| Single-ship naval actions, like this famous Atlantic battle, were dramatic and inspired famous quotes such as Chesapeake Commander James Lawrence's reportedly dying words: "Don't give up the ship." The American ship Chesapeake, with more men and heavier armament than the British ship Shannon, was captured within 15 minutes of the first gun being fired. Although the War of 1812 ended in a stalemate, the war, or the myths created by it, gave Canadians their first sense of community. The National Archives holds 20 works of documentary art on the subject of this naval action. C-040089 |