Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-01

ulSllSuTeu anu CONSIeu Will SOre, LnOVcu dlHiu
this terrific scene, the very genius Of havoc
and carnage. Approaching Perry, he told
him every officer in his division was killed.
Others were given him, but soon he returned
with the same dismal tidings. Perry then
told him he must get along by himself, as he
had no more to furnish him, and the gallant
man went back alone to his guns. Once more
only did the shadow of any emotion pass over
the countenance of this intrepid commander.
He had 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, stunned by the awful cannonading
and carnage around him, when he suddenly
fell. For moment Perry thought he too was
hammock, which cannon-ball had hurled
against him. , .-
At length every gun was dsmounted but
one, still Perry fought with that till at last it
also was knocked from the carriage. Out of
one hundred men, with whom few hours be-
fore he had gone into battle, only eighteen
stood up unwounded.y Looking through the
smoke he saw the Niagara, apparently un-
crippled, drifting out Of the battle. Leaping
into boat with his young brother, he said to
his remaining officer, If victory is to be
gained, will gain it, and standing erect, told
the sailors to give way with will The enc
my observed the, movement, and Immediately
directed their fire upon the boat. Oars were
splintered in the 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 swift
ly through the iron storm he reached the Nj
agara in safety, and as the survivors Of the
Lawrence saw him go up the vessels side,
they gave hearty cheer. Finding her sound
and whole, Perry backed his maintop sail, and
flung out his signal for close action. From
vessel to vessel the answering signal went up
in the sunlight, aud three cheers rang over the
water. He then gave his sails TO the wind,
and bore steadily down on the centre Of the
enemy's line. Reserving his fire as he ad-
vanced, he passed along through the hostile
fleet, within close pistol range, wrapt in flames
as he swept on. Delivering his broadsides
right and left, he spread horror and death
through the decks Of the Lady Provost
Rounding to as he passed the line, he laid his
vessel close to two Of the enemy's ships, and
poured in his rapid fire. The shrieks that
rang out of the Detroit were heard even above
the deafening carronade, while the crew Of
the Lady Provost. unable to stand fire, ran be-
low, leaving their wounded, stunned, and be-
wildered commander alone on deck leaning his
face on his hand, and gazing vacantly on the
passing Fship. The other American vessels
having come up, the action at once became
general. To the spectators from the shore,
the scene at this moment was indescribably
thrilling. Far out on the calm water, lay a
white cloud, from out whose tortured bosom
broke incessant flashes and thunder claps-the
loud echoes rolling heavily away over The
/ deep, and dying amid the silence aud solitude
Of the forest.
An action so close and murderons could not
last long, and it was soon apparent that victory
inclined 10 the Americans, for while the enc
my's fire sensibly slackened, the signal for
close action was still flying from the Niagara,
and from every American vessel the answering
signal iodted proudly in the wind. In fifteen
minutes from the time the first signal was made
the battle was over. A white handkerchief
waved from the tafTrail Of the Queen Charlotte,
announced the surrunder. The firing ceased !;
the smoke slowly cleared away revealing the
two fleets commingled, shattered, and torn,
and strewed with the dead The loss on each
side was hundred and thirty-fve killed and
| wounded. r o, la s4.r. .t G-5ttta l,
Perry having secured the prisoners, returned
TO the Lawrence, lying a wreck in the dis
tance, whittier she had helplessly drifted. She
bad struck her flag before she had closed with
the Niagara, but it was now flying again.
! Not word was spoken as he went over the
vessels side, a silent grasp Of the hand was
the only sign of recognition. for the deck
around was covered with dismembered limbs,
and brains while the bodies Of twenty officers
and men lay in ghsstly groups before him.
! AS the sun went down over the still lake,
his last beams looked on mournful spectacle
Those ships, stripped of their spars and can
vas, looked as if they had been swept BY hur-
ricane, while desolation covered their decks.
At twilight the seamen who had fallen on
board the American fleet, were committed 10
| the deep, and the solemn burial service of the
Episcopal Church read over them.
The uproar of the day had ceased, and deep
silence rested on the two squadrons, riding qu-
etly at anchor, broken only by the stifed groans
of the wounded, that were echoed from ship to
ship As Perry sat that night on the quarter
deck, conversing with his few remaining Off
GERS, while ever and anon the means Of his
brave comrades below were borne to his ear,
he was solemn and subdued. The exciting
scene through which he had safely passed
the heavy load taken from his heart-the re-
\ Aection that his own life had been spared, and
that his little brother was slumbering sweetly
and unhurt in his hammock beside him, awak-
ened emotions Of gratitude TO God; and he
gravely remarked, 4 believe that my wife 9
prayers have saved me- 94 ifiH tia a2"
\ 1t had been proud dav for him and as he