1807: "Outrage on the American Flag"
The following article was printed in a Vermont newspaper in 1807, reporting on the naval incident called the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. Part of the simmering conflict between the United States and Great Britain over embargos and impressment, the shots fired enraged Americans and would later be considered a step toward the War of 1812.
Columbia, Washington, June 26.
BRITISH OUTRAGE.
We give the public the particulars of the following outrage on the American flag, under the influence of feelings, which, we are certain, are in unions with those entertained universally by our fellow-citizens; feelings which cannot, which ought not to be suppressed. We know not, indeed, that this savage outrage has a precedent in naval annals.
On Monday last the United States frigate, Chesapeake, of 38 guns, left the Capes, where there lay at anchor a British squadron consisting of three two deckers and one frigate of 58 guns. As she passed this squadron, without molestation, one of the two deckers, the Leopard, put off, and went to sea before the Chesapeake. When the latter came up with the Leopard, at the distance of about three leagues from the squadron, her commander captain Humphries , hailed the Chesapeake, and said he had a dispatch to deliver from the British commander in chief (meaning admiral Berkley of the American station). Commodore Barron, supposing it was a dispatch for Europe, hove to, when captain Humphries sent on board her, a letter covering an order of admiral Berkley, to take from the Chesapeake three men, alleged to be deserters from the Melapus [Melampus] frigate, and designating them by name.
Commodore Barron replied by letter that no such men, as named in admiral Berkley's order, were on board, and added that his crew could not be mustered for examination by any other officers than his own. — This answer was couched in terms of politeness. It was no sooner received than a broadside was discharged from the Leopard. The crew of the Chesapeake were at this time not at quarters, considering the Leopard a friend, and Commodore Barron not contemplating the possibility of danger so immediately after leaving the Capes. No other attempt was therefore made to fight her than the discharge of a few straggling guns, while the Leopard repeated three or four broadsides; when the Chesapeake struck her colors, after having three men killed and eighteen wounded. A boat was then put off from the Leopard with an officer who demanded four men. Commodore Barron said he considered the Chesapeake, as a prize to the Leopard; the captain of which vessel said no, that his orders were to take out the men, which having executed, he had nothing further to do with her. Thus dismissed, she returned to Hampton Roads, where she now lies. She received in her hull twenty-two round shot, her foremast and main mast were destroyed, her mizenmast gravely injured, and her standing rigging and sails very much cut.
Of the wounded eight are considered dangerous and two have lost an arm — Commodore Barron suffered a contusion, received from a splinter, which is not serious. No other officer is wounded, excepting midshipman Broom and he but slightly.
Nothing evinces in more striking colors the impudence of Captain Humphreys, than his immediate return, after this outrage to the Cape, where he now lies with the other ships of the squadron.
Source:
"British Outrage," North Star published in Danville, Vermont, on July 14, 1807. Page 2. Accessed through Newspapers.com
