Colonel William Woodford 's
98-669: 2nd Virginia Regiment Continental Army (1776-1781) Captain William Grymes 's company 15th Virginia Regiment , Virginia Line Consolidated into 11th Virginia Regiment Virginia Line Consolidated into 5th Virginia Regiment William "Billy" Flora ( fl. 1755–1818) was a free-born African American from Virginia who served as a soldier on the Patriot side in the American Revolutionary War . He fought under Colonel William Woodford in
196-502: A "massacre" and made it back to Virginia. Some stragglers would make it back to Chesterfield Courthouse, south of Richmond, where Colonel Christian Febiger was now in charge of the recruiting effort to raise new Virginia Continental regiments. These men would find themselves in new Virginia regiments including two regiments of 18-month levies raised in December 1780 under Colonel John Green and Lt. Colonel Samuel Hawes (former captain of
294-538: A 700-man conglomeration of these "regiments" – larger than a regiment or battalion, smaller than a division. Colonel Febiger is sent to Philadelphia to arrange supplies for the Southern Army and then onto Virginia for recruiting. Three detachments are made out of recruits in Virginia and the remaining Virginia Continentals outside of New York City. The 2d Virginia Detachment is formed out of various regiments under
392-608: A Battalion" and that these three regiments would "furnish 61 Men for the Light Infantry". This light infantry "company" would be attached to Wayne's Corps of Light Infantry and took part in the storming of Stony Point in July 1779. Colonel Febiger would be one of these "supernumerary" officers and was assigned to command one of the composite battalions of light infantry in this attack. A month later, Captain Catlett and 50 men of
490-707: A Continental detachment under General Lafayette during the Virginia Campaign in 1781, and later the Main Army under Washington at Yorktown, but were consistently held in reserve and never saw actual fighting. The men of Gaskins' Battalion were reorganized in December 1781 under Thomas Posey , another former 2d Virginia Regiment officer, and join General Anthony Wayne 's detachment sent south to South Carolina and Georgia. They would see fighting against Loyalists and Indians outside of Savannah at
588-469: A broad white flag bearing the motto "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights", Chesapeake met Shannon near 5 pm that afternoon. During six minutes of firing, each ship managed two full broadsides. Chesapeake ' s first broadside was fired while the ship was heeling, causing most shots to strike the water or Shannon ' s waterline , causing little damage; although carronade fire caused serious damage to Shannon ' s rigging. A second round of fire
686-632: A letter dated 11 March, 1802. Truxton was relieved of command by the Navy Secretary in a letter dated 13 March with Lt. William Smith taking temporary command. Chesapeake sailed from Hampton Roads on 27 April 1802 and arrived at Gibraltar on 25 May; she immediately put in for repairs, as her main mast had split during the voyage. Morris remained at Gibraltar while awaiting word on the location of his squadron, as several ships had not reported in. On 22 July Adams arrived with belated orders for Morris, dated 20 April. Those were to "lay
784-645: A nation of freemen to submit to it." President Jefferson recalled all US warships from the Mediterranean and issued a proclamation: all British warships were banned from entering US ports and those already in port were to depart. The incident eventually led to the Embargo Act of 1807 . As the first significant conflict between America and Great Britain after the Revolutionary War, it would give energy to what some historians would deem
882-592: A peace accord was announced between the United States and Algiers and construction was suspended in accordance with the Naval Act of 1794. The keel remained on blocks in the navy yard for two years. The onset of the Quasi-War with France in 1798 prompted Congress to authorize completion of "Frigate D", and they approved resumption of the work on 16 July. When Fox returned to Norfolk he discovered
980-522: A provisional formation made up of drafts of 100 men from each brigade, under Lt. Colonel Richard Parker at the battle of Cooch's Bridge on September 3, 1777. Greene's Division of Virginians had held off the British advance at the closing of the Battle of Brandywine , allowing the rest of the army to withdraw in good order. They were in the thick of confusion at the Battle of Germantown , so thick in fact that
1078-488: A rotted bowsprit . Chesapeake was still in port when John Adams arrived on 5 January 1803 with orders dated 23 October 1802 from Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith . These directed Chesapeake and Constellation to return to the United States; Morris was to transfer his command to New York . Constellation sailed directly as ordered, but Morris retained Chesapeake at Malta, claiming that she
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#17327720203411176-478: A shortage of timber caused by its diversion from Norfolk to Baltimore in order to finish Constellation . He corresponded with Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert , who indicated a desire to expedite construction of the ship and reduce the overall cost. Fox, always an opponent of Humphreys' large design, submitted new plans to Stoddert which called for utilizing the existing keel but reducing
