Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-06-20


line" by passing to eastward, as did the
Caledonia, which, he tells us, "lollowcd
"the Niagara" TO Ieeward 7" Really,
this last evolution Of Lieut.. Turner's APP
pears TO as not merely "dashing, but
novel and original, according to the rep
resentation Of our author. In order, II
would seem, to gain the same point, viz.
"the head Of the enemy's line" the Nj
agara kept to windward Of the Lawrence
steering wesierly, and the Caledonia "foi-
iowed by keeping TO lreward steering
sasterly! IL this be so, we venture to
ASSERT that il is the only mode in which
MIR. Turner ever foiiomed Capt. Elliott,
either on that occcsion or any other.
But TO proceed with the narrative.
Our historian next relates that "Capf.
Perry, finding himself in vessel that
had been rendered useless by the injur'
les she had received, got into his boat
and pulled after the Niagara" and that
upon the arrival of the commodore on
board that vessel, Capt. Elliot: volun
teered To take his boat and hiring his
small vessels astern, which were already
briskly engaged, into closer action )"
and when tine had been given for them
to receive this order, Capt. Perry, hav
ing shown the signal from the Niagara
for close action, immediately bore up,
"under his foresail, top sails, and top
gallant sails" and, at n "critieal mo-
ment, came steadily down within half
pistol shot Of the enemy, standing be-
tween the Chippewa and Lady Provost"
two Of the lighter British vessels, son
one side, and the Detroit, Queen Char
lotte, and Hunter" his three heaviest
ships, con the other )" that, in passing
the Niagara "pourcd in her broadsides
larboard and starboard, ranged ahead oi
the heavier ships OF the enemy, "lutfed
athwart their bows, and continued de-
livering a close and deadly fire" until
they surrendered, and signal victory
had thus been obtained. (Nav Hist.
u. 5 v. 9, PIP. 394 81
Here we must once more have re-
course to in,erroga, cries, aud would fain
inquire how much nearer the head of
the British line Commodore Perry found
the Niagara, when he boarded her, than
she was when she "pnsscd to the west
ward to windward Of the Lawrence" IN
order, as MIR. Cooper tells us, TO reach
il !--nnd why Capt. Elliott, instead of
pursuing the course he steercd loi that
purpose, had not then resortcd to the
nanGuvre by which Captain Perry was
enabled to bring the Niagara into the
midst of the enemy, break his line and
decide the foliune of the day 4? We
must despair Of an answer to these ques-
,ions from MIR. Cooper, because he had
il in his power TO give one from an off |
ciai source, to which, as he has neglect
ed 10 avail himself of il, we shall bye.
and-bye resort. AT present, we must
notice the observations and comments Of
Mr.. Cooper upon tins gallant action and
its glorious results, which are quite az
curious as the narrative itself. lie in
troduces his own remarks by informing
US that Captain Perry was criticised al
the time. for the manner in which he
brought his squadron into action-it be-
ing thought he should have waited until
his line was more compactIy formed, and
his small vessels could have closed. p
(Nay. Hist. u. S. v. 9, p. 402.
Now although Mr.. Cooper himself
has said enough to show this objection
TO be so uniounded, as to render it un-
necessary for him to notice it-yet we
are by no means content to let its reIu-
tation rest on his answer alone, especial
Iy as we entertain a shrewd suspicion \
that the criticism owes its origin to Capt. |
Elliott himself. No doubt that officer
must have thought tie commodore ex-
tremeIy rash and precipitate, Gin tanning
down upon the enemy"--or he would
have followed him but we apprehend
that il the latter had "wai,ed" for the
Niagara to "close," and thus facilitated,
SO far as he was concerned, the opera
iion Of "forming the line mole compact
ly," he might never have brought the
British fleet to action at all. at has
been said" as Mr. Cooper takes care
to remind US, "that an officer seldom
went into action worse, or got out Of il
bctter"-but then he acknowledges that
Of the manner in which he redeemed his
error" even admitting that n fault was
made in the outset the united move
ments of the Niagara and the small ves-
sels, at the close of the action, having
been as judicious as they were gallant
and decisive and in the excess of his
candor our historian adds that "ihc per-
sonal department Of Capt. Perry through.
out the day was worthy Of all praise"
but as if apprehensive Of giving him
more than his due proportion he throws
in note to turn the scale more in favor
Of his friend. "Popular opinion" he
says, "which is too apt to confound dis
tinctions in such matters, usually attach
es the idea Of more gallantry to the mere
act Of passing in a boat from one vessel
to another during the action. This was
the least Of Capt. Perry's merits. Cap
tain Elliott was much longer in the same
boat, passing the whole line twice if no,
three times from the Caledonia to the
Nipper, in the height Of the engag oment.
"There was, no doubt" he observes,
"personal risk every where" Naval
Hist u S. v. 9, p. 402.)
We think, however, there arc two ex-
ceptioDs with which Mr.. Cooper might
have qualified his rcmnrk-.two places