The CHESAPEAKE-LEOPARD Affair
January 2nd, 2009 From
>Date: Fri, 11 Jul 97 07:07:12 CDT
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>To: mahan@microwrks.com
>From: “Mark Hayes (Navy Historical Center)”
>Subject: The CHESAPEAKE-LEOPARD Affair
>Precendence: bulk
>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
>
>Regarding the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair:
>
>First, a minor correction:
>
>ships, then LEOPARD upped-anchor and preceded her to sea.>>
>
>According to the account in THE NAVAL WAR OF 1812, A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY,
>edited by William S. Dudley, LEOPARD was not one of the British frigates
>anchored in Lynnhaven Bay as CHESAPEAKE headed out to sea. She was already
>cruising off the Virginia Capes.
>
>On a more substantive note:
>
>15 miles off Cape Henry and sent over an officer with his admiral’s
>order and requested permission to search for deserters. The American
>Commodore BARRON rejected the request and Capt. HUMPHREYS, after
>repeated hailing, first directed that a shot be fired across her bows
>and then that several shots should be fired into her.>>
>
>The log of CHESAPEAKE indicates, and Dudley states, that NO warning shot was
>ever fired. Dudley’s account (based on the original documents) of these
>crucial minutes is as follows:
>
>>his ship. Within minutes and without specific warning, LEOPARD ranged
>alongside CHESAPEAKE and fired a broadside. The astonished BARRON [emphasis
>added] attempted to hail and sent his men to quarters silently, without the
>usual drumbeat. . . .LEOPARD continued to fire for ten minutes, until Barron
>struck his colors.>>
>
>Putting aside for the moment the question of the legitimacy of Humphrey’s
>demand to search CHESAPEAKE: if the officer sent over by Captain Humphreys
>verbally warned Barron that LEOPARD would open fire if the British demand
>was not honored, then Barron was guilty of gross negligence for not
>preparing for action immediately (as difficult as that may have been). If
>the British officer gave no such warning, then the openning broadside was
>truly shameful.
>
>Mark Hayes
>Naval Historical Center
>ncms1@navtap.navy.mil