1274-620: A soldier with a wounded thumb, on the American side survived, to speak very highly of William Flora and his courage. His acts of courage earned him public commendation in the Virginia Gazette . According to Continental Army muster and pay rolls, William Flora, in November 1776, served under "Captain William Grymes 's company of the 15th Virginia Regiment ", which participated in the 1777 Battles of Brandywine and Germantown and
1372-642: A squadron patrolling off the southern coast of the United States and in the West Indies escorting American merchant ships. Capturing the 16-gun French privateer La Jeune Creole on 1 January 1801 after a chase lasting 50 hours, she returned to Norfolk with her prize on 15 January. Chesapeake returned briefly to the West Indies in February, soon after a peace treaty was ratified with France. She returned to Norfolk and decommissioned on 26 February, subsequently being placed in reserve . During
1470-655: A tidy fortune that was passed down to his son and eventually grandson. 2nd Virginia Regiment The 2d Virginia Regiment (the spelling most commonly used in period references) was authorized by the Virginia Convention, July 17, 1775, as a force of regular troops for the Commonwealth's defense. It consisted of seven companies, 476 privates and the usual regimental officers. William Woodford , of Caroline County, named colonel, along with Lieutenant Colonel Charles Scott and Major Alexander Spotswood were
1568-603: A vessel's armament would change often during its career; records of the changes were not generally kept. Chesapeake was launched on 2 December 1799 during the undeclared Quasi-War (1798–1800), which arose after the French navy seized American merchant ships. Her fitting-out continued until May 1800. In March Josiah Fox was reprimanded by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert for continuing to work on Chesapeake while Congress , still awaiting completion,
1666-480: Is constructed of largely intact and unaltered components of the original ship – timber configuration, lintels, stairways, the five main spine beams to each floor, the floor joists, the roof timbers, other wood – some appearing to show the grapeshot of battle. The wood has been preserved within a five-story building with walls and beneath a roof for 200 years. In 1996 a timber fragment from the Chesapeake Mill
1764-401: Is officially consolidated with the 6th Virginia Regiment to make a "new" 2nd Virginia Regiment. Colonel Febiger retains his command and Lt. Colonel Simms of the 6th Virginia Regiment becomes his new second in command. Even with this new consolidation, the regiments were understrength, and from this point forward would never operate as a "regiment" again. While encamped around New York City in both
1862-645: The Little Belt affair , contributed to the United States' decision to declare war on Britain on 18 June 1812. Chesapeake , under the command of Captain Samuel Evans , was prepared for duty in the Atlantic. Beginning on 13 December, she ranged from Madeira and traveled clockwise to the Cape Verde Islands and South America, and then back to Boston. She captured six ships as prizes:
1960-458: The Battle of Great Bridge in December 1775, where he is widely acknowledged as the hero of the battle. A sentry at the bridge reported he was the last to cross as the British advanced. As he retreated from his post, under heavy fire from the British line, he ripped up a plank from the bridge. This made the British crossing, under fire from the colonials, impossible. As a result, the British were forced to withdraw to their ships. The only casualty on
2058-517: The Battle of Ogeechee Creek in the spring of 1782. They would also be present at the evacuation of Charleston. Some men also were part of a company of Virginia Continentals who survived Charleston and the Waxhaws which fought at the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781. While these officers and men had served in the 2d Virginia Regiment, none of these regiments can officially be tied to the lineage of
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#17327720203412156-563: The Battle of Yorktown in 1781. After the war, Flora became a successful businessman as a freight company owner, land speculator , and livery stable owner. 30 years after his military service in the American Revolutionary War, he was honored with a 100 acre land warrant in what is now Southwestern Ohio. Flora was one of the first African-Americans to own land in Virginia. In 1807, after the HMS Leopard attacked
2254-501: The Chesapeake Bay , where they would stay for several months along with a small flotilla of Royal Navy and loyalist ships. By July 1776, Virginia had expanded its forces to include several more infantry regiments and an artillery regiment under the command of General Andrew Lewis . The Virginia forces, including the 2d Virginia Regiment, would bombard Dunmore's position from a shore battery before launching an amphibious assault on
2352-571: The Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle , published in Hampshire as a "very large quantity of OAK and FIR TIMBER of most excellent quality, and well worth the attention of any person." Large, unbroken portions of the ship were bought by John Prior to build a new watermill at Wickham, Hampshire . The Chesapeake Mill would play a significant role in the agricultural economy of Hampshire until it became increasingly obsolescent in
2450-565: The Mediterranean during the 1790s. Congress responded with the Naval Act of 1794 . The act provided funds for the construction of six frigates, and directed that the construction would continue unless and until the United States agreed peace terms with Algiers. Joshua Humphreys ' design was long of keel and incorporated a diagonal scantling (rib) scheme to limit hogging (warping) and included extremely heavy planking. This gave
