Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-21
PERRY'S VICTORY

8fHdcf ~ letter from q naudi officer nouy az
Ere, to his friend an Washingt0a CIiy, dated
7th Der 1913.
Had l been able, should before now have
sent you some particulars of the action of the
memorable 10th of September. AS we have
not many letter writer's in our squadron, the
public Will have TO put up with the Commo.
dore's "round unvarnished tale" which how
ever Is very well told All the fault find with
1t IS That he himself is too much in the back
ground
In no action fought this war has the conduct
or the commanding officer been SO conspicuous
OF SO evidently decisive ofthe fate of tie ba =.
tie, IS IN this. When he discovered that no
thihg iurther could be done in the Lawrence,
ne wisely removed TO the Niagara, and by one
oi ne boldeSt and most adicious maneuyres
ever practIsed, decided the contest at once
Had the Niagara shared the fate of tn i.awA
renee, 1t was his intention to have,Femoved to
the next best vessel, and so on IS long as one
o. his squadroD Continued TO Ruat, The eng
my saw him put off, and acknowiedEe thar t1ey
hled ! broadside at hin With his usual gal.
lsntry, he went Oft standing up in the stern of
the boat but the crew insisted on his sitting
Gown. q
The enemy speak. with admiration of the
manner IN which TIE Lawfencebore down up-
on them She cgstinued her course so long
and SO obstinateiy that they thought we were
6O"E w DOoio tAOh tltl ndu great adv IA.
fAso III having long guns. Many of our men
were Killed on the birth deck and IN the steer.
age, after they were taken mellow TO be dressed
--midshipman Lsub was ofthis number One
shot Went through the light room, and knock
ed the snuff OF the candle into the magazine
che gunner Happened O &C. IL immediatelv and
exon. uisbed 1t with his hand two through
tt'is Nabin three or tour Came INTO the ward
room--oul beneve only ne went through, and
hat fts.l 4.fieu ks.tly n..ls ..l.-
head rs he satin the cockpit. Our short guns
LOGGED their shot III the bulwarks OF the De /.
troI where numbered them now remain
be- buiwarks were vastly superior to ours
be o. oak anu very thick Many of their
g. shot came through ours They acknowl-
eose tnat they llircw combustlbie matter on
board Oi US, V tIch set our sails and rigging ON
he IN several places am clearly Of option
1hat 'lsy were Det,er manned than we were.
III! i,'d much greater number--.hey had
vetei IN troops-then men were all we'll. We
b. motley crew as ever went into action
an Our vessels looked Ike hospital ships
DDlDS the whole OF the action. the mos;
complete order prevailed on board tie Law.
rence--there was no noise, no hustle, no con.
fusio'i---as ias as tie men were woun ed they
were taken below and replaced by others--tRe
dead remained wbeA they fell until the ac,ion
was over. Capt. Perry exhibited that cooi.
collected, dignified bravery which tnOse ac
qaainted witb him would ave expected.-His
countelian & ali The tIIe was Just as composed
rs a he mad been engaged ~ ordinary outy. As
soon rs the action was over ne gave all h at
tention to Tie securing the prisoners aud to
the wounded on both siFes. Capt Barclay de-
clared TO one OF officers, several DAYS after
the acton, that capt Perry had kne himself
iIfifhortai honor oyhis humanity aR attention
TO the wounded prisoners. The action was
fouy ut on Frday--we got into harbor next day
Or sunday all the officers on both sides. WHO
fell, were buried on SOsth Bass Island, at Pot
in BY, with the honors OF war.
lam sorry to inform you that midshipman
Claxian died OF las "Oand this mo- ning.
Thers we're TWO Indian chids on board the
D1uoit The - leu' enant informed me that
ke,ew.