The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-08-02

l.
and strewd with the dead. The loss on
each side was 135 killed and wounded.
Perry having secured the prisoners
returned to the Lawrence, lying wreck
In the distance, whittier she had hope
lessly drifted. She had struck her flag
before she had closed with the Niagara,
but it was now flying again. Not a
word was spoken as he went over the
vessels side; silent grasp of the hand
was the only sign of recognition, for
the deck around was covered with dis
membered limbs and brains; while the
bodies of twenty officers and men lay
in ghastly groups before him. 7ai59t
| AS the sun went down over the still
la IS last beams looked on mourn
f1i spectacle. Those ships stripped of
their spars and canvas as if they. had
been.swept by hurricane, while desola-
tiop covered their decks. At twilight
the seamen who had fallen on board the
American feet were. committed to 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 squad
rons, riding quietly at anchor, broken
only by the stifled groans of the wound
ed, that were echoed from ship to ship.
As Perry sat that night on the quarter
deck of the Lawrence, conyersing with
his few remaining officers, while ever
and ahon the means of his brave COM
rades below were borne to his ear, he
was solemn and subdued The exciting
scene through which he had passed-the
reflection that his own life had been spar
| ed, and the consciousness that his little
brother was slumbering unhurt in his
hammock beside him, awakened emotions
of gratitude to God; and he grayely re-
marked, "I believe that my wife's pray
ers have saved me
1t had been proud day for him and
as be lay that night and thought what
change few hours had wrought in his
fortunes, feelings of exultation might
swell in his bosom. Such unshaken COM
posure, such gallant bearing-stern res
olution, and steadiness and tenacity of
purpose in young man of twenty-seven,
in his first battle, exhibit marvellous
strength of character, and one wonders
at him more than his success.
It was a great victory; and as the news
spread bonfres, illuminations the firing
of cannon, the shouts of excited multi
tudes announced the joy and exultation
of the nation. The gallant bearing of
Perry-his daring passage in an open
boat through the enemy's fire, tothe Nj
agara-the motto on his fag-the man
ner in which he carried his vessel alone
through the enemy's line then closed in
half pistol shot-his laconic account of
the EieteTy in a letter to- the Secretary
of the Navy" WE HAVE MET THE ENE-
MY, AND THEY ARE OURS" furnished end
less themes of discussion and eulogy, and
he suddenly found himself in the front
rank of heroes. .r-s
The day after the battle the funeral of
the officers of the feet took place. A
little opening on the margin of the bay,
wild and solitary spot, was selected as
the place of interment. It was a beau
tiful autumn day, not breath of air ruff
fled the surface of the lake, or moved
the still forest that fringed the lonely
clearing. The sun shone brightly down
on the new made graves, and not sound
disturbed the Sabbath stiffness that res
tedon theforest lake. The fallen officers,
each in his appropriate uniform, were
laid on platforms made to receive them,
and placed, with their hands across their
breasts, in the barges As these were
laid gently away, the boatsfell in behind
in long procession, and the whole swept
slowly, and sadly to the place of burial.
The flags dropped mournfully in the still
air, the dirge to which the oars kept time
rose and fell in solemn strain over the wa
ter, while minute guns from the various
vessels blended their impressive har-
mony with the scene. The day before
had been one of strife and carnage, but
those who had closed in mortal hate now
mourned like band of brothers for their
fallen leaders, and gathering together
around the place of burial, gazed last
farewell, and firing one volley over the
Hnameless graves, turned sadly away.
There, in that wild spot, with the sullen
waves to sing their perpetual dirge, they
slept the sleep of the brave. They had
fought calamity and it mattered not to
them the victory or the defeat, for they
had gone to that still land where human
strifes are forgotten, and the clamor of
battle never Genes.