2548-662: The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich , England, along with her signal book. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, holds several artifacts from the battle including the mess kettle, and an officers chest from Chesapeake . One of the 18-pounder guns from Chesapeake is mounted beside Province House , the Nova Scotia Legislature. A fictionalized account of
2646-564: The Royal Navy for refusing to allow a search for deserters. The event, now known as the Chesapeake–Leopard affair , angered the American public and government and was a precipitating factor that led to the War of 1812 . As a result of the affair, Chesapeake ' s commanding officer, James Barron , was court-martialed and the United States instituted the Embargo Act of 1807 against
2744-579: The USS Chesapeake , Flora enlisted in the military again. This event was a major precursor to the War of 1812. Even though his second stint in the military was short, he served on a gunboat as a marine under Commodore Stephen Decatur . Flora was honorably discharged again from the military and lived the rest of his years in peace until his passing in Portsmouth in 1820. He accumulated his earnings into
2842-721: The United Kingdom . Early in the War of 1812 she made one patrol and captured five British merchant ships . She was captured by HMS Shannon shortly after sailing from Boston, Massachusetts, on 1 June 1813. The Royal Navy took her into their service as HMS Chesapeake , where she served until she was broken up and her timbers sold in 1819. They gave form and structure to the Chesapeake Mill in Wickham , England. American merchant vessels began to fall prey to Barbary Pirates , mainly from Algiers , in
2940-675: The bugler failed to sound the call. At this point a shot from a sniper mortally wounded Lawrence; as his men carried him below, he gave his last order: "Don't give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks." There are varying historical accounts of what Lawrence may actually have uttered. Captain Broke boarded Chesapeake at the head of a party of 20 men. They met little resistance from Chesapeake ' s crew, most of whom had run below deck. The only resistance from Chesapeake came from her contingent of marines. The British soon overwhelmed them; only nine escaped injury out of 44. Captain Broke
3038-495: The hull greater strength than those of more lightly built frigates. Since the fledgling United States could not match the number of ships of the European states, Humphreys designed his frigates to be able to overpower other frigates, but with the speed to escape from a ship of the line . However, Chesapeake was a scaled-down version of his more famous designs for Constitution, United States and President, being closer in size to
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3136-449: The spar deck . Her broadside weight was 542 pounds (246 kg). The ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns; guns were completely portable and were often exchanged between ships as situations warranted. Each commanding officer modified his vessel's armament to his liking while taking into consideration factors such as the overall tonnage of cargo, complement of personnel aboard, and planned routes to be sailed. Consequently,
3234-424: The "Commodoress" and believed she was the main reason behind Chesapeake remaining in port for months at a time. Consul William Eaton reported to Secretary Smith that Morris and his squadron spent more time in port sightseeing and doing little but "dance and wench", rather than blockading Tripoli. In January 1807 Master Commandant Charles Gordon was appointed Chesapeake ' s commanding officer (captain). He
3332-475: The 1778 Battle of Monmouth . While with his fellow soldiers in South Carolina , Flora avoided being captured by the British, in the 1780 Siege of Charleston where the majority of the regiment was captured. During the war, because the unit kept getting smaller, it was consolidated into the 11th Virginia Regiment and finally into the 5th Virginia Regiment , until the end of the war. Flora also fought in
3430-626: The 1970s. After failed attempts to preserve the mill as a historical center through the early 2000s, it was given over to commercial operators and operated as an antique mall in 2021. As a watermill, the Chesapeake may be the most originally preserved of the original six frigates of the U.S. Navy. Interpretation of the USS Constitution , preserved in Boston harbor, suggests original wood or components from 0% to 15%. The Chesapeake Mill
3528-501: The 1st Virginia Regiment was technically the commander-in-chief of Virginia's forces, correspondence between the President of Virginia's Committee of Safety Edmund Pendleton and Colonel Woodford indicates that this was a political decision in recognition of Henry's efforts prior to the outbreak of hostilities. While Henry was a politician, Woodford had served in the French and Indian War and had real military experience. For this reason,
3626-580: The 2d Virginia Regiment in 1775) which would eventually be named the 1st and 2d Virginia Regiments, as well as a Continental regiment technically commanded by Colonel Febiger, but operationally in the field commanded by Lt. Colonel Thomas Gaskins. The "new" 1st and 2d Virginia Regiments would fight with General Nathanael Greene 's army in the Carolinas at the Battle of Guilford Court House , the siege of Ninety-Six , Battle of Hobkirk's Hill , and Battle of Eutaw Springs . Gaskins' Battalion would be assigned to
