On May 31st the _Chesapeake_ dropped down to the lower bay; the men were stationed at the guns and were exercised at the battery. On June 1st, a little after midday, she stood to sea under all sails, even to studding sails. The _Shannon_ stood off shore under easy sail until about eighteen miles from Boston Light, where she awaited her foe, which had now also reduced her canvas. There is no need to go into the manœuvres, which can be found in many books. Lawrence brought his ship so close that both vessels suffered severely. He was soon mortally wounded and the sailing master (who looked after the handling of the ship under the captain’s orders) was killed. The two most important officers were thus removed early in the action. A heavy explosion occurred in the _Chesapeake_, probably by the ignition of cartridges lying on the deck. At six o’clock the two ships came together, the _Shannon’s_ anchor catching in one of the after ports of the _Chesapeake_. Broke now ordered “away boarders.” The _Chesapeake’s_ first lieutenant, Ludlow, received a wound of which later he died. Cox, the third lieutenant, coming up from the main deck, was so unmanned by the conditions of things that he turned and ran below, an act for which he was later court-martialled and dismissed from the service. As Broke came aboard heading some twenty men, the only opposition that could be offered at the moment came from the nine marines, all that were left unhurt of forty-four. Their commander, Broom, and a corporal, were dead, and both sergeants were wounded. The only officer there at the moment was the chaplain, Livermore, who fired his pistol at Broke, and himself was severely wounded, in return, by a sword cut from Broke. The large number of mercenaries aboard had run below. Lieutenant George Budd, stationed on the main deck, now ran up, followed by some dozen men, and attacked the boarders, killing the purser, Aldham, and the captain’s clerk, Drum, but Budd was soon wounded and knocked down the main hatchway. The wounded Ludlow struggled to the spar deck, and received another wound. Broke himself showed brilliant courage in leading his men and was severely wounded. Just fifteen minutes after the action began, the _Chesapeake’s_ colors were hauled down. “Of her 379 men, 61 were killed or mortally wounded, including her captain, first and fourth lieutenants, the lieutenant commanding the marines, the master, boatswain, and three midshipmen; 85 were wounded more or less severely, including both her other lieutenants, five midshipmen, and the chaplain; total, 148; the loss falling entirely upon the American portion of the crew. Of the _Shannon’s_ men, 33 were killed outright or died of their wounds, including her first lieutenant, purser, captain’s clerk, and one midshipman, and 50 were wounded, including the captain and boatswain; total, 83.”[35]