Part 14

The English ensign was immediately hoisted over the American, and as soon as possible sail was made for Halifax. Lawrence and his wounded officers lay together in the ward room of the Chesapeake, the cabin having been much shattered. For four days Lawrence lingered in extreme anguish. He bore his sufferings with silent heroism, and it is remarkable that he never spoke except to make known the few wants that his situation required. On the Shannon Captain Broke lay, raving with delirium from his wounds, and only occasionally rational. At these times he would ask anxiously after Lawrence, muttering, "He brought his ship into action in gallant style," and other words of generous admiration. When it was known that Lawrence was no more, it was thought best to keep it from Broke, as it was known it would distress him greatly.

On Sunday, the 6th of June, the two ships entered Halifax harbor, the body of Lawrence wrapped in the battle flag of the Chesapeake, and lying on her quarterdeck. The people took the Chesapeake for the President, and shouting multitudes lined the shores and docks. But when it was known that it was Lawrence's ship, and her brave commander lay dead upon her, an instant silence fell upon the people. They remembered Lawrence's kindness to the officers and men of the Peacock, and they paid him the tribute of silent respect.

The funeral was arranged for the 8th of June, and was one of the most affecting ever witnessed. The British naval and military authorities omitted nothing that could show their esteem for a brave and unfortunate enemy. The garrison and the fleet turned out their whole force, the officers wearing crape upon the left arm. The coffin, wrapped in the Chesapeake's flag, with the dead officer's sword upon it, was brought ashore in an admiral's barge, the men rowing minute strokes, and amid the solemn booming of minute guns. It was followed by a long procession of man-of-war boats. It was landed at King's Wharf, where six of the oldest British captains acted as pall-bearers. The procession to the churchyard of St. Paul's was very long. The American officers were chief mourners, followed by the officers of the Shannon; and the presence of the wounded among both the American and English officers was touching in the extreme. Admiral Sir Thomas Saumerez, one of Nelson's captains, and the officers of the fleet, and the general of the forces, with the officers of the garrison, came next in the procession, followed by a large number of the most respectable citizens of Halifax. The route was lined with troops, and the funeral was like that of a great and distinguished British admiral,--so great is the respect all generous minds must feel for a character like Lawrence's.

His young first lieutenant, Ludlow, survived several days after landing; but he, too, soon followed his captain to a hero's grave. Great honors were also paid him at his interment.

The Americans, however, could not allow the British to pay all the honors to the dead Lawrence, and in August his remains and those of his faithful lieutenant were transferred to Salem, in Massachusetts, where they were temporarily buried until they could be transferred to New York. Lawrence's pall was carried then by six American captains, among whom were Hull, Stewart, and Bainbridge,--all men who had known Lawrence, and served with him when he was a dashing and brilliant young midshipman. Eventually, both Lawrence and Ludlow were buried in Trinity churchyard, New York, where they still rest. Lawrence left a young wife and two children, for whom the country provided.

A poignant regret for Lawrence's misfortunes and death was felt by the country generally. His youth,--he was but thirty-one years of age,--his brilliant career, the charming generosity of his nature, and the graces of his person and manner made him beloved and admired. His fault--if fault it was--in seeking an action when his ship was new to him and ill manned and scantily officered, was that of a high and daring spirit, and was readily condoned; while to this day the story of the Chesapeake is painful to a true American.

At the battle of Lake Erie Perry's flagship bore the name of Lawrence; but, like Lawrence himself, was unfortunate, and, after being cut to pieces, was forced to strike. Another vessel was named the Lawrence; but ships whose names are associated with harrowing events are not favorites with either officers or men, and she was borne upon the navy list for only a few years. But the name and fame of Lawrence will last with his countrymen as long as the American flag flies over a ship of war, and the pity of his fate will ever be among the most moving incidents in American history.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See the biography of Commodore Truxtun, who captured L'Insurgente.

[2] See the biography of Decatur.

[3] See the biography of Stewart.