3724-532: The 2d Virginia Regiment's original colonel, Brigadier General William Woodford , including elements of the 2d Virginia Regiment and Lt. Colonel Gustavus Brown Wallace, Major Charles Pelham, Captains Alexander Parker and Benjamin Taliaferro can be placed with this detachment. The 3rd Virginia Detachment would be formed under Colonel Abraham Buford and was composed of elements of the 7th Virginia, as well as various pieces of other units, including two companies of
3822-412: The 2nd, Capt. Alexander Parker's and Capt. Thomas Catlett's. It is known that Captains Francis Cowherd and John Stokes were also with this detachment. The 1st and 2d Virginia Detachments were sent to Charlestown, South Carolina , where they were captured with the surrender of the town on May 12, 1780. The 3rd Virginia Detachment, delayed in marching, was also sent to Charleston, but as Buford approached
3920-541: The 9th Virginia Regiment of Mulenburgh's Brigade fought with such success that it found itself cut off and captured to a man. Stephen's Brigade was engaged in an embarrassing example of "friendly fire" with Wayne's Brigade as they too had to retreat after pressing so much further than the Pennsylvanians mistook them for the British in the fog of battle because of the direction they were coming from. The 2d Virginia Regiment again served with distinction, as reflected in
4018-542: The American Revolutionary War, William Flora fought under Colonel William Woodford in the Virginia State Forces at the Battle of Great Bridge in December 1775, where he is widely acknowledged as the Patriot hero of the battle. Flora provided his own musket, which points to the likelihood that he had already garnered the respect of his white neighbors as free blacks were not able to bear arms or enlist in
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4116-532: The American side survived to speak very highly of Flora and his courage. Before the war Flora owned a prosperous livery stable. After the war, with the purchase and sale of property, he grew his business into a tidy fortune. William Flora was born, date unknown, in Portsmouth , Virginia Colony , of British North America , in the British Empire , to a free-born , African American family. During
4214-461: The British ships Volunteer , Liverpool Hero , Earl Percy , and Ellen , the brig Julia (an American ship trading under a British license), and Valeria (an American ship recaptured from British privateers). During the cruise an unidentified British ship-of-the-line and a frigate chased Chesapeake but, after a passing storm squall, the two pursuing ships were gone the next morning. The cargo of Volunteer , 40 tons of pig iron and copper,
4312-617: The Chesapeake Bay, off the coast of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Later that year and under the command of George Burdett she sailed to Plymouth, England, for repairs in October of that year. Afterward she made a voyage to Cape Town , South Africa, until learning of the peace treaty with the United States in May 1815. Later that year a report was made concerning Chesapeake ' s performance in British service. Her captain observed that she
4410-507: The Hudson Highlands and Northern New Jersey, officers deemed supernumerary were given new assignments (while officially holding their prior titles) and parties of men would be assigned duties under various captains. A return written by Inspector General Steuben indicates that the regiment only had 180 rank and file, which could form two divisions. It was decided that it would brigade with the 5th and 11th Virginia Regiments to "compose
4508-527: The Mediterranean and to pursue peace negotiations with the Barbary States. The first squadron was under the command of Richard Dale in President . and the second was assigned to the command of Richard Valentine Morris in Chesapeake . Morris's squadron eventually consisted of the vessels Constellation , New York , John Adams , Adams , and Enterprise . It took several months to prepare
4606-637: The Navy Paul Hamilton directed Captain Samuel Evans to recruit the number of crewmen required for a 44-gun ship. Hamilton was corrected by William Bainbridge in a letter stating, "There is a mistake in the crew ordered for the Chesapeake , as it equals in number the crews of our 44-gun frigates, whereas the Chesapeake is of the class of the Congress and Constellation ." Letters between Stoddert, Fox, and others dated 26 October, 1799 it
4704-509: The Norfolk wharf. In subsequent days, the event would lead to the angry resolutions of town governments on the east coast and into the Midwest. In Pennsylvania, a group representing the state's First Congressional District declared the attack "an act of such consummate violence and wrong, and of so barbarous and murderous a character that it would debase and degrade any nation and much more so
4802-710: The Pendleton decided to keep Henry in Williamsburg, Virginia , while dispatching the 2d Virginia Regiment to meet Governor Dunmore 's small "army" composed of detachments of the 14th Regiment of Foot , naval gunners, and freed slaves who had been formed into the Ethiopian Regiment . The 2d Virginia Regiment, along with elements of the Culpeper Minutemen , engaged the British at the Battle of Great Bridge (modern day Chesapeake Virginia), which
