Commodore Oliver Perry's Flag
During the War of 1812, Captain James Lawrence's dying words were, "Don't give up the ship." He was commanding the USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812 on June 1, 1813. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry made this his battle cry when he fought the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. He hoisted the flag with the words “DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP” (apostrophe not included in DONT) on 12 October 1813. The flag is preserved at the US Naval Academy Museum.
More information is at go.navyonline.com/blog/dont-give-up-the-ship and the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial at www.nps.gov/pevi/learn/historyculture/battle_erie_detail.htm.
