“Don’t Give Up The Ship! Fight Her ‘Til She Sinks!!”

By Nelson Rivers

Those heroic words were the dying command and rallying cry of Captain James Lawrence, United States Navy, issued to Lt. Augustus Crommelin Ludlow on June 1, 1813. Lawrence was commanding officer during the USS Chesapeake’s fateful battle against HMS Shannon near Boston during the War of 1812. Now under the command of Lt. Ludlow, the Chesapeake fought on. But Ludlow’s command was short-lived. He was mortally wounded, succumbing to his injuries 12 days later at age 21. He died in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and he and his commanding officer are buried in the Trinity Church graveyard in Manhattan.

Augustus C. Ludlow was born in Newburgh, New York, on January 1, 1792. He was appointed Midshipman on April 2, 1804, age 12, and commissioned Lieutenant June 3, 1810 at age 18.

“Don’t give up the ship” became a lasting U.S. Navy motto, famously inscribed by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry on his battle flag during the Battle of Lake Erie on September 13, 1813, to honor his friend, Captain James Lawrence. Augustus Ludlow had been a close friend of Lt. Charles Wilkes, eventually a rear admiral, not to be confused with Scarlett O’Hara’s first husband. In 1841, Wilkes, who led the U.S. Exploring Expedition into Puget Sound and elsewhere, bestowed the name of Port Ludlow on our community, and adjoining bay, in honor of his deceased friend. The name has graced our community for 185 years. 

Augustus C. Ludlow has been further honored by the U.S. Navy. Two ships have borne his name, USS Ludlow (DD-112), a Wickes-class destroyer (1918-1930), and USS Ludlow (DD-438), a Gleaves-class destroyer (1941-1951), which served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II. She earned six battle stars, participating in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and southern France, and she survived WWII.

So, what happened to the USS Chesapeake on June 1, 1813? Unfortunately, once Lt. Ludlow was wounded, the crew eventually gave up the ship to the British, who recommissioned her HMS Chesapeake.