Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-01
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, From Harper's Magazine.
ERRY'S VICTORY
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* After the capture OF Forts I Ork ana
George, by which the river of Niagara was
opened to American navigation, Captain Per-
ry was able to take some vessels brought for
the service from Black Rock into lake Erie
The lake at the time was in possession of the
British feet, commanded by Captain Barclay,
and Perry ran great hazard in encountering it
before he could reach Presque Isle, now Erie,
where the other vessels to compose his squad
ron had been built.
He, however, reached this spacious harbor
just as the English hove in sight. Having
now collected his whole force he made vigor-
GUS preparations to get to sea. By the first of
August he was ready to sail, but the enemy
lay off the harbor across the mouth of which
extended bar, that he was afraid to cross un-
der heavy fire. To his great delight; howev-
er, the British fleet suddenly disappeared
Captain Barclay not dreaming that his adver-
sary was ready to go to sea, having gone to
Canada Shore Ao.
Perry was at this time a mere youth, of
twenty-seven years Of age, but ardent, chival-
rOus, and full of energy and resource. From
the time he arrived on the frontier, the winter
previous, he had been unceasing in his efforts
to equip ship. y. t.-r
Materials had to be brought from Pittsburg
and Philadelphia, dragged hundreds of miles
over bad roads and unbridged streams. But
after his vessels were ready for sea, he was
of t.
n 70 his repeated and urgent calls for men,
only promises were returned, nor did they ar
rive until the English had been able to finish
and equip a large vessel, the Detroit, which
gave them'a decided preponderance. Perry
was exceedingly anxious to attack the hostile
fleet before it received this accession of
strength, bnt prevented from doing this through
want of men, he was at last compelled to aban-
don all his efforts, or take his chance with his
motley, unframed crew, in an action where
the superiority was manifest .i
He boldly resolved on the latter course, and
taking advantage of Barclays sudden de-
parture, gave orders for his mon to repair inn
mediately on board ship, and dropped down
the harbor, TO the bar. 1t was Sabbath morn
ing, and young Perry, impressed with great
issues to himself and to his country, from the
step he was about to take, sent his boat ashore
for clergyman, requesting him to hold reli-
giOusl services on board his ship.
All the officers of the squadron were assem-
bled on the decks of the Lawrence, and lis
tened to an impressive address on the duty they
owed their country Prayer was then offered
for success of their cause. Young Perry lis
tened to the voice of prayer, as he is going
forth to battle, and young McDonough lifted
his own in snpplication to God after his decks
are cleared for action, furnish striking and
beautiful examples TO naval men.
Next mOrning the water being smooth, the
guns Of the Lawrence, the largest vessel, were
taken out, and two scows were placed along
side and filed till they sunk to the waters
edge. ..
Pieces of timber were then run through the
forward and after part Of the vessel, and made
fast by blocks to the scows. All being ready,
the water was pumped out of them, and the
vessel slowly rose over the bar. She stuck
fast, however, on the top, and the scows had to
be sunk again before she finally foated clear
and moved off into deep water. The men
worked all night to get this one brig over.
The schooners passed, and moored outside.
The Lawrence was scarcely once more afloat
before the retutning fleet hove in sight. Per-
ry Immediately prepared for action. But Bar
clay, after reconnoitering for half an hour,
crowded all sail and disappeared again up the
lake, The next day Perry sailed in pursuit,
but after cruising whole day without find
ing the enemy, returned to take in supplies
On the 18th of August he was about to start
again, when he received information ofthe ex-
pected approach of a party of seamen under
the command of Captain Eliot.
Waiting a day or two to receive this well
come aid, he set sail for SandusIy, to put
himself in communication with Gen. Harrison
and the northwestern army.
He then, on the 25th, returned to Maiden,
where the British fleet LAY, and going into
Putin Bay, haven in its vicinity, waited for
the enemy to come out. Here many of his
crew were taken sick with fever, which at last
seized him together with the three surgeons
ofithe squadron. r ai w li. 'asaa1 s.
He was not able to leave his cabin till the
early part Of September, when he received an
additional reinforcement of a hundred yolun-
teers. r-s,h ylG8thH ..De.il enr a tagioFn
These troops came from Harrison's army,
and were mostly Kentucky militia and sol
diers from the 2Sth regiment of infantry, and
allvolunteered for the approaching battle
The Kentuekians, most of them had never
seen a square-rigged vessel before, and wan
dered up and down examining every room anC
part Of the ship without scruple. e sl
Dressed in their fringe linsey-woolsy hunt
ing-shirts, with their muskets in their hands
they made as novel marine corps as evel
trod the deck of battle-ship. y,
On the morning Of the 10th of September, i
was announced that the British feet was com
ING out 6f Maiden, and Perry Immediately Sc
sail to meet it, His squadron consisted o
three briggs, the Lawrence, Niagara, Caledonia
the Triple, a sloop, and five schooners, car
rying in all fifty -four guns. .