Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-04-07

came down and told him that they must
strike, as their ships were cut to pieces
and the men could not keep to their guns
Commodore Barclay was then carried on
deck, and after taking view of their situa-
ton, and finding all chance of success was
over, reluctantly gave orders to strike.
We have thus endeavouFed to lay before
our readers as clear an account of this im-
portant battle as could be gathered from
the scanty documents which have reached
US though sketched out, we are sensible,
with hand but little skilled in naval af-
fairs The leading facts, however, are all
that landsman can be expected to furnish,
and we trust that this glorious affair will
hereafter be recorded with more elaborate
care and technical precision. There is,
however, distinctness of character about
a naval victory, that meets the capacity of
every mind. There is such simple unity
in it j; it is so we'll defined; so complete
within itself; SO rounded by space ; SO free
from those intricacies and numerous parts
that perplex US in an action on land, that
the meanest intellect can fully grasp and
comprehend it. And them too, the results
are SO apparent; victory on land is liable
to thousand misrepresentation; retreat
is often called falling back, and abandon
ing the field called taking a new position;
so that the conqueror is often defrauded of
half the credit of his victory; but the cap
ture or destruction of ship is not to be
mistaken, and a squadron towed trium-
phantly into port, is notorious fact that
admits of no contradiction
In this battle, we trust, incontrovertible
proof is given. if such proof were really
wanted, that the success of our navy does
not arise from chance or superiority of
force; but from the cool deliberate coura ge,
the intelligent minds and naval skill of our
officers, the spirit of our seamen, and the
excellent discipline of our ships; from prin-
ciples, in short, which must insure fire.
quency of prosperous results, and give per-
manency to the reputation we have acquir-
red. We have been rapidly adding trophy
to trophy, and successfully driving the e.
nemy from every excuse in which he sought
to shelter himself from the humiliation of
defeat; and after having perfectly establish
ed our capability of fighting and conquer
ing in single ships, we have now gone fur
Their, and shewn that it is possible for us
to face the foe in squadron, and vanquish
In casting our eyes over the details of
this engagement, we are struck with the
prominent part which the commander takes
in the contest We realise in his dauntless
exposure and individual proves, what we
have read in heroic story, of the warrior,
streaming like meteor through the fight.
and working wonders with bis single arm
The fate of the combat seemed to rest up
on his sword he was the master spirit
mat directed the storm of battle. moving
amid flames, and smoke. and death, and
wherever the struggle was most
desperate and deadly. After sustaining in
The Lawrence the whole blaze of the enc
my's canonry: after fighting until all around
him was wreck and carnage; we behold
him, looking forth from his shattered deck,
with unrufled countenance on the direful
perils that environed him, calculating with
wary eye the chances of the battle, and
launching forth on the bosom of
the deep to shift his flag on board another
ship, then in the hottest of the action
This was one Of those master strokes by
which great events are achieved, and great
characters stamped, as it were, at sin
gle blow-which bespeak the rare combi-
nation OF the genius to conceive, the prompt
to decide, and the boldness to execute
Most commanders have such glorious chan
ces for renown,. some time or another,
within their reach but it requires the nerve
of hero to grasp the perilous opportuni-
ty. We behold Perry following up his dar-
ing movements with sustained energy-dash-
ing into the squadron of the enemy-break-
ing their line-raking their starboard
and larboard-and in this brilliant style a
a consummate victory.
But if we admire his presence of mind
and dauntless valor in the hour of danger,
we are no less delighted with his modes
ty and self command amidst the flush of
triumph. A courageous heart may carry
a man Stoutly through the battle, but it
argues some strong qualities of head to drain
unmoved the intoxicating cup of victory