The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-08-02
Seleet afliseelanp.
From Harper's Magazine,l
PERRY'SVICTORY ON LAKE ERIE.

| AFTER the capture of the Forts York
and George, by which the river Niagara
was opened to navigation, Captain Per
ry was able to take some vessels brought
for the service from Black River to Lake
Erie. The lake at the time was in pos
session of the British feet, commanded
by Captain Barclay, and Perry ran a
hazard in encountering it before he
could reach. Presque Isle, now Erie,
where the other vessels to compose his
squadron had been built. ..-....
He,- however, reached this spacious
har Dor Just as the fleet hove in sight
Having now collected his whole force, he
| made vigorous preparation to get to sea-.
BY the first of August he was ready to
set sail, but the enemy lay off the har-
Dor, across the mouth of which extend
ed bar, that he was afraid to cross un-
der heavy fire. To his great delight,
however, the British feet suddenly dis
appeared-Captain Barclay not dream
ing that his adversary was ready to go
to sea, having gone over to the Canada
shore. 7-@-.Il ~, ;;,...-...-...--~ e.ff
4 Perry was at this time but mere
youth, of twenty-seven years of age, but
ardent, chivalric, and full of energy. and
resource. From the time be arrived on
the frontiers, the winter previous, he had
been unceasing In his efforts to obtain
and equip ship. -
Materials had to be brought from
Pittsburg and Philadelphia, dragged
over bad roads and unbridged streams.
But after the vessels were ready for sea,
he was destitute of crews and supplies.
To his repeated and urgent call for
men, only promises were returned, nor
did they arrive until the English had
been able to finish and equip large yes
sel-the Detroit-which gave them a
decided preponderance. Perry was ex-
ceediDgly anxious to attack the hostile
feet before it received this accession of
strength, but prevented from doing so
through want of men, he was at last COM
PEELED to abandon all his efforts, or to
take his chance with his motley, un-
trained crew, in an action where the su-
peri0rity was manifest.
He boldly resolved on the latter course,
and taking advantage of Barclays sud-
den departure, gave orders for his men
to repair Immediately on board ship,
and with eight of his squadron, dropped
down the harbor to the bar: It was
Sabbath morning, and young Perry, i'm
pressed with the great Issues to himself
and to his country, from the step he was
about to take, sent his boat ashore for a
clergyman, requesting him to hold reli-
gious services on board his ship.
The officers of the squadron were as
sembled on the decks of the st. Law
renee, and listened to an impressive ad-
dress on the duty they owed to their
country. Prayer was then offered for
the success of their cause. Young Per-
~ listening to the voice of prayer as he
is going forth to battle, and young Mac
donough lifting his own supplication to
God, as his deck is cleared for action,
furnish striking and beautiful examples
| of naval men. ~
| Next morning, the water being smooth,
the guns of the st. Lawrence the lar.
gest vessel, were taken out, and two
seows were placed alongside and filed
till they sunk to the waters edge.
Pieces of timber were then run thro'
the forward and after part of the vessel,
and made fast by blocks to the scows.-
All being ready, the water was pumped
out of, them, and the vessel slowly rose
over the bar. She stuck fast, however,