A Simple Blue Banner
2013 USNA Uniform Pieces, Courtesy of the US Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy and West Point are the country’s preeminent military academies. Each year, these two schools take their rivalry to the gridiron for sixty minutes of spirited combat. The “Army/Navy” game, as it has been known for decades, captures the attention of eight-million people annually. With all of those eyes, it is not hard to understand the immensity of this most “patriotic” of games.
To mark the occasion, both academies adopt special uniforms which capture the essence of their respective histories. In 2013, in an effort to commemorate one of the most iconic quotes in the Navy’s history, the Naval Academy unveiled a special “Dont Give Up the Ship”-theme.
The official press release read, “When the Midshipmen take the field for the 2013 Army-Navy football game, their uniforms will showcase a history as storied as the Annapolis-West Point rivalry itself. The Midshipmen's base layer features the dying command of Capt. James Lawrence.”
Perhaps more important is the fact that, even after two centuries, American popular culture still recognizes this iconic phrase - a fact that is immediately recognizable when travelling around places like Erie, PA, Annapolis, MD, or Norfolk, VA. But, what is the history of the “DGUTS” flag? Let’s explore this blue banner’s enduring story, shall we?
A Dying Wish
Captain James Lawrence, US Naval History and Heritage Command
One June 1st, 1813, Captain James Lawrence, commanding the three-masted frigate USS Chesapeake set sail from the port at Boston, Massachusetts under a white flag bearing the words “Free Trade and Sailor’s Rights”. The mission was simple, engage the HMS Shannon and drive the British away from the important port city. Around 5:00 pm, the two vessels quickly became engaged in gunfire as both ships fired off a set of salvos. While Shannon’s rigging became heavily damaged from carronade fire, Chesapeake suffered heavier damage and casualties. With her wheel destroyed and fore topsail halyard shot away, the CHESAPEAKE was rendered immobile. With this, two vessels lashed together and boarding parties were in the process of being struck up.
Lawrence, quickly attempted to prepare a boarding party to engage the Shannon’s crew however, amid the confusion, he was struck by sniper fire from the British vessel. Lawrence's men quickly came to his aid, and began carrying him below. It is during these moments that Lawrence uttered the words, "Tell them to fire faster. Don't Give Up The Ship" or "Don't Give Up the Ship. Fight her 'till she sinks". Chesapeake eventually fell to the British, serving in the Royal Navy until 1819. For Lawrence, he succumbed to his wounds on June 4, 1813.
A Navy town
A map illustrating Presque Isle. (Image source: William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)
At the time of the War of 1812, Erie, Pennsylvania was nothing more than a small village - registering approximately 500 buildings. [1] It did not take long for signs of the War to come to Erie: “In Erie, it began to be acute when rumors of the attack and capture of other posts [Fort Mackinac, Detroit, etc.] found their way in from the outside, and when at length soldiers began to arrive, and later the ships of the enemy paid occasional visits…” [2] With this, many families fled from Erie to escape the British - all but a few.
Erie became a naval base - focused on the construction of ships meant to take the fight to the British on the Upper Lakes. In the Summer of 1813, the squadron was complete and the ships were turned over to a brash, young naval officer named Oliver Hazard Perry. For the “commodore”, the death of James Lawrence was a bitter pill to swallow. It was fitting that, by order of the Department of the Navy, one of the gun-brigs built at Erie was to be named USS Lawrence in honor of Perry’s good friend and colleague, James Lawrence.
Stitching the Flag
Due to the influx and constant shifting of officers and crew, there was very little to be said of comradery for the Erie-built squadron. As the ships were crossing the bar, Perry and Purser John Hambleton discussed “making a flag for the Lawrence”. [3] It is said that Hambleton recommended the phrase “Dont Give Up The Ship” [4] The following day, Hambleton snuck away to speak with Margaret Forster Steuart about the possibility of making their battle flag.
The banner was stitched at the house of Thomas Steuart, located on Fourth Street in Erie, around the intersection of French and Holland Streets. Incidentally, the house was “built with logs, and was the largest dwelling house of its construction in Erie, with considerable architectural pretentions”. [5] Margaret Steuart was assisted by Dorcas Bell, wife of Captain William Bell, “his two daughters, and the three daughters of Captain Thomas Foster”. [6]
It has been said that the flag was to be made in secret however, evidence points to the fact that several young officers were “regular callers” to the house. In fact, all of the young women who were assisting in the making of this flag ended up marrying some of the young naval officers - thereby sowing the seeds of Erie’s relationship with the United States Navy quite early on. [7]
The "Dont Give Up the Ship" flag was about “eight by ten feet, is not made of bunting, a light-weight wool cloth used for making flags, but rather a "fairly fine brown wool fabric that looks more like a fine dress fabric." [8] It should be noted that, they were stitching this flag, not knowing if the following day would bear the British on Erie’s doorstep.
My brave lads…
J.O. Davidson’s “Battle of Lake Erie”, Gift of Maritime Collectors, Partnership
On the morning of September 10, 1813, Oliver Perry stood on the gundeck of his flagship Lawrence, looking out upon his crew, clutching his new banner. In a moment of inspiration, he is said to have called out, “My brave lads, this flag contains the last words of Captain Lawrence! Shall I hoist it?” In spirited jubilation, his crew shouted, “aye, aye”. Not long after Perry raised the flag, HMS Detroit opened fire on the Lawrence, beginning the Battle of Lake Erie.
During the engagement, Lawrence took the brunt of British firepower. 80% of Lawrence’s crew were killed or wounded and the ship was rendered ineffective. At 2:30 pm, Perry made the decision to leave the Lawrence under the charge of Lt. Yarnall and re-assume command of the battle from the deck of Brig Niagara. Carrying with him his battle flag, he swung Niagara into close action, crossed the “t” of the British line, and won the day. And the rest, they say, is history.
Today, the original battle flag is housed at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Visitors to the Erie Maritime Museum & US Brig Niagara are able to see the flag in artwork, models, and even flying high above the decks of our beloved Brig.
Students to the US Naval Academy look at the flag as a “rallying cry and inspires [them] to do more, to not give up, but also it stands for [their] core values of honor, courage and commitment. It means to get the mission done and don't compromise." [9]
[1] History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, 1884. See Chapter XV - “The Non-Combatants” for this statistic.
[2] Ibid.
[3] David Curtis Skaggs, Oliver Hazard Perry: Honor, Courage, and Patriotism in the Early U.S. Navy (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2006). 98.
[4] Please note: The original phrase used by the seamstresses did not use an apostrophe in the word Don’t, therefore, we are not including it here.
[5] History of Erie County, Pennsylvania
[6] George D. Emerson, The Report of Perry’s Victory Centenary. Albany, NY. J.B. Lyon Company Printers, 1916.
[7] Erie was nicknamed “the mother-in-law” of the Navy due to the many young naval officers marrying and settling in Erie.
[8] “A Flag Bears Witness - Don't Give up the Ship: Phmc > History > Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine > Current & Past Issues > 2012 > Fall,” A Flag Bears Witness - Don't Give Up The Ship | PHMC > History > Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine > Current & Past Issues > 2012 > Fall, accessed September 8, 2021, http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/pa-heritage/flag-bears-witness-dont-give-up-the-ship.html.
[9] Midshipman First Class Kara Yingling, USNA Class of 2012