4900-543: The Quasi-War, the United States had paid tribute to the Barbary States to ensure that they would not seize or harass American merchant ships. In 1801 Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli , dissatisfied with the amount of tribute he received in comparison to that paid to Algiers, demanded an immediate payment of $ 250,000. Thomas Jefferson responded by sending a squadron of warships to protect American merchant ships in
4998-697: The Royal Navy, which instructed the British ships to stop and board Chesapeake to search for deserters. Barron refused to allow this search, and as the lieutenant returned to Leopard Barron ordered the crew to general quarters . Shortly afterward Leopard hailed Chesapeake ; Barron could not understand the message. Leopard fired a shot across the bow , followed by a broadside, at Chesapeake . For fifteen minutes, while Chesapeake attempted to arm herself, Leopard continued to fire broadside after broadside until Barron struck his colors . Chesapeake only managed to fire one retaliatory shot after hot coals from
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#17327720203415096-474: The United States on 7 April and she was placed in reserve at the Washington Navy Yard on 1 June, 1803. Morris remained in the Mediterranean until September, when orders from Secretary Smith arrived suspending his command and instructing him to return to the United States. There he faced a Naval Board of Inquiry which found that he was censurable for "inactive and dilatory conduct of
5194-592: The Virginia Gazette, October 17, 1777: "The heroism and gallantry of the second Virginia regiment I cannot help particularly mentioning; they would do honour to any country in the world. It is universally believed they behaved the best of any troops in the field." Colonel Spotswood resigned after the Battle of Germantown to return to Virginia to take care of the family as he mistakenly thought his brother had been killed (he had in fact been wounded and captured). He
5292-535: The accidental deaths of several crewmen led many to believe she was cursed. Arguments defending both Humphreys and Fox regarding their long-standing disagreements over the design of the frigates carried on for years. Humphreys disowned any credit for Fox's redesign of Chesapeake . In 1827 he wrote, "She [ Chesapeake ] spoke his [Fox's] talents. Which I leave the Commanders of that ship to estimate by her qualifications." Lawrence's last command of "Don't give up
5390-546: The burning of Norfolk, which at the time was not only Virginia's largest city, but also a Loyalist stronghold. Originally raised for one year's state service, the 2d Virginia was accepted by Congress for Continental service on February 13, 1776, and reorganized at Suffolk as part of the Continental Army . Dunmore would remove his force to Gywnn's Island, a small island where the Rappahannock River meets
5488-586: The city, he learned of its fall and began a march to Hillsborough, NC. Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton of the British Legion caught up to Buford at Waxhaws , asked for his surrender, and when it was not given, cut the 3rd Virginia Detachment to pieces. Captain Stokes would receive several cuts to the face and Captain Catlett was killed. Captain Alexander Parker escaped what Americans later termed
5586-578: The crew, along with sailors of several nations. Meanwhile, HMS Shannon , a 38-gun frigate, under Captain Philip Broke was patrolling off the port of Boston on blockade duty. Shannon had been under the command of Broke since 1806 and, under his direction, the crew held daily great gun and small arms drills lasting up to three hours each. Crew members who hit their bullseye were awarded a pound (454 g) of tobacco for their good marksmanship. Broke had also fitted out his cannons with dispart and tangent sights to increase accuracy as well as degree bearings on
5684-530: The decks and gun carriages to allow the crew to focus their fire on a specific target. In this regard Chesapeake , with traditional gun practice and a crew that had only been together for a few months, was inferior. Lawrence, advised that Shannon had moved in closer to Boston, began preparations to sail on the evening of 31 May. The next morning Broke wrote a challenge to Lawrence and dispatched it to Chesapeake ; it had not arrived when Lawrence set out to meet Shannon on his own accord. Leaving port with
5782-418: The galley were brought on deck to ignite the cannon. The British boarded Chesapeake and carried off four crewmen, declining Barron's offer that Chesapeake be taken as a prize of war. Chesapeake suffered three sailors killed and Barron was among the eighteen wounded. Word of the incident spread quickly on Chesapeake ' s return to Hampton Roads, where the British squadron that included Leopard
5880-491: The island. By the time the Virginians made it ashore, Dunmore's force withdrew to its ships and sailed away. They would raid Stafford County in late July 1776 before sailing for New York City. In December 1776, the 2d Virginia Regiment was ordered to join Washington's Main Army in New Jersey. Colonel Woodford was promoted to brigadier general and Alexander Spottswood became colonel of the 2d Virginia Regiment on February 21, 1777. The regiment marched to Baltimore, Maryland, where it
5978-408: The military at the time. At the Battle of Great Bridge , a sentry at the bridge reported he was the last to cross, as the British advanced. As Flora retreated from his post under heavy fire from the British line, he ripped up a plank from the bridge. This made the British crossing under fire from the Patriots impossible. As a result, the British were forced to withdraw to their ships. The only casualty,
