Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-09-22

commander He bad brother on board
only twelve years old The little fellow
who had two balls pass through his hat.
and been struck with splinters. was still
standing by the side of his brother, stun.
ned by the awful carronading and carnage
around him when he suddenly fell For
moment Perry thought he too was gone.
but he bad only been knocked down by a
hammock, which cannon ball had hurled
at him
At length every gun was dismounted
but one, still Perry fought with that till
1t also was knocked from the carriage
Out OF the one hundred men with whom
a lew hours before he had gone into bat
tie, only eighteen stood up unwounded.-
Looking through the smoke he saw the
Niagara, apparently uncrippled, drifting
out OF the battle. Leaping into boat
with his young brother, he said to his re-
naming othcer, If a victory is to be gain
ed, Will gain it" and standing erect, told
the sailors to give way with will The
enemy observed the movement, and imme-
diately directed their fire upon the boat
Oars were splintered in TIE rowers' hands
by musket balls, and the men themselves
covered with spray from the round shot
and grape that smote the water on every
side Passing swiftly through the iron
storm he reached the Niagara in safety.
and as the survivors of the Lawrence saw
INN go up the vessels side, they gave a
hearty cheer. Finding her sound and
whole, Perry backed his maintop sail. and
tung out his signal for close action. From
vessel to vessel the answering signal went
up IN the sunlight, and three cheers rang
over the water. He then gave his sails
to the wind, and bore steadily down on
the center OF the enemy's line. Reservinr
his lire as he advanced he passed alone
through the hostile fleet, within close pis-
tol range, wrapt in flame as he swept on.
Delivering his broadsides right and left.
be spread horror and death through the
decks of the Detroit and Lady Provost.
rounding to as he passed the line, he laid
his vessel close to two Of the enemy's ships,
and poured in lis rapid fire The shrieks
that rang from the Detroit were heard
even above the deafening carronade while
the crew of the Lady Provost. unable to
stand the fire ran below, leaving their
wounded, stunned, and bewildered com
mander alone on deck, leaning his face on
his hand, and gazing vacantly on the pass
ing ship. The other American vessels
having come up, the action al once became
general, To the spectators from the shore.
the scene at this moment was in6escrib-
ably thrilling Far out on the calm wa
ter lay Il white cloud, from out whose tor
turcd bosom broke incessant flashes
and thunder caps-the loud echoes roll
ing heavily away over the deep, and dy-
ing amid the solitude ana silence of the
forest
An action so close and murdeTous could
not last long, and it was soon apparent
that victory inclined to the Americans.
for while the enemy's fire sensibly slack
ened, the signal for close action was still
dying from the Niagara, and from every
American vessel the answering signal float
ed proudly IN the wind In fifteen min
ltes from the time the first signal was
made the battle was over a white hand
lerchlef waving from the taffrail of the
queen Charlotte announced the surren-
Ter, The firing ceased the smoke slow
y cleared away, revealing the two fleets
shattered and torn. and
'trewed with dead The loss on each side
vas hundred and thirty-fve killed and
wounded
Perry having secured the prisoners, re
urned to the Lawrence, living a wreck in
he distance, whittier she had helplesslv
irlfted. She had struck her flag before
lie closed with the Niagara. but it was now
lying again. Not word was spoken as
le went over the vessels side; silent
5rasp of the hand was the only recogni- /
ion, for the deck around was covered with /
iIsmembered limbs and brains while the |
bodies of twenty officers and men lay in |
CHASTITY groups before him
As the sun went down over the still /
axe, his last beams looked on a mournful !
pectacle. Those ships, stripped of their
pars and canvass, looked as if they had |
been swept by hurricane, while desola-
ion covered their decks At twilight the |
'eamen who had fallen on board the Amer
can fleet were committed TO the deep. and |
he solemn burial service of the Episcopal |
Church read over them
The uproar of ;he day had ceased, and |
leep silence rested on the two squadrons. /
riding quietly at anchor, broken only by |
he stlfed groans of the wounded, that !
we're echoed from ship to ship. As Per
y sat that night on the quarter deck of |
he Lawrence, conversing with his few re
officers. while ever and anon the /
noans of his brave comrades were borne
% his ear, he was solemn and subdued =
The exciting scene through which he had /.
safel J passed-the reflection that his own /
ife had been spared, and the conscious
ness that his little brother was slumberinr /
'weetly and unhurt ii the hammock be /
side him, awakened emotions of gratitude /
20 God; and be gravely remarked, Il be- |
ieve that my wife's prayers have saved /
nen
1t had been proud day for him and
Is he lay that night and thought what a
change few hours wrought in his fortunes. |
feelings of exultation might well swell his
bosom. Such unshaken composure-such !
gallant bearlng-stern resolution, and
steadlness and tenacity o. purpose in
young man Of twenty-seven, in his first
battle, exhibits q marvellous strength of
and one wonders more at him, !