The Chesapeake and the Shannon

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 151, 18 June 1892, Page 4

The Chesapeake and the Shannon

The circumstances related, as he re. ceivedthem from his father, by the Rev. F. E. Hutchison concerning the duel between the Shannon and the Chesapeake have created widespread interest. According to this account, Captain Broke had trained his gunners to converge the whole broadside upon points at various distances calculated by the angles. The American came on, determined to close at once and board. Her decks, and especially her forecastle, were crowded with sailors and marines, whom they had taken on board on purpose for the fight. The English seamen were ordered not to fire a shot till the Chesapeake had reached the calculated distance. At that moment the whole broadside of the Shannon, loaded with grape and canister, swept' their decks, leaving a mass of men almost all killed or wounded. This facer caused the American to sheer off for a few minutes to clear her decks* and prepare in the same manner for a second attack. On their approach the same tactics were repeated by the Shannon with her other broadside with the like success ; and in fifteen minutes from the beginning of the. fight it was practically over. The shore was lined by thousands of spectators, who had prepared balls and other triumphal entertainments, which they were left to enjoy with such spirit as they could.