Butte record., 1854-03-25

fantrF, ana all volunteered Tor the ag-
preaching battle The Kentuckians.
most of them had never seen a squire
rugged vessel before, and wandered IN
and down, examining every part OF the
ship without senple.
Dressed in their fringe, linsey-wooIsy
hunting frocks, with their muskets in
their hands. they made as novel a marine
corps as ever trod the decks Of battlsship.
On the morning Of the l0sh Of Sep
tember ii was announced that the Brit
ISL feet was coming eut of Maiden, and
Perry Immediately SCI sale to meet it
Ills squadron consisted Of three bries.
the Lawrene, Nfrgara, Calsdoaia, and
Trlppls, sloep, and FIVE schooners, car
ryng in al fifty-four gunz.
That OF the British was composed Of
six vessels, mounting sixty-three guns.
II was a beautiful morning, and the
light breeze scarcely rufhed the surface
of the water as the Two sqnadrons, with
all sails set, slowly approached each 9TH
er- The weather gage at first was with
the enemy, but Perry, impatient to close,
r solved to wave his advantage, and kept
standing on, when the wind unexpected
ly shifted in his favor Captain Bar
clay, observing this, immediately hove
10, and laying with his top sail aback,
awaited the approach Ct his adversary.
With all his canvas, ont, Perry bore
slowly and steadily down before the
Wind. The breeze was so light that he
scarcely made two miles an hour.
The shore was lined with spectators
gazing on the exciting spectacle, and
watching with intense anxiety the move
mauts Of the American squadron. Not
a cloud dimmed the clear blue overhead,
and the lake lay Ike a mirror rejecting
upon It's beauty and purity Perry IN
the lawrence led the line.
Taking out the flag which had been
previously prepared, and mounting the
gun-slide called bis crew about him, and
said, my brave lads, this Aag contains
the last words Of Captain Lawrence =
Shall l hoist il - 'Ay, az, sir," was
the cheerful response. Up went the
aag with a viii, and as it swayed to the
breeze it was greeted with loud cheers
from the deck. As the rest Of The
squadron beheld that fag floating from
the mainmast Of their commanders res>
sci, and saw "don't give up the ship :"
was to be the signal for action, long
loud cheer rolled down the line.
The excitement spreat below, and all
the sick that could move tanlbled up to
aid IN the approaching combat.
Perry then visited every gun, having
a word Of encouragement for each cap
tain Seeing some Of the gallant tars
who had served Oh board the Cousfitutson.
many Of whom now stood with handker-
chiefs tied around their heads, ali clear
for action, he said, 'Well boys, are you
ready :" 'All ready, your honor, . was
the quick response.
II need not say anything to YOU
You know how to beat those fellows, .
be added smilingly as he passed.
The wind Was so light that it took an
hour and half after all preparations had
been made to reach the hostile squadron.
THIS long interval of idleness and sus-
pense was harder TO bear than the bat
tie itself Every man was silently
watching the enemy's vessel, or In low
and earnest conversation with each 9TH
er, leaving requests and messages to
friends, in case they fell
Perry gave his last direction in the
event Of his death, to II mbleton-tied
weights to his public papers, in order to
have them ready to cast overheard in
case they should be defeated-read over
his wife's letters for tie last time. and
then tore them up, SO that the enemy
should not see those records OF the heart.
and turned away, remarkine, this IS the
most important day Of mg kfe" The
deep seriousness and silence which had
fallen on the ship was broken BY the
blast Of bugle from the Detroit, fol-
lowed by cheers from the whole British
squadron. A single gun, whose shot
went skipping past the Laurence, first
uttering its stern challenge, and in a
few moments all the long guns Of the
feet began to play upon the American
squadron Being a mile and half dis
tant, Perry could not use his carronades.
and he was exposed to this FIRE for half
an hour before he could get in range
Steering straight for the Detroit, fourth
larger than his own, gave orders to the