Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-09-22
Gistorifal.
PERRY'S VICTORY on LAKE ERIE
BY j. T. HEADLEf.

opened to American navigation Captain
Perry was able to take some vessels bought
for the service from Black Rock into Lake
Erie. The lake at the time, was in pos
session of the British fleet, commanded
by Captain Barclay, and Perry ran great
hazard In encountering it before he could
reach Presque Isle, now Erie. where 9th
er vessels to compose his squadron had
been built. He, however, reached this
spacious harbor just as the English hove
IN sight Having now collected his whole
force. he made vigorous preparations to
get to sea. By the first of August he
was ready to set sail. bat the enemy Law
off the harbor, across the mouth of which
extended a bar, that he was afraid to cross
under heavy fire. To his great delight
however, the British feet suddenly disap
peared-Captain Barclay, not dreaming
that his adversary was ready to go to sea,
having gone to the Canada shore.
Perry was at this time mere youth
of twenty seven years of age, but ardent,
chivalrous. and full of energy and resource
From the time he arrived on the frontier
the winter previous, he had been unceas-
ing in his efforts to obtain and equip a
feet Materials had to be brought from
Pittsburg and Philadelphia, dragged hun
dreds of miles over bad roads and across
| unbridged streams But after his vessels
were ready for sea. he was destitute of
crews. To his repeated and urgent calls
for men only promises were returned, nor
did they arrive until the English had
been able to finish aud equip large yes
sci. the Detroit, which gave them decid-
J ,aI
/ ly anxious to attack the hostile fleet be-
fore it received this accession of strength
| but was prevented from doing this thro'
want of men; he was at last compelled to
abandon all his efforts. or take his chance
with his motley, unframed crew, in an ac-
ton where the superiority was manifest
| He boldly resolved on the latter course,
/ and taking advantage of Barclays sudden
/ departure. gave orders for the men to re-
pair Immediately on board the ship, aud
dropped with eight of his squadron down
the harbor to the bar 1t was Sabbath
morning, and young Perry impressed with
the issues to himself and his country from
the step he was about to take, sent his
boat ashore for a clergyman, requesting
him to hold religious services on board
his ship. All the officers Of the squadron
were assembled on the deck of the Law
! renee, and listened to an impressive ad-
dress on the duty they owed their coun-
try. Prayer was then offered for the sue
cess of our cause. Young Perry reverent-
ly listening to the voice OF prayer, as he is
going forth to battle. and young Macdon-
ough lifting his own voice in supplcation
to God, after his decks are cleared for
action, furnish striking and beautiful ex-
amples to naval men.
Next morning the water being smooth,
the guns of the Lawrence the largest yes
sci, were taken out and two scows placed
alongside and filled till they sunk to the
waters edge. Pieces of timber were then
run through the forward and after ports
of the vessel, and made fast by blocks to
the scows. All being ready the water was
pumped out of them and the vessel slow
ly 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. TIE
men worked all night to get this one brig
over. The schooners passed easily. al
moored outside. The Lawrence V as
scarcely once more afoat before the re
turning fleet hove in sight. Perry i.nme-
diately prepared for action. But Barclay.
after accommodating for hair an hour,
crowded all sail and disappeared again up
the lake. The next day Perry sailed in
pursuit, but after cruising a whole day
without finding the enemy. returned to
take in the requisite supplies. On the
18th of August he was about to start
again, when he received information of the
expected approach of party of seamen
under the command of Captain Elliotson
Waiting day or two to receive this well
come aid he set sail for Sandusky, to put
himself IL communication with General
Harrison and the northwestern army
He then, on the 25th, returned to Maiden
where the British feet 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 of the squadron. lie was
not able to leave his cabin till the early
part of September, when he received IN
additional reinforcement of hundred
volunteers. These troops came from Har-
rison's army, and were mostly Kentucky
militia and soldiers, from the 2Sth regi-
ment of infantry, and all volunteers for
the approaching battle. The kentucki-
ans, most of them, had never seen square
rigged vessel before, and wandered up and
down examining every room and part of
the ship without scruple. Dressed in their
fringed linsey-woolsey hunting shirts, with
their muskets in their hands, they made
as novel marine corps as ever trod the
deck of battle-ship.
On the morning Of the 10th of Septena-
Der, it was announced that the British
feet was coming out of Maiden. and Per
~ Immediately set sail to meet it His
squadron consisted of three brigs, the
Lawrence, Niagara, and Caledonia. the
Trippe, a sloop, and Ave schooners. carry
ing in all fifty four guns That of the
British was composed Of six vessels,
mounting sixty-three guns. It was a
beautiful morning, and the light breeze
scarcely ruffled the surface of the water
IS tho +ro Sofr2iro with, al sails sa-