The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-09-28
A GLORIOUS VICTORY

Gl.ONlOOS VIZ lONt
Has been achieved by the gallant PERRY
on lake Erie. Our readers will bear us wit
ness how highly we have appreciated the
valor and skill recently displayed by our
Sons of the Ocean in their several encoun-
tiers with an arrogaat enemy OIL its broad eX
parse and will not accuse us OF injustice
to tn ir merits, when we say that this victo-
ry, IN its present magnitude aud future con-
sequences, will prove to have been tie most
important event which has occurred since
the commencement of the war.
Its present Importance is So great as not
to be readily appreciated a. first view.-
We had learnt, from the pablo prints, pre-
vious to the rcncontre that the new ship
which had been built at Maiden was nearly
ready for sea we knew that the addition
of this ship to the British fleet would give it
a decided superiority of force on the Lake );
we knew too that cur fleet was short of me H.
We knew indeed the gallant daring of a
merican tars but we feared that very spi-
rit would operate against US, as it would
prompt our fleet to seek the foe, even un-
der cisadvantageous circumstances. We
knew also that the BriSons were safe under
the guns OF their fort at Maiden, and would
Mt venture out without moral certainty OF
success. We looked with anxiety to Tie
meeting of the two fleets where so much
was az hazard, where such harvest of Clio
ry was TO be reaped or great disa ster to
ensue 10 one or the ether. Bat they have
met ana the most decisive aud fortunate
victory which ever graced the annals of any
patton, has crowned a good cause with the
most brilliant success. We have no part.
Culars of The manner in which the action
commenced, e its duration, or of the mum.
Der OF The killed and wounded. Bat We
have the dazzling, the astonishing fact, that
Heet inferior in force, inferior in number
OF men, has not only O0ngttished but cat
fuFed EVERY VESSEL Of the fleet of a s,ron
ger antagonist. The pages of history, we
repeat do not afford a parallel case. Gun
to qua, and man to man, our tars have al
ready conquered the hag Of that nation
which had before been considered as irwin
cible. Now, feet 10 feet, we have for the
first time beat them-and we must be ex
cused tor INDUCING in more than usual tri
umph ar so gratifying result.
The consequences which will certainly re
suit .ro;n this event, are not less cause o
ccngratuation, than the lustre which i
she is on cur arms. The possession of Lake
Erie Le!og secured beyond redemption, some
Of the lighter vessels OF the feet will doubt
less be detached to pass through the rive,
St. Clair, scour Lake Hur n, and break W
at once the nest vt internal butchers, who's,
agency has precpitated the savages on GU
unc ding frontier. The channels of com
muy iCa i n with the Indians i'll be en,irel,
Cot oil and those deluded wretches, ALREADY
disguised with 'he IA lure of the British arn.
at L 1T Meigs and Sandusky, will abandon
them and retire to their fastnesses, or villa
we rather depreca'e han desire, retail are O
their tutors the horrid barbarities of which
they have been guilty towards us. Havins
complete possession of the Lake, our mill
tary forces will pass without opposition T.
Maiden, where certain victory awaits them
Upper Canada will be overrun in a few
weeks, and we now hope al the expence O
little or nc b!o0dshed These are a few o
the ply effects which will certainly re
suit from this brilliant affair.
is moral consequence cannot but be high
ly auspcOus to the future SUCCESS of our in
fans Navy. The charm of British naval in
yincibilty is destroyed. We have met IN,
enemy fleet to .fcet on worse than equa
terms, and we have conquered them NOR,
decisivey than ever they vanquished rhei
enemies.
IL would be great injustice to omit this op
Pc tuuity Of giving that credit to the Nava
Department which il so well deserves fol
ITS interchangeable eXertions in preparing ma
val force On the lakes. Not long ago ;ht
British flag fioated trinmphantly over boti
Lakes, and bid defiance to cur arms. A few
short months have passed-and on two q
the Lakes the fleets Of the enemy trust t;
the winds for safety In their fight. and al
the third another feet has fallen into ,ht
hands Of our victorious tars. This naket
fact proves, more loudly than any encumi
I'm we could bestow, the correctness Of tn,
administration OF our naval affairs.
Nat. Int