The following is a copy of the letter, the original of which is now in the possession of the author:
June 1st.
“Dear James,—By the enclosed you will perceive that Bainbridge and myself have had a serious difference. It is in a measure, however, done away, in consequence of an explanation had last evening. You will pay him one and one-half twentieths of my prize-money, and demand the same resulting from the capture of the Java.... An English frigate is close in with the light-house, and we are now clearing ship for action.
“Should I be so unfortunate as to be taken off, I leave my wife and children to your care, and feel confident that you will behave to them the same as if they were your own. Remember me affectionately to our good mother, and believe me,
“Sincerely yours,
“James Lawrence.“P. S.—10 A.M. The frigate is plain in sight from our decks, and we are now getting under way.”
Trouble soon came; the crew, that had never sailed under Lawrence before, acted in a listless, half-hearted manner. A villanous boatswain’s mate, a Portuguese, showed signs of mutinous conduct; for immediately after the Chesapeake was under way, and Lawrence had addressed a few words to the crew assembled in the waist, this scoundrel replied in an insolent manner, complaining that he had not received prize-money which had been due, he claimed, for some time past. It was impossible, in view of the fact that he was entirely unacquainted with the characters of his crew, for Captain Lawrence to notice this conduct in the manner it deserved. He had had no time to gain their affections or obtain influence through his personality.
Imagine the scene! With the enemy waiting in the offing, the disaffected ones were taken to the cabin and there paid the money that they claimed was owing them. As Lawrence looked about, he longed for the Yankee tars that had served under him in the Hornet and that he had hoped to command in the Constitution. His heart must have failed him.
Up went the flag. The English had learned to read without the glass, “Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights,” the motto painted on it.
As the Chesapeake approached, the English vessel hauled off shore.
It was a beautiful summer day. The water was rippled, and there was little or no swell. It was a day for target practice. The small craft either held back or had been left behind as the two combatants, sailing in silence, drew away from shore.
At 4 P.M. the Chesapeake fired a gun. The Shannon braced back her main-topsail and hove to. The smoke from the first shot had cleared away, and the vessels manoeuvred for some minutes to gain the advantage.
Lawrence must have seen that it would have been better had he listened to the counsels of Bainbridge and others, who had advised him not to seek a meeting just at that time. It was evident that the Shannon was the better sailer. Several times the newly rove running-gear of the Chesapeake jammed in the blocks. Her crew were confused, and the men did not know their numbers at the guns. All exertions were made, however; but, after having been for some time within pistol-shot, broadsides were fired with tremendous execution. The first broadside that the Chesapeake received was a catastrophe in itself; the double-shotted guns of the enemy tore great breaks in her bulwarks, and officers who had occupied positions of great danger fell in every part of the ship. The first shot killed Mr. White, the sailing-master. The fourth lieutenant, Mr. Ballard, received a mortal wound; and at this same moment Captain Lawrence was shot through the leg by a musket-ball from the Shannon’s tops. He made no outcry, but, leaning against the companion-way for support, continued to give his orders in a cool, firm voice. The ships were now so close that the powder smoke blackened their white streaks, and three broadsides were exchanged in quick succession that were frightful in their results.
The English had placed expert riflemen in their tops, and three men were shot successively from the Chesapeake’s wheel. The American ship fell off from her proper course, and the Shannon veering close, her after-port was caught by the Chesapeake’s anchor. The ill-luck of the latter vessel had followed her. For some time she could not bring a gun to bear, while the Englishman from his foremost guns raked her upper decks, killing and wounding the greater portion of the men there.