Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-23
Chapter from an unpublished Manuscript.
BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE; THE CIT,


AND CLEVELAND.
Perhaps no event of either ancient or
modern times ever created more vivid
sensation than Perry's victory on the lake.
| well remember how it burst upon us, wa
king up the dormant energies of the peo-
pie, who had been much dispirited by the
previous i'll success of the war. Ii is fresh
in my recollection, that rot face could be
seen, that was not lighted upby smile,
nor was there heart that did not beat with
an enthusiastic fervor for the Hero, who
had achieved for his country avictory new
er to be forgotten, while the waters of Erie
shall be poured forth on their way TO the en-
circling ocean by the mighty cataract of
Niagara.
remember some Of the many prophe-
cies that were then made: that when towns
and cities should brighten where then ex.
tended the dark and tangled forests and
when ports should spread their arms and
lofty barks should ride, where then the ca
noe was tied to the stake. When the pre-
sent age should have grown into venerable
antiquity, and the mists Of fable begin to
gather round its history; then would the
people look back at this battle rs one
of the romantic achievements Of the days of
yore.
How little was then anticipated of the fu-
ture destinies of the inland seas, and then
surrounding borders, for 10! but little more
than twenty years have elapsed, and alrea-
dy we behold "towns and cities brighten"
where the dark and tangled forests, afford
ed shelter to the widest savage and the
beast of prey. will not speak Of Buffalo,
that city speaks trumpet tongued for herself.
Wholly destroyed by the enemy in 1913,
she has, Phoenix like, arisen in her splen-
dor from population of five hundred, to
one of eighteen thousand and now rivals
many of her sister cities on the Atlantic
border. But must devote q considerable
part of this chapter to the town of ERIE, in
Pennsylvania, which, it is decreed is soon
to become to that state, what Buffalo is to
New York. The beautiful town of Erie,
from whence was fitted out the fleet that
has rendered the name of Perry immortal,
cannot much longer be kept from her high
destiny.
Situate on the Bay of Presquile, nearly
equi.distant from Buffalo and Cleveland,
she far surpasses either in many of those
natural advantages, which, though somewhat
later in their development, never fail C.
ventually to excel all that art can accom-
plish. There is not perhaps in the world q
more spacious, safe, and convenient harbor
than that of Erie. The peninsula of Pres
guile is an arm of the main land thrown
around and enclosing sheet of water
| eight miles in extent, having an average
depth of from eighteen to twenty four feet
clear of all low ground and marshes of any
kind. The natural entrance is from the
east, but there is also an artificial one in
progress from the west, both of which are
and will be protected by piers, breakwaters
and embankments erected and in progress
of erection by the general government, who
recognize in that splendid harbor the
only place on the lake sufficiently safe ant
extensive for great commercial and nava
marine.
The town is most pleasantly and pictu
resquely situated on a bank about fifty fee
above the level of the lake, and gradual,
rising by an activity which is so gentle a
scarcely to be perceptible. 1t is the sea
Of the county of the same name, has nov
q population of about three thousand souls
which is rapidly increasing, and which mus
continue to increase in geometrical series
for no place can be more healthy. being en-
tirely free from febrile diseases, which resu
fromthe miasma Of low ndmarshy ground
located in their vicinity, or from the decom
position of the vegetable substances wit
which many of the streams are loaded tina
empty into the lake, and which throw Of
exhalations highly deleterious. Wherea
the streams of the county of Erie and tn
neighborhood of the town are famous 70
the purity of their waters and their rapi
descents, which afford abundant water pr
vieges for manufacturing purposes, man
of which are in active operation within
circuit of few miles.
The county of Erie at present contain
a thrifty population of about thirty thous
and, who are industrious and enterprisins
and in favor of internal Improvement
properly conducted banks, and all othe
modern inventions for facilitating trade
The town cont aims many public building
four or five churches for Episcopalian
Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, &'
With an academy, female seminar,
, court house, county Office, and count
prison.
But that which renders this place SO "
) ry deserving the attention of men Of en:e
prise, is the concentration of so many in
portant communications, and a local
which makes it the nearest point OF COMM
8 nication, between the Atlantic cities,
Q well as the Ohio river and the lake.
$ 1t is distant ninety miles from Buffal
a one hundred and three from Clevclan
three hundred and seventeen from Detro
J. one hundred and twenty from Pittsbur
h three hundred and seventeen from Bal
" more, three hundred and eighty from Ph
o adelphia, and four hundred seventy.fi
!. from New York, and to all these plac
o there now exists, or are under contract in
state of forwardncss, the most improve
IS modes of conveyance by rail roads, cana
or steamboat navigations as frequent al
as rapid as from any other town on the sho
Is of the lake. =.
Of The great Pennsylvania canal WIN
,e connects Philadelphia and Piitsburg W
m the lake, terminates at this point, this gra
improvement will require little more thar
4. wear for its completion. Those who rec
$. jcct the magical and prosperous effect up
8. the town Of Buffalo, by the opening of