October 9, 2003
Mill made from a man-of-war
From the BBC:
History-lovers from both sides of the Atlantic are joining forces to save a mill made from the timbers of a United States ship captured by the Royal Navy almost 200 years ago.The mill's timbers apparently still show the scars of shot and shell. Read more about it here.The Chesapeake Mill in Wickham, Hampshire, is made from the timbers of the frigate USS Chesapeake - taken by HMS Shannon in 1813 when the US and Britain were last at war. . .
After seven years with the Royal Navy, the ship was taken apart and large pieces were used to build the grain mill. Now Hampshire County Council plans to sell the mill, which was working until the 1970s but is now a listed building.
AND don't forget to look at the comments, where our erudite readers have posted some excellent links and other references.
Posted by David on October 9, 2003 4:20 PM
There is a good fictional account of the taking of the Chesapeake by the Shannon in Patrick O'Brian's "The Surgeon's Mate."
Posted by: John F. MacMichael on October 11, 2003 9:56 AM
A US Navy history of the USS Chesapeake; more historical details; a first-hand account of the fight with the HMS Shannon (her crew); the interned Chesapeake crew; and one final duel.
Don't give up the ship!
Posted by: Peter Shriner on October 11, 2003 11:23 AM
Thanks for the references!
Posted by: David on October 11, 2003 5:57 PM
My pleasure. Here's a few more:
The Chesapeake's captain honored; a first-hand British account; and more about the mill.
Posted by: Peter Shriner on October 11, 2003 8:01 PM
I made a mistake in my comment above: Patrick O'Brian's account of the battle of the Shannon and the Chesapeake is in "The Fortune of War", the book just before "The Surgeon's Mate" the series.
Posted by: John F. MacMichael on October 16, 2003 10:39 PM
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