To the country at large the seizure of American seamen was much more serious than the loss of a few bags of flour or molasses. When a British ship in June 1807 attacked and disabled the USS Chesapeake and took many members of the crew, a wave of anger rose in which even the maritime interests became involved. This was an insult to the U.S. and its people Jefferson had chosen to go to war with England he would have had considerable support. Instead he decided to clamp an embargo on American trade. In New England reputations of wealthy shipowners were ruined, and a number of thriving little seaports suffered an economic depression from which few recovered. While the rest of the country remembered the Chesapeake affair and stored up anger against Britain, maritime New England directed its anger at Jefferson and his party.