![]() Neither America nor Great Britain was prepared for the subsequent conflict, and both sides would ultimately pay dearly in blood and treasure. London’s grudging apology for the attack in November 1811 did little to assuage American public disgust with what it widely perceived as Britain’s arrogance, and on June 18, 1812, the United States declared war. While Barron’s dismissal may have been a personal tragedy, Leopard’s attack on his ship sparked outrage across America and was seen as a haughty assault on the national honor. He was court-martialed, convicted of negligence and poor leadership and suspended from Navy service for five years. Navy ultimately blamed Barron for the debacle. A boarding party removed four seamen, one of whom the British hanged as a deserter. After enduring 20 minutes of unanswered broadsides from Leopard -which killed three Americans and wounded 18, including Barron-the frigate’s captain struck his colors. Commodore James Barron refused, and Humphreys opened fire on the unprepared U.S. Leopard’s captain, Salisbury Pryce Humphreys, demanded permission to search Chesapeake for Royal Navy deserters he believed had joined the American frigate’s crew. ![]() Just off the coast of Norfolk, Chesapeake encountered the 50- gun HMS Leopard, one of several British vessels blockading French warships that had sought shelter in American waters. ![]() Outbound for the Mediterranean, the vessel was provisioned for a long patrol and carrying passengers and their baggage, its decks cluttered and guns obstructed by unstowed equipment. Late on the afternoon of June 22, 1807, the 36-gun frigate USS Chesapeake cleared Virginia’s Hampton Roads and entered international waters. One clear winner in a murky war was the new-and overmatched-U.S. ![]()
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