342 HIS TOR V OF COHA SSE T. 



Decatur, who afterwards became our famous admiral, 

 sailed the United States into a victory over the Macedo- 

 nian before the year was out. 



In February, 1813, Captain Bainbridge took the Java, 

 and in March the Peacock was taken by the Hornet.* 



The seas had been swept from Newfoundland to South 

 America, from Sandy Hook to the British Channel, by 

 our dauntless and victorious little navy. 



During three months they had captured five hundred 

 British merchant vessels, besides destroying three frigates 

 of war. And this was not all ; for nearly a hundred 

 American privateers, the fastest sailing craft of the sea, 

 had been swooping down upon British commerce with 

 exasperating success, for they captured at least eight hun- 

 dred vessels in two years of the war. 



It was therefore confidently expected that when Captain 

 Lawrence of the Chesapeake accepted the challenge of 

 the British frigate Shannon the victory would be with us. 



Crowds came down that June day of 18 13 to Cohasset 

 and to other points of view, hoping to see the fight as the 

 vessels sailed out of Boston Harbor for their bloody duel. 

 But all were disappointed, for the battle ships drew out of 

 sight before the struggle began, and only the boom of 

 their cannon reached our shores. Our gallant Captain 

 Lawrence fell, but his last words, " Don't give up the 

 ship," have never ceased to reverberate his brave spirit. 

 Our frigate was doomed, but almost three weeks passed 

 by before the people would believe that we had lost the 

 day. Lawrence was buried with the honors of war at 

 Halifax, whither the captive Chesapeake was taken ; but 

 the remains of the hero were afterwards brought to the 

 soil of the United States.f 



*The Boston Patriot of August 3, 1813, gives an amusing caricature of this 

 naval duel. 



fSee John Bach McMaster's History of the People of the United States from 

 the Revolution to the Civil War, Vol. IV, p. 93. 



