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

when the wind unexpectedly shifted in
his favor. Captain Barclay, observing
this, Immediately hove to, and lying with
his topsalls aback, waited the approach of
his adversary. With all his canvass out.
Perry bore slowly and steadily down be-
fore the wind. The breeze was so slight
that he could scarcely make two miles an
hour The shore was lined with specta-
tors gazing on the exciting spectacle, and
watching with intense anxiety the move
ments of the American squadron. Not a
cloud dimmed the clear blue sky overhead
and the lake lay like mirror rejecting
its beauty and purity. Perry, in the Law
renee, led the line.
Taking out the flag. which had been pre-,
viously prepared, and mounting a gun
slide, he called the crew about him. and
SAID, "My brave lads, this flag contains
the last words of Captain Lawrence
Shall | hoist it F' SAY, ay, sir, was the
cheerful response. Up went the flag with
a WILL and as it swayed to the breeze, it
was greeted with loud cheers from the
deck. As the rest of the squadron beheld
that flag floating from the mainmast of
their commanders vessel, and saw "Don't
! give up the ship I" was to be the signal
for action, long loud cheer rolled down
the line. The excitement spread below
and all the sick that could move tumbled
up to aid in the approaching combat =
I Perry then visited every gan, having
word of encouragement for each captain
Seeing some of the gallant tars who had
served on board the Constitution, many
I of whom now stood with haudkerchiefs
! tod ranpl tbair bo. IL, oil al 81 4,
! ton, he said, well, boys are you ready 2"
"All ready, your honor" was the quick
response Il need not say anything to
you. You know how to beat those fell
lows" he added smilingly, as he passed
/ on.
The wind was so light that it took an
| hour and half, after all the preparations
had been made, to reach the hostile squad
ron. This long interval of idleness and sus-
pense was harder to bear than the battle
itself Every man stood silently watch
ing the enemy's vessels, or in low and ear
nest tones conversed with each other,
leaving requests and messages to friends
in case they fell. Perry gave his last di-
rection. in the event of his death to Ham
bleton-tied weights to his public papers
in order to have them ready to cast over
board if he should be defea ted-read over
his wife's letters for the last time, and
then tore them up, so that the enemy
should not see those records of the heart,
and turned away, remarking, This is the
most important day of my life" The Sc
robustness and silence that bad fallen on
the ship was at last broken by the blast
of a bugle that came ringing over the wa
ter from the Detroit, followed by cheers
from the whole British squadron. A sin
gle gun, whose shot went skipping past
the Lawrence, first uttered its stern chal-
lenge, and in few minutes all the large
guns of the enemy began to play on the
American feet. Being mile and a half
distant. Perry could not seeh his carronades,
and he was exposed to this fire for half an
hour before he could get within range
Steering straight for the Detroit, vessel
a fourth larger than his own, he gave or
ders to have the schooners that Jagged be-
hind close up within half cables length !
Those orders, the last be gave during the
battle, were passed by trumpet from YES /
sci to vessel The lightwind having near /
ly died away. the Lawrence suffered Sc
verely before she could get near enough |
to open with her carrornades She had /
scarcely taken her position before the fire |
of three vessels was directed upon her |
Enveioped in flame and smoke Perry /
strove desperately to mlintain his ground (
till the rest of the fleet could close, and /,
for two hours sustained without flinching !
this unequal contest. The balls crushed |
incessantly through the sides of the ship, /
dismounting the guns and strewing the |
deck with dead until at length, with ''ev- /
cry brace and bow line shot away" she |
lay an unmanageable wreck on the water /
But still through the smoke, as it went be- /
fore the heavy broadsdes, her colors were |
seen flying, and still cleaned forth in tue /.
sunlight that glorious motto-"D0n't gre /.
up the slip" Calm and unmoved at the /
slaughter around him and his own desper
ate position, Perry gave his orders tran
gully as though he was executing man
euver. Although his first battle, and un-
accustomed to scenes of carnage, his face
gave no token of the emotions that mas
tered him. Advancing to assist sailor
whose gun had got out Of order, he saw
the poor fellow struck from his side By
twenty four pound shot, and expire with
out groan. His second lieutenant fell
at his feet Lieutenant Brooks, a gay,
dashing officer, of extraordinary personal
beauty, while speaking cheerfully to him,
was dashed BIZ cannon ball to the other
side of she deck, and mangled in the most
frightful manner. His shrleks and i'm
ploring cries to Perry to kill him and end
his misery, were heard even above the
roar of the guns in every part of the ship
The dying who strewed the deck would
turn their eyes in mute inquiry upon their
youthful commander, as if to be told they
had done their duty. The living as
sweeping shot rent huge gaps in the ranks
of their companions. looked a moment in
to his face to read its expression, and
then stepped quietly into the places left
vacant
Lieutenant Yarnall. with red hand
kerchief tied round his head. and another
round his neck. to staunch the blood flow
Ing from two wounds. his nose swelled to