In January 1807 Master Commandant Charles Gordon was appointed Chesapeake's commanding officer (captain).
He was ordered to prepare her for patrol and convoy duty in the Mediterranean to relieve her sister ship Constitution, which had been on duty there since 1803.
James Barron was appointed overall commander of the squadron as its commodore.
Chesapeake was in much disarray from her multi-year period of inactivity and many months were required for repairs, provisioning, and recruitment of personnel.
Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair was tasked with the recruiting.
Among those chosen were three sailors who had deserted from HMS Melampus.
The British ambassador to the United States requested the return of the sailors.
Barron found that, although they were indeed from Melampus, they had been impressed into Royal Navy service from the beginning.
He therefore refused to release them back to Melampus and nothing further was communicated on the subject.

In early June Chesapeake departed the Washington Navy Yard for Norfolk, Virginia, where she completed provisioning and loading armaments.
Captain Gordon informed Barron on the 19th that Chesapeake was ready for sea and they departed on 22 June armed with 40 guns.
At the same time, a British squadron consisting of HMS Melampus, Bellona, and  Leopard (a 50-gun fourth rate) were lying off the port of Norfolk blockading two French ships there.
As Chesapeake departed, the squadron ships began signaling each other and Leopard got under way, preceding Chesapeake to sea.

After sailing for some hours, Leopard, commanded by Captain Salusbury Humphreys, approached Chesapeake and hailed a request to deliver dispatches to England, a customary request of the time.
When a British lieutenant arrived by boat he handed Barron an order, given by Vice-Admiral George Berkeley of the Royal Navy, which instructed the British ships to stop and board Chesapeake to search for deserters.
Barron refused to allow this search, and as the lieutenant returned to Leopard Barron ordered the crew to general quarters.
Shortly afterward Leopard hailed Chesapeake; Barron could not understand the message.
Leopard fired a shot across the bow, followed by a broadside, at Chesapeake.
For fifteen minutes, while Chesapeake attempted to arm herself, Leopard continued to fire broadside after broadside until Barron struck his colors.
Chesapeake only managed to fire one retaliatory shot after hot coals from the galley were brought on deck to ignite the cannon.
The British boarded Chesapeake and carried off four crewmen, declining Barron's offer that Chesapeake be taken as a prize of war.
Chesapeake suffered three sailors killed and Barron was among the eighteen wounded.

Word of the incident spread quickly on Chesapeake's return to Norfolk, where the British squadron that included Leopard was provisioning.
Mobs of angry citizens destroyed two hundred water casks destined for the squadron and nearly killed a British lieutenant before local authorities intervened.
President Jefferson recalled all US warships from the Mediterranean and issued a proclamation: all British warships were banned from entering US ports and those already in port were to depart.
The incident eventually led to the Embargo Act of 1807.

Chesapeake was completely unprepared to defend herself during the incident.
None of her guns were primed for operation and the spar deck was filled with materials that were not properly stowed in the cargo hold.
A court-martial was convened for Barron and Captain Gordon, as well as Lieutenant Hall of the Marines.
Barron was found guilty of "neglecting on the probability of an engagement to clear his Ship for action" and suspended from the navy for five years.
Gordon and Hall were privately reprimanded, and the ship's gunner was discharged from the navy.
In January 1807 Master Commandant Charles Gordon was appointed Chesapeake's commanding officer (captain). He was ordered to prepare her for patrol and convoy duty in the Mediterranean to relieve her sister ship Constitution, which had been on duty there since 1803. James Barron was appointed overall commander of the squadron as its commodore. Chesapeake was in much disarray from her multi-year period of inactivity and many months were required for repairs, provisioning, and recruitment of personnel. Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair was tasked with the recruiting. Among those chosen were three sailors who had deserted from HMS Melampus. The British ambassador to the United States requested the return of the sailors. Barron found that, although they were indeed from Melampus, they had been impressed into Royal Navy service from the beginning. He therefore refused to release them back to Melampus and nothing further was communicated on the subject.
In early June Chesapeake departed the Washington Navy Yard for Norfolk, Virginia, where she completed provisioning and loading armaments. Captain Gordon informed Barron on the 19th that Chesapeake was ready for sea and they departed on 22 June armed with 40 guns. At the same time, a British squadron consisting of HMS Melampus, Bellona, and  Leopard (a 50-gun fourth rate) were lying off the port of Norfolk blockading two French ships there. As Chesapeake departed, the squadron ships began signaling each other and Leopard got under way, preceding Chesapeake to sea.
After sailing for some hours, Leopard, commanded by Captain Salusbury Humphreys, approached Chesapeake and hailed a request to deliver dispatches to England, a customary request of the time. When a British lieutenant arrived by boat he handed Barron an order, given by Vice-Admiral George Berkeley of the Royal Navy, which instructed the British ships to stop and board Chesapeake to search for deserters. Barron refused to allow this search, and as the lieutenant returned to Leopard Barron ordered the crew to general quarters. Shortly afterward Leopard hailed Chesapeake; Barron could not understand the message. Leopard fired a shot across the bow, followed by a broadside, at Chesapeake. For fifteen minutes, while Chesapeake attempted to arm herself, Leopard continued to fire broadside after broadside until Barron struck his colors. Chesapeake only managed to fire one retaliatory shot after hot coals from the galley were brought on deck to ignite the cannon. The British boarded Chesapeake and carried off four crewmen, declining Barron's offer that Chesapeake be taken as a prize of war. Chesapeake suffered three sailors killed and Barron was among the eighteen wounded.
Word of the incident spread quickly on Chesapeake's return to Norfolk, where the British squadron that included Leopard was provisioning. Mobs of angry citizens destroyed two hundred water casks destined for the squadron and nearly killed a British lieutenant before local authorities intervened. President Jefferson recalled all US warships from the Mediterranean and issued a proclamation: all British warships were banned from entering US ports and those already in port were to depart. The incident eventually led to the Embargo Act of 1807.
Chesapeake was completely unprepared to defend herself during the incident. None of her guns were primed for operation and the spar deck was filled with materials that were not properly stowed in the cargo hold. A court-martial was convened for Barron and Captain Gordon, as well as Lieutenant Hall of the Marines. Barron was found guilty of "neglecting on the probability of an engagement to clear his Ship for action" and suspended from the navy for five years. Gordon and Hall were privately reprimanded, and the ship's gunner was discharged from the navy.
USS Chesapeake (1799)