The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-08-26

cd with blood, which still adhered to the |
plank, and cloths, brains, hair and frag-
ments of bones were still sticking to the rig
ging and sides. The surgeons were still
busy with the wounded-enough! horror
appalled, my senses.
Among the wounded were several brave
fellows, each of whom had lost leg or an
arm-they appeared cheerful and expressed
a wish that they had done their duty.
Rome and Sparta would have been proud
of these heroes!
1t would be invidious to particularize in
stances ofindividual merit, where every one
so nobly performed his part; of the sea-
men remaining unhurt at the time the Law
renee struck her flag, were Immediately
promoted for their unshaken frmness in
such irving situation. The most of these
had been in the actions with the Guerrero
and Java.
Every officer of the Lawrence, except the
commodore and his little brother, promi-
sing youth l3 years of age, were either
killed or wounded.
The efficacy of the gun boats was fully
proved in this action, and the sterns of all
the prizes bear ample testimony of the fact.
They took raking positions and CALLED the
enemy severely. The Lady Provost lost
IL men before either of the briggs fired
on her. Their fire was quick and pre-
else. Let us hear the enemy. The gen
eral order of General Adjutant Baynes, con-
tains the following words, ''his (Perry's)
numerous gun-boats, (four) which had pro-
we'd the greatest annoyance during the ac-
ton, were all uninjured."
The undaunted bravery of Admiral Bar
clay, entitled him to better fate; to the
loss of the day was superadded grievous
and dangerous wounds; he had before lost
an arm; it was now his hard fortune to lose
the use of the other, by shot which car
ried away the blade of his right shoulder;
canister shot made a violent confusion in
his hip; his wounds was for some days con-
sidered mortal. Every possible attention
was paid to I is situation. When commo-
dore Perry sailed for Bufalow he was so
far recovered that he took passage in our
fleet. The fleet touched at Erie. The
citizens saw the affecting spectacle of Har-
rison and Perry leading the wounded Brit
ish Hero, still unable to walk without help,
from the beach to their lodgings.
On board the Detroit twenty-four hours
after her surrender, were found snugly
slowed away in the hold two Indian Chiefs,
who had the courage to go on board at NAL
den, for the purpose Of acting as sharp
shooters to kill orr officers. One had the
courage to ascend into the round top and
discharge his piece, but the whzzing Of
shot, splinters and bits ofrigging, soon made
the place too warm for him-he descended
faster than he went up; at the moment he
reached the deck the fragments ofa sea-
mems head struck his comrades face and
covered it with blood and brains. He vo-
ciferated the savage interection 'QUoH!'
and both sought safety below.
The British officers had domestcated a
bear al Maiden. Bruin accompanied his
comrades to battle--was on the deck Of
the Detroit during the engagement and es-
capped unhurt.
The killed of both fleets were thrown
overheard as fast as they fell. Several
were washed ashore upon the island and
the main during the gales that succeeded
the action.
Commodore Perry treated the prisoners
with indulgence; several Canadians, hav-
ing wives at Maiden, were permitted to vis-
it their families on parole.
The British were superior in the length
and number of their guns, as well as in the
number of men. The American fleet was
manned with motely set Of beings, Euro
peans, Africans, Americans, from every
] U,I fo,,rtl