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Coog
06-22-2012, 06:20
The Chesapeake–Leopard Affair was a naval engagement that occurred off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, on June 22, 1807, between the British warship HMS Leopard and American frigate USS Chesapeake, when the crew of the Leopard pursued, attacked and boarded the American frigate looking for deserters from the British Navy. The Chesapeake was caught off guard and in a state of unpreparedness and after a short battle involving broadsides from the Leopard, her commander James Barron surrendered his vessel to the British after firing only one shot. Four crew members were removed from the American vessel and were tried for desertion, one of whom was subsequently hanged. The Chesapeake was allowed to return home where James Barron was court martialed and suspended from command.

The Chesapeake–Leopard Affair created uproar among Americans and strident calls for war with Great Britain, but these quickly subsided. President Thomas Jefferson initially attempted to use this widespread bellicosity to diplomatically threaten the British government into settling the matter. The United States Congress backed away from armed conflict when British envoys showed no contrition whatsoever for the Chesapeake outrage and delivered proclamations reaffirming impressment. Jefferson's political failure to coerce Great Britain led him towards economic warfare: the Embargo of 1807.

Coog
06-22-2012, 06:25
On 22 June 1814 the 14-gun brig USS Rattlesnake, under the command of Lt. James Renshaw, was captured by the 50-gun British frigate HMS Leander. The brig had jettisoned all but two of her guns during the long pursuit which preceded her capture off Cape Sable, the southern point of the island of the same name which lies off Nova Scotia. Poor weather, however, negated that possible slight gain in speed and gave the advantage to the heavier frigate.

csadn
06-22-2012, 17:04
The Chesapeake–Leopard Affair created uproar among Americans and strident calls for war with Great Britain, but these quickly subsided. President Thomas Jefferson initially attempted to use this widespread bellicosity to diplomatically threaten the British government into settling the matter. The United States Congress backed away from armed conflict when British envoys showed no contrition whatsoever for the Chesapeake outrage and delivered proclamations reaffirming impressment. Jefferson's political failure to coerce Great Britain led him towards economic warfare: the Embargo of 1807.

It would also eventually result in the death of Stephen Decatur: http://history1800s.about.com/od/majorfigures/ss/duels19thcentury_4.htm .

Coog
06-22-2012, 20:14
There was also some controversy over the seconds involved in the duel.

Barron's second was Captain Jesse Elliott, known for his jaunty mannerisms and antagonism toward Decatur. Decatur had first asked his friend Thomas Macdonough to be his second, but Macdonough, who had always opposed dueling, accordingly declined his request. Decatur then turned to his supposed friend Commodore William Bainbridge to act as his second, to which Bainbridge consented. However, Decatur made a poor choice: Bainbridge, who was five years his senior, had long been jealous of the younger and more famous Decatur. The duel was arranged by Bainbridge with Elliott in a way that made the wounding or death of both duelists very likely. The shooters would be standing close to each other at 7 paces, face to face; there would be no back-to-back pacing away and turning to fire, a procedure that often resulted in the missing of one's opponent.

After Decatur's funeral rumors circulated of a last minute conversation between the duelists that could have avoided the deadly outcome of the duel, moreover, that the seconds involved might have been planning for such an outcome and accordingly made no real attempts to stop the duel. Decatur's wife Susan held an even more damning view of the matter and spent much of her remaining life pursuing justice for what she termed "the assassins" involved.

csadn
06-23-2012, 16:58
Bainbridge, who was five years his senior, had long been jealous of the younger and more famous Decatur.

Given Bainbridge's history of incompetence (the fight against _Java_ being the one high point in a career which otherwise should have consigned him to a desk), I suspect his jealousy was more an effort to cover his own failings.