by John Marshall

“ The good effects of an officer being able, when the range is once ascertained, to direct all the guns in the ship to be elevated or depressed alike, were exemplified in the action of the Shannon and Chesapeake: the guns of the former were all laid by Captain Broke’s directions, consequently the fire was thrown in one horizontal line, not a shot going over the American frigate. ”

“ To a late brilliant event we will only point in silent admiration, well knowing that our feelings are in perfect unison with those of the nation at large; the public expression of which, from the highest authority, no doubt awaits yon, and the brave officers and crew of the Shannon. ”

“ Captain Broke and his treacherous foe now lay side by side; each, although nearly powerless, struggling to regain his sword, when a marine despatched the American with his bayonet. * * * * * * Soon after this, Captain Broke’s senses failed him from loss of blood; and the Shannon’s jolly-boat arriving with a supply of men, (the two ships having separated, owing to the Chesapeake’s quarter-gallery giving way,) he was carried on board his own ship. ”

“ The Commodore having taken a station off New York, and left Captain Capel in command of the squadron before Boston, the latter officer directed the Shannon and Tenedos to watch the harbour, while la Hogue, with the other ships under his orders, cruised in the offing. Under this judicious arrangement, the squadron was kept sufficiently active by the enemy’s privateers and traders, several of which were captured [9] ; but notwithstanding the exertions and vigilance of Captains Broke and Parker, the President and Congress succeeded in making their escape. ”

“ Lieutenant George Budd, the senior surviving officer of the Chesapeake, in his official letter to the Secretary of the American navy, reporting that ship’s capture, only acknowledged a loss of 47 killed, and 99 wounded. The total that reported themselves, including several slightly wounded, to the Shannon’s Surgeon, three days after the action, were 115. The American Surgeon, writing from Halifax, and most probably omitting those who were very slightly hurt, estimated the whole number of killed and wounded at from 160 to 170. ”

“ The Shannon and Tenedos soon after separated from the squadron in a gale, and steered for Boston, which port they reconnoitred on the 2nd April. Observing the American ship Congress ready for sea, the President nearly so, and the Constitution under repair, they then returned to the rendezvous to make their report. It was at this time that the ill-fated Chesapeake got into Boston through the eastern channel. ”

“ Intelligence being received soon after of the wreck of the Barbadoes on Sable Island [8] , the Shannon was despatched to bring off the crew and specie saved from her; which service being performed in company with the Bream schooner, she again returned to Halifax, bringing with her an enemy’s privateer taken on the way. During a subsequent cruise with the Tenedos, Nymphe, and Curlew, under his orders, Captain Broke intercepted the Thorn, American brig privateer, of 18 long 9-pounders and 140 men, and recaptured a British merchant vessel. ”

“ Possession of that island being obtained by a mere display of force, he was ordered by Sir Samuel Hood to convoy the transports back to England, where he arrived on the 7th Feb. 1808. In November following he joined company with Captain Seymour, of the Amethyst, about an hour after that officer had captured the Thetis French frigate, several of whose crew were received, and the prize herself, being wholly dismasted, taken in tow by the Shannon. On the 27th Jan. 1809, he took, after a long chase, le Pommereuil cutter privateer, of 14 guns and 60 men. ”

“ T. B. Capel, of H.M.S. Hogue, enclosing a copy of his letter to you, and of that of Captain Broke to him, announcing the capture, in fifteen, minutes, of the United States’ frigate Chesapeake, of 49 guns and 440 men, by H.M.S. Shannon.
“My Lords have before had occasion to observe with great approbation, the zeal, judgment, and activity, which have characterized Captain Brake’s proceedings since the commencement of the war; and they now receive with the highest satisfaction a proof of professional skill and gallantry in battle, which has seldom been equalled, and certainly never surpassed ”

“ The Shannon mounts 24 guns upon her broadside, and one light boat-gun; 18-pounders upon her main-deck, and 32-pr. carronades on her quarter-deck and forecastle; and is manned with a complement of 300 men and boys, (a large proportion of the latter,) besides 30 seamen, boys, and passengers, who were taken out of recaptured vessels lately. I am thus minute, because a report has prevailed in some of the Boston papers, that we had 150 men additional lent us from la Hogue, which really never was the case. La Hogue is now gone to Halifax for provisions ”

“ Previous to this latter promotion he commanded the Shark sloop of war, employed, in affording protection to the trade, and occasionally cruising off the Dutch coast.
At the renewal of the war in 1803, Captain Broke made several unsuccessful applications for a ship; but as inactivity formed no part of his character, he employed himself in training the peasantry in his neighbourhood to arms, for the purpose of opposing the threatened invasion from France. In April 1805, he was appointed to the Druid frigate ”

“ The latter officer is a son of Captain Littlejohn, who was slain in the Berwick.
“The loss of the enemy was about 70 killed, and 100 wounded. Among the former were her fourth Lieutenant, a Lieutenant of Marines, the Master, and many other officers. Captain Lawrence is since dead of his wounds [16] . The enemy came into action with a complement of 440 men; the Shannon, having picked up some recaptured seamen, had 330 [17] . ”

“ Left thus by himself, Captain Broke maintained his station off the enemy’s coast; and previous to his departure from thence compelled the Essex of 46 guns and 328 men to seek for safety in an ignominious flight. ↑ See Captain Thomas Huskisson. ↑ On the 16th May, 1813, the Shannon and Tenedos drove a large ship on shore near Cape Ann Town, from whence she was brought off by the boats under Lieutenant George T. L. Watt, of the former frigate. She proved to be l’Invincible a French privateer of 16 guns, which had lately been captured by a British sloop of war, and retaken by an American cruiser. ”