Because the three men were definitely proved to be American citizens, and because there was nothing to disprove Ratford’s oath that he too was one, the Navy Department refused to surrender the men, and the diplomatic correspondence was closed. The American authorities having received no protest after the decision was rendered, supposed that the matter was dropped altogether. And that was a very grave error on the part of the American authorities. For so great was the arrogance of the British naval officers, and so strong was their contempt for the American government and people, that they determined to take the men by force from the deck of the _Chesapeake_ as soon as she had passed out to sea, and an order was issued by Admiral Berkeley commanding any British captain who found the _Chesapeake_ at sea to board her, whether she would permit it or not, and take the men. Naturally that order was kept secret, and Captains Barron and Gordon (Barron, by the fact of his rank, was the responsible official) had no idea that any real ill feeling existed, let alone that any intention to assault the ship was meditated. There was, indeed, some grumbling by British officers at Norfolk, and the officers of the _Chesapeake_ heard of it, but there was not enough in it to excite their suspicions. And so the 22d day of June, 1807, arrived, and the _Chesapeake_ was, after a most remarkable fashion, ready for sea. She set her pennant, got up her anchor, and with her decks littered with baggage, chicken coops--what not--and her rammers, wads, matches, and powder-horns stowed no one knew where, she sailed away. Meantime, while yet the _Chesapeake’s_ anchor had not been gotten, the crew of the big British fifty-gun ship _Leopard_ had made sail and gone to sea slowly--so slowly that she kept the _Chesapeake_ constantly in sight. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon the _Leopard_ brought to near the _Chesapeake_ and hailed her, saying that the officers and crew wished to send letters by her to friends in Europe. It was a common practice for warships as well as merchantmen to carry letters in that fashion, and the _Chesapeake_ backed her mainyards and waited for the boat from the _Leopard_. When the boat came, a British lieutenant climbed to the deck of the _Chesapeake_, and then, instead of producing a package of letters, he drew forth a written demand from his captain for the return of the sailors alleged to be British subjects. With this demand he also presented a copy of the circular issued by his admiral which ordered any British ship falling in with the _Chesapeake_ to take the so-called deserters from her by force if necessary. Captain Barron was very much surprised, but he refused to deliver up the men. Meantime the _Leopard_ had worked into the most advantageous position for attacking the _Chesapeake_, and with her ports open, cannon out, and matches lighted, she awaited the issue of the demand.