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#17327720203416076-463: The number between 48 and 61 killed and 85–99 wounded. Discrepancies in the number of killed and wounded are possibly caused by the addition of sailors who died of their wounds after the battle. The counts for Shannon have fewer discrepancies with 23 killed and 56 wounded. Despite his serious injuries, Broke ordered repairs to both ships and they proceeded on to Halifax , Nova Scotia. Captain Lawrence died en route of his wounds and
6174-438: The original regiment formed in 1775. The regiment was formally disbanded on November 15, 1783. USS Chesapeake (1799) Chesapeake was a 38-gun wooden- hulled , three- masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy . She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794 . Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young navy's capital ships . Chesapeake
6272-617: The overall dimensions substantially in length and partially of beam. Fox's plans essentially proposed an entirely different design than originally planned by Humphreys. Secretary Stoddert approved the new design plans. When construction finished, Chesapeake had the smallest dimensions of the six frigates. A length of 152.8 ft (46.6 m) between perpendiculars and 41.3 ft (12.6 m) of beam contrasted with her closest sisters, Congress and Constellation , which were built to 164 ft (50 m) in length and 41 ft (12 m) of beam. The final cost of her construction
6370-500: The port of Norfolk blockading two French ships there. As Chesapeake departed, the squadron ships began signaling each other and Leopard got under way, preceding Chesapeake to sea. After sailing for some hours, Leopard , commanded by Captain Salusbury Humphreys , approached Chesapeake and hailed a request to deliver dispatches to England, a customary request of the time. When a British lieutenant arrived by boat he handed Barron an order, given by Vice-Admiral George Berkeley of
6468-473: The probability of an engagement to clear his Ship for action" and suspended from the navy for five years. Gordon and Hall were privately reprimanded, and the ship's gunner was discharged from the navy. After the heavy damage inflicted by Leopard , Chesapeake returned to Norfolk for repairs. Under the command of Stephen Decatur , she made patrols off the New England coast enforcing the Embargo Act throughout 1809. The Chesapeake – Leopard Affair, and later
6566-422: The regiment would be under "Light Horse Harry" Lee at Paulus Hook (present day Jersey City) and was credited with covering the retreat from capturing this post. At this point, regimental history becomes very confusing to track. Given the number of men fit for duty, these "regiments" are not really "regiments" at all any more, yet they are still named as such. In 1780, the word "Detachment" comes into use, describing
6664-428: The regiment's initial field officers. Virginia had been divided into 16 military districts which took their names from the predominant county in the grouping; for instance, Prince William District included Fairfax and Loudoun Counties as well. Col. Gregory Smith 1777-78 Col Brent 1779 (Valley Forge ?) On December 1, 1775, three companies of sixty men each were added to the regiment. While Colonel Patrick Henry of
6762-409: The second Revolutionary War, the War of 1812. Chesapeake was completely unprepared to defend herself during the incident. None of her guns were primed for operation and the spar deck was filled with materials that were not properly stowed in the cargo hold. A court-martial was convened for Barron and Captain Gordon, as well as Lieutenant Hall of the Marines. Barron was found guilty of "neglecting on
6860-413: The ship were in disarray. The term of enlistment for many of the crew had expired and they were daily leaving the ship. Those who remained were disgruntled and approaching mutiny, as the prize money they were owed from her previous cruise was held up in court. Lawrence paid out the prize money from his own pocket in order to appease them. Some sailors from Constitution joined Chesapeake and they made up
6958-435: The ship!" became a rallying cry for the US Navy. Oliver Hazard Perry , in command of naval forces on Lake Erie during September 1813, named his flagship Lawrence , which flew a broad blue flag bearing the words "Dont give up the ship!" The phrase is still used in the US Navy today. Chesapeake ' s battle-damaged ensign was sold at auction in London in 1908. Purchased by William Waldorf Astor , it now resides in
7056-441: The squadron under his command". He was dismissed from the navy in 1804. Morris's overall performance in the Mediterranean was particularly criticized for the state of affairs aboard Chesapeake and his inactions as a commander. His wife, young son, and housekeeper accompanied him on the voyage, during which his wife gave birth to another son. Midshipman Henry Wadsworth wrote that he and the other midshipman referred to Mrs. Morris as
7154-643: The standard European frigates of the day, and mounting the usual armament of 18-pounder guns. Originally designated as "Frigate D", the ship remained unnamed for several years. Her keel was laid down in December 1795 at the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk County – now the city of Portsmouth in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where Josiah Fox had been appointed her naval constructor and Richard Dale as superintendent of construction. In March 1796
