CHES'APEAKE, TIlE. A thirty-eight-gun vessel famous in the history of the American Navy. Early in IS07, after undergoing partial repairs in the Washington Navy Yard. she pro ceeded to Hampton Roads, where Commodore James Barron (q.v.) assumed command. I In -lime 22, poorly equipped. insufficiently Manned by an untrained crew, and wholly unfit for im mediate action. she started across the Atlantic on a training cruise; but when well out to sea was overtaken and stopped by the British frig ate Leopard, 50 guns, whose eommander de manded the restitution of British deserters al leged to form a part of the Chesapeake's crew. On Ilarron's refusal to return the sailors de manded, or to permit search for them, the British attacked with vigor, soon killing three and wounding eighteen of the Americans and serious ly crippling their vessel. From the Chesapeakr only one gun was fired, and that with great dif ficulty and without effect. Barron finally struck his colors, and the 'British reclaimed four de serters, three of whom, though they had been formerly impressed into the British service, were native-born Americans. The affair caused in tense excitement throughout the country. anti British feeling ran high, and the people every where demanded or war.' President Jefferson immediately (July 2) issued a proc lamation, which proved futile, ordering British cruisers to depart from American ports and for bidding all aid and intercourse with them; and. through Monroe. indignantly demanded redress, but without avail, from the British Government.
The incident was one of the chief r-cum-lives that led up to the War of 1812, and is famous in American history as 'The Chesapeake Affair' or the 'Chesapeake Outrage.' On June I, 1413. the Chesapeake, then commanded by Captain Lawrence and carrying 50 guns, fought a battle in Massachusetts Bay with the British thirty eight-gun vessel the Shanwm, Captain Brake, then carrying 52 guns. The two vessels were almost evenly matched. except that the Chesa• prake had an untrained crew and had only re cently changed captains. After an engagement lasting fifteen minutes, the Chesapeake, rendered unmanageable by the terrible fire of the Shan non. was fumed to surrender after Captain Law rence had received a mortal wound. This gallant commander exhorted his men to the end with the gi 0 tip the ship!" (Mt of a crew of 370, the lost 61 killed or mortally wounded. and 85 severely and slightly wounded: while out of a crew of 330. the Nhannon lost 33 killed and 50 wounded. The Chesapeake was taken as a prize to Halifax, was afterwards used as a British war•vessel, and in 1520 was sold as old timber. Consult : Henry „Wants, History of ;:tat,s, Vol, TV. (9 col:., New s50-911 Sic\ faster. History of the People of the oiled Stat(s. V01-.111. and IV. ( New York, Cooper. ry states 12 vols., London. 1830) ; Itoose volt. The Nara, War of 1812 ( New York, 1852) ; and Barnes, Xaral actions of tlo• War of 181.2 (New York, 1596).