[4] See the biography of Commodore Hull.

[5] See the biographies of Porter and Lawrence.

[6] See Cooper's Naval Biography for this incident.

[7] See the biography of Bainbridge.

[8] See the biography of Decatur.

[9] See the biography of Somers.

[10] It was after this attack that the celebrated scene occurred in the Constitution between Decatur and Commodore Preble, as related in Preble's life.

[11] See the biography of Richard Somers.

[12] As in the case of the fight of the Constitution with the Guerrière and the Java, the Macedonian was a lighter ship, with fewer men and guns than the Constitution. But the execution done in every case was far beyond the difference between the American ship and her antagonist.

[13] The late Captain Foxhall Parker, 1st.

[14] Not the original ship, captured and blown up by Commodore Hull, but one built and named for her.

[15] See the biography of Decatur.

[16] Lieutenant Wadsworth was the uncle of Longfellow, and the poet was named for this gallant gentleman and brave sailor.

[17] See the biography of Bainbridge.

[18] See the biography of James Lawrence.

[19] Afterward Rear-Admiral Paulding.

[20] See the biography of Decatur.

[21] He was promptly dismissed the navy for cowardice on this occasion.

THE SCRIBNER SERIES OF SCHOOL READING

A Uniform Series for Supplementary Reading in Schools. Each, 12mo, _net_, *$0.50.

=Hero Tales Told in School.= By James Baldwin. Illustrated.

=Herakles, the Hero of Thebes=, and Other Heroes of the Myth. By Mary E. Burt and Zenaide Ragezin. Illustrated.

=Odysseus: The Hero of Ithaca.= By Mary E. Burt. Illustrated.

=The Boy General.= By Mrs. George A. Custer and Mary E. Burt. Illustrated.

=Don Quixote De La Mancha.= By Miguel de Cervantes. From the translations of Duffield and Shelton. By Mary E. Burt and Lucy Leffingwell Cable.

=The Cable Story Book.= Selections for School Reading. By George W. Cable. Edited by Mary E. Burt and Lucy L. Cable. Illustrated.

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=The Howells Story Book.= By William Dean Howells. Selected and arranged by Mary E. Burt. Illustrated by Miss Howells.

=The Lanier Book.= Selections for School Reading. By Sidney Lanier. Edited and arranged By Mary E. Burt, in co-operation with Mrs. Lanier. Illustrated.

=Poems of American Patriotism.= Chosen by Brander Matthews.

=Some Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.= By Howard Pyle. Illustrated by the author.

=The Roosevelt Book.= Selections from the writings of Theodore Roosevelt, with an introduction by Robert Bridges. Illustrated.

=A Child's Garden of Verses.= By Robert Louis Stevenson. Illustrated.

=Krag and Johnny Bear.= Being the Personal Histories of Krag, Randy, Johnny Bear, and Chink. By Ernest Thompson Seton. Illustrated.

=Lobo, Rag, and Vixen.= Selections from "Wild Animals I Have Known." By Ernest Thompson Seton. With 4 full-page and many other illustrations from drawings by the Author.

=Twelve Naval Captains.= With portraits. By Molly Elliott Seawell.

=Fanciful Tales.= By Frank R. Stockton. Edited by Julia E. Langworthy. Illustrated.

=Around the World in the Sloop Spray.= By Captain Joshua Slocum. Illustrated.

=The van Dyke Book.= Selections for School Reading. By Henry van Dyke. Edited and arranged by Professor Edwin Mims, with Biographical Sketch by Miss van Dyke. Illustrated.

=Children's Stories of American Literature, 1660-1860.= By Henrietta Christian Wright.

=Children's Stories of American Literature, 1860-1896.= By Henrietta Christian Wright.

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Minor punctuation errors repaired.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=.

p56 while cruising off Gaudeloupe, replaced with while cruising off Guadeloupe,

End of Project Gutenberg's Twelve Naval Captains, by Molly Elliot Seawell