Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-07-23

moved the brave Commodore Barclay ho,
who had iolned in the shouts of victory in
the battles Of the Nile, aud Trafalgar, now
crest. fallen, and led captive, by the youthful
hero of Rhode Island on one side, aud Gen
ersl Harrison on the other.
But there is one incidpD, of the war which
seems to have been entirely overlooked, aud
yet is deserving Of notice as part OF It's
history. II is one too, which all Rhode Is
land should duly estimate. This State plumes
itself upon the victory Of the lake, as well u
may, since many of the officers and The men,
besides the commodore wero natives OF her
soil, yet they ought TO remember that but Tor
the aid Of General Harrison, that victory had
never been achieved. AT the time he visited
at Sandusky, before the battle, lie saw our
crews reduced and weakened by sickness.
On returning 10 his camp he selected and
sent TO our aid from his army large mum.
Der Of prime men, who mixed with our sat-
lors, and fought with them shoulder TO shonl-
der, like the bravcst of the brave. Commo-
dore Perry returned his thanks to General
Harrison, in q letter dated five days after the
battle, and which reads thus:
"Thc great assistance in the action OF the
10Th inst, derived from those men you were
pleased 10 send on board the squadron, rem
dcrs it duty TO return you my sincere
thanks for so timely u reinforcement. In
fact may say that ,oithom those men the pic
torn could mol hare been achieved, and equally
to assure you that those officers and men be-
haved as good soldiers and seamen. Those
under my immediate observation evinced
great ardor and bravery" and he might have
added, that they bled freely, since several OF
them were numbered among the killed and
wounded.
Il The importance of the victories gained by
Perry and Harrison TO the western frontier
can hardly be over rated. Within the short
space Of six months after tho declaration Of
war, three armies commanded by Hull, Van
Rensselaer, and Winchester, wcro used up
without so much as gaining single oot'hold
in Upper Canada, and the strong fortress at
Detroit taken by the enemy. On General
Harrison now devolvcd the protection OF the
whole frontier west of Buffalo. The enemy
were in possession Of the Lake, and could al
any moment surprise the infant settlements
on its shores, aud before succor could arrive
might pounce upon another nnd another.
Had Harrison advanced towards Detroit by
the head Of the Lake the enemy might land
troops in his rear and cut off his retreat.
The first blow then to be struck was 10 cap.
turc the enemy's feet, and Perry having
done this enabled Harrison to pursue and
capture the enemy which restored peace to
the border settlements Of far extended and
now populous frontier.
Such, my dear Sir, arc few OF the facts
and impressions which seem proper in rc-
ply to your note. More might be added, but
the page Of history abounds with them; and
il remains to he seen whether this long tried
and faithful servant, who has done more to
amo olorate the condition and promote the in
terests Of the Western States than any other
man living, and whose vslor in tho field has
shed lusrc on our national escutcheon, shall
receive The acknowledgements Of CRATE
ful people, or whether his fame shall be blot.
ted from memory's tablet, by the foul aspcr-
sons Of reckless demagogues and hirelings.
Yours, with great respect and esteem,
USHER PARSONS.
lion. AsHER ROBBINS.