron, 

 having on board detachments of 

 troops under lieut.-colonel Napier, 

 and proceeded to put the design 

 into execution. Three divisions of 

 boats and small vessels, with sea- 

 men and soldiers, being equipped, 

 were sent into the harbour on the 

 morning of the 12th, when a fire 

 was opened upon them by two 

 armed vessels, the Annaconda sloop 



