APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



185 



cessary to add much to his narra- 

 tive ; but I cannot forbear express- 

 ing the pleasure I feel in bearing 

 testimony to the indefatigable exer- 

 tions, and persevering zeal of capt. 

 Broke during the time he has 

 been under my orders : placing a 

 firm reliance on the valour of his 

 officers and crew, and a just con- 

 fidence in his system of discipline, 

 he sought every opportunity of 

 meeting the enemy on fair terms ; 

 and I have to rejoice with his 

 country and his friends, at 

 the glorious result of this con- 

 test : he gallantly headed his 

 boarders in the assault, and carried 

 all before him. His wounds are 

 severe, but 1 trust his country will 

 not be long deprived of his ser- 

 vices. 



I have the honour to be, &c. 

 Thomas Bladen Capel, 

 Capt. and senior officer at Halifax. 



Shannon, Halifax, Jmie 6, 1813. 

 Sir ; — I have the honour to in- 

 form you, that being close in with 

 Boston Light House, in his Ma- 

 jesty's ship under my command, 

 00 the 1st inst. I had the pleasure 

 of seeing that the United States 

 frigate Cliesapeake (whom we had 

 long been watching) was coming 

 out of the harbour to engage the 

 Shannon ; I took a position be- 

 tween Cape Ann and Cape Cod, 

 and then hove-to for him to join 

 us; the enemy came down in a 

 very handsome manner, having 

 three American ensigns flying ; 

 when closing with us, he sent 

 down his royal yards. I kept the 

 Shannon's up, expectingthe breeze 

 would die away. At half-past five 

 p. m. the enemy hauled up within 

 liail of us on the starboard side, 



and the battle began, both ships 

 steering full under the topsails ; 

 after exchanging between two and 

 three broadsides, the enemy's ship 

 fell on board of us, her mizen 

 channels locking in with our fore- 

 rigging. I went forward to ascer- 

 tain her position, and observing 

 that the enemy were flinching 

 from their guns, I gave orders to 

 prepare for boarding. Our gallant 

 bands appointed to that service im- 

 mediately rushed in, under their 

 respective officers, upon the ene- 

 my's decks, driving every thing 

 before them with irresistible fury. 

 The enemy made a desperate but 

 disorderly resistance. The firing 

 continued at all the gangways, and 

 between the tops, but in two 

 minutes' time the enemy were 

 driven sword in hand from every 

 post. The American flag was 

 hauled down, and the proud old 

 British Union floated triumph- 

 ant over it. In another minute 

 they ceased firing from below, and 

 called for quarter. The whole of 

 this service was achieved in fifteen 

 minutes from the commencement 

 of the action. 



I have to lament the loss of many 

 of my gallant shipmates, but they 

 fell exulting in their conquest. 



My brave first lieutenant, Mr. 

 Watt, was slain in the moment of 

 victory, in the act of hoisting the 

 British colours; his death is a 

 severe loss to the service. Mr. 

 Aldham, the purser, who had 

 spiritedly volunteered the charge 

 of a party of small-arm men, 

 was killed at his post on the 

 gangway. My faithful old clerk, 

 Mr. Dunn, was shot by his side. 

 Mr. Aldham has left a widow to 

 lament his loss. I request the com- 



