The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-10
Anniversaries.



On the tenth day OF September lsI3' forty
Years ago this morning, at few minutes De
t,ro 70 at noon. the first shot was fired IL
.,o hattie of Lake Erie. II was the trst &C
.;or in which an American feet had ever
hoo, engaged and the anxiety of the combat
ants was hardly greater than that Of the ma
lions which they represented. There had
hoen Glorious struggles between single yes.
sells but never between fleets. The Detroi.
n;tched the first 81 pound shot into the Law.
renee then distant about 1-2 miles. 1t is
well to recall those days Of peril and TO keep
green and blooming in our hearts, the mem
aries and the deeds Of oar older brothers, the
good and the brave of other times.
Forty wears ago this morning the struggle
commenced, and at IS minutes past two, in
the afternoon, Com. Perry gave the signal for
close action. He had been chasing the enc
nv for several days, after having by the
greatest exertions succeeded in getting his
vessels over the bar which extends across
Presque's Isle harbor, NOW called Erie, Pa
He had even to take the guns out OF ms nag
ship, the Lawrence, put massive hmoefs
through her forward and after ports, and raise
the vessel above feet by means of scows on
each side of her, in order to get over the bar,
which has even now not more than seven
feet of water uponit, and sometimes is dotted
with half 8 dozen schooners ashore at time.
Various feints and minor skirmishes ensued
between the time Of his liberation and the
eventful tenth. On that morning the enemys
squadron was discovered standing out from
the harbor of Maiden, Canada West, for
nerly Upper Canada near the head of Lake
Erie Perry got his fee! under way and got
clear of the small islands off and near San
dusky Bay, (Ohio,l before they approached.
His fleet consisted Of the Lawrence and Nj
agara, of 20 guns each, the Caledonia of 3,
the Ariel of 4, the Somers of 2, and 3 gun
boats of one each. The British force COM
prised the Detroit of p guns, the Queen
Charlotte of 1e, the Lady Provost of 10, the
Hunter of TO- the Little Belt of 3, and one
gun-boat. The action was terrific. The
wind falling, the Lawrence was exposed,
without support to almost the whole fire of
the British feet. Nearly all her crew were
killed or wounded, and at the end of two
hours, all her guns were dismounted. The
gallant Perry, undismayed, put off in small
boat through the midst of heavy fire of
musketry, and reached the Niagara, where
he renewed and continued the contest. The
Lawrence meanwhile struck her colors, but
the enemy just then had their hands too full
to take possession, and the flag was again
hoisted. In two hours the British feet sur
rendered, having sustained loss of Al killed
and "a wounded. The American loss was p
killed and 90 wounded. The news OF this
first great victory was hailed throughout the
country with rejoicing. The effects were i'm
mediatelv felt in the freedom from British
aggression, which was enjoyed along tht
whole Northwestern frontier. Capt. Perry, anc
Capt. Elliott, his next in command, received
each gold medal in honor OF their gallant
conduct. and rewards were bestowed upor
the officers and men generally
There was much dissatisfaction on the par
of Perry with Elliotts conduct in failing tt
bring the Niagara into action in the earl.
mart of the engagement. He thought tina
Elliott sought to jeopardise the safety of tn
Lawrence, in order that it might come int
action at later period, and win the laurel
which belonged to Perry himself. A ferc,
newspaper war was the result, and public
-oninion was much divided, but no man eve
called in question the bravery and skill o
Perry. His name stands high upon the lis
Of maritime heroes.
The tenth day of September then, is glo
rious one in our annals, and while we enjoy
the Astounding fruits of good government
and peace with all nations, secured by thu
former struggles of brave men, it cannot b.
amiss upon such an anniversary to look bach
upon the record of their deeds
Oliver Hazard Perry was born in 1895 al
Newport, 4. l., and served as midshipmar
through the Tripolitan war He had never
seen an action before that which gave hin
his wellearned fame. 1t was well said O
him by the vanqushed British Commodore
Barclay that the conduct of Perry towards
the captive, officers and men, was sufficien
of itselfto immortalize him He continued
in the service, and died of yellow fever
while in command of the T. S. ship Johl
Adams, on the 23d of August, 1920, as sh
was entering Port Spain, Trinidad