Butte record., 1854-03-25
From Harr.er,. Mngszina
Fer7y'E Victory on Lake Erie.


and George By which the river Niagara
was open to navigation, Captain Perry
was able to take some vessels brought
for the service from Black River to Lake
Erie. The lake at the time was in
possession Of the British 1eet, command
ed by Captain Barclay, and Perry ran
great hazard IN encountering before he
could reach Presque Isle, now Erie,
where the ether vessels to compose his
squdTon had been built
He, however, reached this spacious
harbor just as the British feet hove In
sight. Having LON collected his whole
force, he made vigorous preparations to
get to sea. BY the FIRST Of August he
was ready to set sal, but the eneny lay
of the harbor, across the mouth of which
extended bar, that he was afraid TO
cross under heavy fire. To his great
delight, however, the British feet sud-
denly disappeared-Captain Barclay, not
dreaming that his adversary was ready 10
60 to sea, having gone over to the Cana
la shore.
Perry was at this time but mere
youth, Of twenty-seven years Of age,
but ardent, chivalric, and iull Of energy
and resource. From the time he ar
rived on the frontier, the winter preyi-
Gus, he had been INCREASING IA his efforts
to obtain ard eqaip a ship.
Materials had been brought from Pitts
hurgh and Philadelphia, dragged over
bad roads and unbriiged strealos. But
after the vessels were ready for sea, he
was destitute af crews snj supplies.
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
sel-the Darolt-whieh they gave a de-
eided preponderance. Perry was an
xious TO attack the hostile feet be
lore 1t reached bis accession OF streagth,
but prevented f ON doing SO through the
want Of men, be was al last compelled
10 abandon all bis efor 5, or take his
chance with his motley, unframed crew,
in an action where The superiority was
manifest
He boldly resolved on the latter course,
and taking adyadtage Of Barclays sud
den departure, gave orders for bis men
to repair Immediately on board ship, and
with eight Of his squadron, dropped
down the harher to the bar 1t was
Sabbath morning, and young Perry, i'm
pressed with the great issues to himself
and to his eountry, from the step be as
about TO take, sent his boat ashore for
clergyman, requesting him 10 hold reli-
gious services on board his ship.
The officers of tie squadron were as
sembled on the decks Of the ST Law
renee, and listened to an imeressive ad-
dress On the duty they owed to their
eou1try. Prayer was then offered for
the success Of their cause. Young Pei-
" listening to the voice of prayer, as be
IS going forth 10 battle, ana young Nae
donough lifting his own sapplications to
God, after lis decks were cleared for ac-
ton, furnish striking and beautiful ex-
amples OF naval men.
Next morning, the water being ,mooth,
the guns of the ST. Lawrence, the largest
vessel were taken out, and two scows
were placed along side aud filed till they
sunk TO the waters edge
Pieces of timber were then run
through the forward and after part Of the
vessel, and made fast by blocks to the
scows All being ready, the watar was
pumped out of them, and the vessel slow
! " rose over the bar. She stuck fast.
however, on the top, and the scows had
to be sunk again before she finally float
ed clear and moved off into deep water.
The men worked all night to get this
one brig over. The schooner passed
over easily, and moored outside. The
ST Lawrence was scarcely once more
afoat, before the returning feet hove in
sight Perry Immediately prepared for
action But Barely, afler reconnoit-
ering for half an hour, crowded all sail
and disappeared again up the lake. The
next day Perry sailed in pursuit, but af-
ter cruising a whole day without finding
the enemy, returned TO take in supplies
On the 18th of August he received in
formation, as he was about to start again,
of the expected approach of party of
seamen under the command of Captain
Elliott.
Waiting day or two to receive this
welcome aid, he set sail for Sandusky, to