The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-10-26
PERRY'S VICTORY.

E;rtracf of a letter from Naval Other
moT" az Erie to his friend in this citv, da.
TED TN Oct. 1918.
had been able should before now bav.
sent you some particulars of the action of
'he memorable 10th of Sept. As we have
not many letter writers in our squadron, the
pubic viii have to put np with the com
modore's " round unvarnished tale" which
however is very well told All the fault 7
ind with 1T is that he himself is too much in
the back ground. -
In no action fought this war has the con.
dnct OF the Commanding officer been so cfm.
! spicuous or so evidently decisive Of the fate
OF TIE batde, as in this. When he discover
Ell that nothing farther could be done with
the Lawrence, he wisely removed to the Nj.
aSard, and by one OF the boldest & most in
d'Gious manouvres ever practised decided
the Contest AT once Had the Niagara sh A.
! feo me tate of the Lawrence, il was his in
tentioH To nave removed to the next vessel
! ana 50 on as icng as one of his squadron
continued to hoat- The enemy saw him nut
on ano acknowledge that they fired a
oroadsIde at hun. With his usual gallantty
ne went OH standing up in the stern Of the
boat but the crew insisted on his sitting
| no"n. The enemy speak win admiration
oil the manner in which the Lawrence bore
down upon them. She continued her cour.e
80 iohS and so ob5tlnately, that they thoupht
we were going TO board them. Tbcy mad
sreat advantage IN having long guns. Ma.
ny OF our men were killed in the birth deck
ana In the steerage, after they were taken
oeiow TO be Observation-Disclosures Laub was
OF TINS number. One shot went through the
iight room, and knocked the snuff II the
candle INTO the maya zine-the gunner han.
Pened to see it Immediately and ext,n,.,;sh
ed Ii with his haud--two Shot passed MRS
| the mega2lne--two through the cabip-
three or four came into the ward rouno-
OUT oeheNe only one went quite THROUGH
ana that passed few inches over the snr
| geon's head as he sat in the cock bit. Our
snort gus lodged their Sd OF in the bulw
OF the Detroit where number of them
no" remain. Her bulwarks however wers
FastY superior to ours, being of oak * very
'hlck' Many OF their grape shot cau.e thr3
ours. They aoknowi, dye that they threw
combu'hoie matter on board Of US, which
'sst our sails and rigging on fire In several
PAGES am Clearly of opinion that thev
were better manned than we we're. J'he,
iau "uCh greater num1eI---they had We.
teran troops--ther men were ailweu We
had as motley crew as ever went into ac
uon, and our vessels looked like hospital
! ships.
Dufing the whole OF the action the most
complete order prevailed on board the Law
1
consusIon---as fast as the men were wound-
! co. they were taken below and replaced bv
others--the dead remained where thev feil
until the action was over. Capt. Perry ex.
hi6itcd that cool, collected, dignifed brave.
Try which these acquainted with him would
nave expected. His countcnance All lhe
"me was just as composed as if be had been
engaged ia ordinary duty. As soon as the
action was over, he gave all his attention =,
the securing OF the prisoners and 70 the
wounded on both sides. Capt. Barclay de-
| CJarso 70 one OF our of6cere, several dsg.
si'eI tbe action, that capt. Perry had done
n'nself immortal honor ny his humanitv q,
attention TO the wounded prisoners 80
action was fought on Ftiday--we oo, 80
nar'of next cay On Sunday all The oai
Sers on both sides, who tell, were buried ' 20
2oura Bs'S Island, at Put in Bay, viii ~ :
honors IF var. ""A 'HF
J AIN sorry to inform you thar m;isb;a
man |iAXton died Of his wound Ills roc. -
! ing. 'i'S H0.">
mere we're two Indian chieee 90
.he Dstroit. The 2d lieut. 81 5oa,,
,n~t IS soon as the action bzcaa'~ med -,
klGsy ran Relan. - ~SSaDta q no