[The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812 by Ralph D. Paine]@TWC D-Link book
The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812

CHAPTER VII
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They had no chance whatever to train or handle the rabble between decks.

Now Captain Broke had been anxious to fight this American frigate as matching the _Shannon_ in size and power.

He had already addressed to Captain Lawrence a challenge whose wording was a model of courtesy but which was provocative to the last degree.

A sailor of Lawrence's heroic temper was unlikely to avoid such a combat, stimulated as he was by the unbroken success of his own navy in duels between frigates.
On the first day of June, Captain Broke boldly ran into Boston harbor and broke out his flag in defiance of the _Chesapeake_ which was riding at anchor as though waiting to go to sea.

Instantly accepting the invitation, Captain Lawrence hoisted colors, fired a gun, and mustered his crew.


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