7252-478: The strong winds, Morris returned to Malta on 10 February. With provisions for the ships running low and none available near Malta, Morris decided to abandon plans to blockade Tripoli and sailed the squadron back to Gibraltar for provisioning. They made stops at Tunis on 22 February and Algiers on 19 March. Chesapeake arrived at Gibraltar on 23 March, where Morris transferred his command to New York . Under James Barron , Chesapeake sailed for
7350-639: The vessels for sea; they departed individually as they became ready. Captain Thomas Truxton was ordered to take command of Chesapeake on 12 January, 1802 by the Secretary of the Navy. He proposed that he should be squadron commander of the new squadron leaving for the Mediterranean, or he should leave the service, in a letter to Secretary of the Navy dated 3 March, 1802. Secretary of the Navy ordered Capt. Richard V. Morris to take command of Chesapeake in
7448-409: The whole squadron before Tripoli" and negotiate peace. Chesapeake and Enterprise departed Gibraltar on 17 August bound for Leghorn , while providing protection for a convoy of merchant ships that were bound for intermediate ports. Morris made several stops in various ports before finally arriving at Leghorn on 12 October, after which he sailed to Malta . Chesapeake undertook repairs of
7546-460: Was $ 220,677—the second-least expensive frigate of the six. The least expensive was Congress at $ 197,246. During construction, a sloop named Chesapeake was launched on 20 June 1799 but was renamed Patapsco between 10 October and 14 November, apparently to free up the name Chesapeake for "Frigate D". In communications between Fox and Stoddert, Fox repeatedly referred to her as Congress , further confusing matters, until he
7644-532: Was a decisive victory. Colonel William Woodford , reporting on the 2d Virginia Regiment's Service at the Battle of Great Bridge , wrote in a letter published in Purdie's Virginia Gazette , December 15, 1775: "This was a second Bunker's Hill affair, in miniature; with this difference, that we kept our post, and had only one man wounded in the hand." Minor fighting would continue in Hampton and Norfolk, including
7742-512: Was buried in a Halifax cemetery with full military honors. The dead crewmen were buried on Dead Man's Island in Nova Scotia . Captain Broke survived his wounds and was later made a baronet . The Royal Navy repaired Chesapeake and took her into service as HMS Chesapeake . She served on the Halifax station under the command of Alexander Dixie until 1814, and, in April, was sighted in
7840-575: Was communicated on the subject. In early June Chesapeake departed the Washington Navy Yard for Norfolk, Virginia, where she completed provisioning and loading armaments. Captain Gordon informed Barron on the 19th that Chesapeake was ready for sea and they departed on 22 June armed with 40 guns. At the same time, a British squadron consisting of HMS Melampus , Bellona , and Leopard (a 50-gun fourth rate ) were lying off
7938-459: Was destroyed. At the same time, her foretopsail halyard was shot away causing the ship to lose maneuverability. Unable to maneuver, Chesapeake " luffed up " and her port stern quarter caught against the side of Shannon amidships and the two ships were lashed together. Confusion and disarray reigned on the deck of Chesapeake ; Captain Lawrence tried rallying a party to board Shannon , but
8036-500: Was equipped and then dispatched to Maryland's Eastern Shore to suppress local Loyalists, before making their way to Philadelphia for clothing, and finally joined the Main Army as part of Weedon's Brigade in Greene's Division. In August 1777, Washington marched his army to counter the British landing at Head of Elk, Maryland, with the objective of Philadelphia. A detachment of the 2d Virginia Regiment fought as part of Maxwell's Light Corps,
8134-470: Was fully manned with a crew drawing pay. Stoddert appointed Thomas Truxton to ensure that his directives concerning Congress were carried out. Chesapeake first put to sea on 22 May commanded by Captain Samuel Barron and marked her departure from Norfolk with a 13-gun salute. Her first assignment was to carry currency from Charleston, South Carolina, to Philadelphia. On 6 June she joined
8232-758: Was informed by Stoddert the ship was to be named Chesapeake , after Chesapeake Bay . She was the only one of the six frigates not named by President George Washington , nor after a principle of the United States Constitution. Chesapeake ' s nominal rating is stated as either 36 or 38 guns. Originally designated as a 44-gun ship, her redesign by Fox led to a rerating, apparently based on her smaller dimensions when compared to Congress and Constellation . Joshua Humphreys may have rerated Chesapeake to 38 guns, or Secretary Stoddert may have rerated Congress and Constellation to 38 guns because they were larger than Chesapeake , which
8330-512: Was more effective, landing hits on Shannon ' s 12-pounder shot locker. Chesapeake ' s 32-pound carronades punished Shannon ' s forecastle, killing three men, wounding others and disabling Shannon ' s nine-pounder bow gun. Chesapeake suffered far more heavily in the exchange, as accurate British fire caused heavy losses among American gun crews, and crippling losses to the men and officers on Chesapeake ' s quarterdeck . A succession of helmsmen were killed and her wheel
8428-438: Was not in any condition to make an Atlantic voyage during the winter months. Morris now had the ships New York , John Adams , and Enterprise gathered under him, while Adams was at Gibraltar. On 30 January Chesapeake and the squadron got underway for Tripoli, where Morris planned to burn Tripolitan ships in the harbor. Heavy gales made the approach to Tripoli difficult. Fearing Chesapeake would lose her masts from
