The frigates had drifted apart, leaving Broke and his seamen to fight without reinforcement, but before they came together again the day was won.

This was the most humiliating phase of the episode, that a handful of British sailors and marines should have carried an American frigate by boarding.
It must not be inferred that the _Chesapeake_ inflicted no damage during the fifteen minutes of this famous engagement.

Thirty-seven of the British boarding party were killed or wounded and the American marines--"leather-necks" then and "devil-dogs" now--fought in accordance with the spirit of a corps which had won its first laurels in the Revolution.

Such broadsides as the _Chesapeake_ was able to deliver were accurately placed and inflicted heavy losses.

The victory cost the _Shannon_ eighty-two men killed and wounded, while the American frigate lost one hundred and forty-seven of her crew, or more than one-third of her complement.