8526-455: Was noted as carrying 40 guns during her encounter with HMS Leopard in 1807 and 50 guns during her engagement with HMS Shannon in 1813. The 50 guns consisted of twenty-eight 18-pounder (8 kg) long guns on the gun deck , fourteen on each side. This main battery was complemented by two long 12-pounders (5.5 kg), one long 18-pounder, eighteen 32-pounder (14.5 kg) carronades , and one 12-pound carronade on
8624-431: Was ordered to prepare her for patrol and convoy duty in the Mediterranean to relieve her sister ship Constitution , which had been on duty there since 1803. James Barron was appointed overall commander of the squadron as its commodore. Chesapeake was in much disarray from her multi-year period of inactivity and many months were required for repairs, provisioning, and recruitment of personnel. Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair
8722-480: Was originally designed as a 44-gun frigate, but construction delays, material shortages and budget problems caused builder Josiah Fox to alter his design to 38 guns. Launched at the Gosport Navy Yard on 2 December 1799, Chesapeake began her career during the Quasi-War with France and later saw service in the First Barbary War . On 22 June 1807 she was fired upon by HMS Leopard of
8820-575: Was provisioning. Mobs of angry citizens destroyed two hundred water casks destined for the squadron and nearly killed a British lieutenant before local authorities intervened. The fourth death of a Chesapeake sailor two days later came in the midst of the growing outrage. The coffin holding the body of Robert MacDonald was transported across the Elizabeth River, which flowed between Portsmouth and Norfolk, amid cannon tributes and ships at half mast and an estimated 4,000 citizens to receive it at
8918-473: Was rated to 36 guns. The most recent information on her rating is from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships , published in 2011, which states she was rerated "from 44 guns to 36, eventually increased to 38". Her gun rating remained a matter of confusion throughout her career; Fox used a 44-gun rating in his correspondence with Secretary Stoddert. In preparing for the War of 1812 Secretary of
9016-531: Was replaced by Colonel Christian Febiger , a Danish-born officer, who would command the regiment the rest of its existence. The 2d Virginia Regiment entered winter quarters at Valley Forge, emerging in June 1778 to fight at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778. The Philadelphia Campaign had left the Virginia Line in shambles, depleting both men and supplies. On September 14, 1778, the 2d Virginia Regiment
9114-499: Was returned to the United States. It is on display at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum . Almost from her beginnings, Chesapeake was considered an "unlucky ship", the "runt of the litter" to the superstitious sailors of the 19th century, and the product of a disagreement between Humphreys and Fox. Her unsuccessful encounters with HMS Leopard and Shannon , the courts-martial of two of her captains, and
9212-474: Was severely injured in the fighting on the forecastle, being struck in the head with a sword. Soon after, Shannon ' s crew pulled down Chesapeake ' s flag. Only 15 minutes had elapsed from the first exchange of gunfire to the capture. Reports on the number of killed and wounded aboard Chesapeake during the battle vary widely. Broke's after-action report from 6 July states 70 killed and 100 wounded. Other contemporary sources place
9310-679: Was sold for $ 185,000. Earl Percy never made it back to port as she ran aground off the coast of Long Island. Liverpool Hero was burned as she was considered leaky. Chesapeake ' s total monetary damage to British shipping was $ 235,675 (equivalent to $ 4.2 million in 2023). She returned to Boston on 9 April 1813 for refitting. Captain Evans, now in poor health, requested relief of command. Captain James Lawrence , late of Hornet and her victory over HMS Peacock , took command of Chesapeake on 20 May. Matters on board
9408-417: Was stated she was supposed to have 28 18 pounders and 16 9 pounders, but was revised at an unknown point to 30 18 pounders and 14 12 pounders. The change was cancelled. There was a question as to the gun deck being pierced for 28 or 30 guns. When sold for scrap by the Royal Navy in 1819, she was rated as a 48-gun ship. Gun ratings did not correspond to the actual number of guns a ship would carry. Chesapeake
9506-478: Was strongly constructed, but criticized the excessive overhang of the stern. He concluded that she was not a suitable ship to serve as a model for copying. Her speed under sail was not impressive: 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) close-hauled and 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) large. In 1819, the Chesapeake , constructed in Portsmouth, Virginia, was sold for £500 to Joshua Holmes in Portsmouth, England, and her various components were offered for sale in
9604-403: Was tasked with the recruiting. Among those chosen were three sailors who had deserted from HMS Melampus . The British ambassador to the United States requested the return of the sailors. Barron found that, although they were indeed from Melampus , they had been impressed into Royal Navy service from the beginning. He therefore refused to release them back to Melampus and nothing further
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