Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-13
Resnnnse ofnr. Pnrsons.

f Z. OCOkEs W DdiiAASkYs 10 tisc bttcftItS ~ tAS
raT Of 1872; delirsred at the celebration Of
Perry's Victory al Putin Bay Sept. 10, 1858
Mr. President, and Citizens Of the Lake Shore ::
/ The survivors of the battle of Lake Erie here
/ present, have listened with intense interest to
I the eloquent address Just delivered, and thank
you most sincerely for the cordial reception you
/ have given to its kind and complimentary allu-
sions to our services.
Five and forty years ago we were here spec
taturs and participatOrs in the battle and now
/ in advanced age are invited to meet this vast
assemblage of patriotic citizens 60 celebrate the
victory gained BY our squadron. We have
come hither, my friends, TO honor the memory
of those who fell in that glorious conflict and
are sleep ng near where we are assembled. We
have come also 10 pay grateful tribute OF re-
spect 10 the memory OF Commodore Perry and
his associates in the battle, who have since
passed away in the ordinary course of human
II E. And you, patriotic citizens, have sought
out and invited here q little remnant of survl-
vUrs, 10 bless our eyes with the evidences Of
your prosperity and happiness, and TO warm our
hearts with tokens of assurance. that our tolls
and peril of life on that eventful day are not
| forgotten Would to God that more had been
spared to participate with US in these generous
demonstrations of gratitude and respect. But
they have passed away, and in a very briet pc
riOd of time no spectator will be left TO tell the
story of Perry's victory.
That victory, the gentleman has well re-
marked, derives a general interest from the fact
that it was the first Of our infant navy in fleet
or squadron. In eombats with single ships We
had humbled the pride of Great Britain. The
Guerriere, Java, and Macedonian had surrender
ed TO the american flag. But here, on these
waves, that nation was taught the useful lesson
that we can conquer them in squadron, and in
confirmation strong we in the following year
gave that nation another lesson to that same
purpOrt on Lake Champlain. But this victory
derives a particular interest from its bearing on
the war Of 1912, and from the relief 1t brought
to these shores in Wrestling the tomahawk and
scalping knife from savage hands; shielding
frontier of 800 miles from assaults and cOnfiR-
grations of a combined British and savage foe;
opening, as the gentleman has well said, the
gates of Maiden TO Gen. Harrison's army,
whereby it pursued and captured the only army
that was captured during the war (; and in re-
storing 70 US Detroit aud the free navigation of
the upper lakes
Ny friends, YOU have read and your fathers
have told you the story OF this victory. Yet the
interest YOU still manifest by coming here In
mulultudes, and By the sentiment lust offered,
well as by the expressed wish Of sOme pres
ent, 1t IS apparent that you wish aud expect the
story u be repeated, probably with the desire
tIaL yOu NAV hereafter relate II 10 your cnIl
dren rs coming from spectator OF the scene;
1 will tueref re give brief sketch Of the battle.
Not 10 deIain you with history OF the cou
sJructIOu and equipment Of the squadron, and
VI the many dith uities encountered, will sOm
meuce with our arrival here twenty iye days
"eiore the action, aud our cruising IN that time
Z and
JiOu near the latter place of a visit from Genera
Harrison aud suite, preparatory to an alta K on
Maiden.
Early in the morning of the 10th of Septem-
Der, 1918, while We lay at anchor IN this hay,
CRY came from mast head, "Sail h0!' All hands
ieaped from their berths, ana III few mInutrs
the cry was repeated until SIX sails were an
nouncej. Signal was made TO the squadron
Enemy IN sight-Gef under tray,' aud sOOn the
hoarse sound vf trumpets and the shrill pipe OF
boatswalns resounded throughout the squadron,
an hands up anchor al ~
Ia passing out OF tins bay, 1t was desirable
to 90 20 the left OF yoRder islet, but on being
notified By SAILING master Taylor that the wind
would not permit, the Commodore replied, go,
then, sir, to the right, Tor this day l am deter
mined to meet and fight the enemy :" At this
moment, however, tue wind changed in our IA
vOr, aud enabled US to 20 the left
There were nine American vessels carrying
ffty-fOur guns and 400 men, and SIX British
vessels carrying sixty three guns and 5ll men.
At the head Of our line was the Scorpion,
Mr. Champliu, and the Eria, Mr.. Packet; next
the flag ship Lawrence OF % guns, to engage
tine flag ship Detroit; the Gale ionia, Lieut. Tur-
ner, to fight the Hunter; the Niagara of 90 guns
TO fight the Queen Charlotte; and lastly, the
sav PT62o-t Of "a ,is d55s and and TIP to sght o the
guus Our fleet moved on IN straight line TO
attack the enemy, distant, at 10 O'Clock, about
five miles. The Commodore now produced the
burgee or fighting flag, hitherto concealed In the
ship. Ii was inscribed with large letters, legi
be throughout the squadron, Don't gre up The
Shpl'-the last words ofthe expiring Lawrence,
aud now to be hOisted Il the mast head of the
vessel bearing his name.
A spirited appeal was made to the crew and
up went the flag TO the iOre-royal, amid hearty
cheers repeated throughout the squadron, ani
the drums and fifes struck up the thrilling
sound, ' al hands TO guGTteTs!' The matches
or passage ways TO the decks were now closed,
excepting small aperture ten inches square,
through which light was admitted Into the sur
geon's room for receiving the wounded-the
floor of which was on a level with the surface
OF the lake, and consequently exposed them to
cannon balls as much as If they were on deck.
Every preparation being made, and every man
at his station, profound silence reigned more
than an hour-the most trying part OF the scene
II was like the stiffness that precedes the hurri
cane. The feet moved on steadily till quarter
before Il, when the awful suspense was re
lieved by shot aimed at US from the Detroit.
about one mile distant. Perry ordered Mr.
Champlin TO Try his heavy cannon, in order that
be might measure the distance, and then tried
one of his own gnns. He now made signal for
all vessels to engage their designated AM nagonists
at close quar'ers, and pressing his own ship
forward TO within good canister distance, he
opened a rapid and destructive fire upon the De-
troit. The Caledonia, Capt. Turner, followed
the Lawrence IN gallant style, and with the Ed
el, Mr. Packet, and the Scorpion, Mr. Champ
lin, fought Wy and effectively. The Niagara
being too far astern to grapple the Qleen, the
latter shot ahead to FIRE upon the Lawrence, |
and, with the Detroit, aimed their brOadsides |
exclusively upon that devoted ship, hoping md |
intending doubt 10 sink her, until at last they
made her complete wreck. But fortunately /
the Commodore escaped without injury, and |
stepping into boat with his fighting flag, push |
ed off for the Niagara, amid shower of cannon /
and musket ball, and reached that vessel IN
seathed He found her q fresh vessel with only |
two, or at most three persons injured, and i'm
medIstely sent her commander to hasten up the
small vessels.
The Lawrence nov dropt astern and hsuled
down her flag. Perry TUNED the -'iagara's
c Iurse towards the enemy, and crossing the
bows Of the Lawrence, bure down head foremost
10 the enrmys liue, determined TO break through
and take a raking position. The Detroit -
tempted TO turn IS " keep hsr bro .dslde TO
the Niagara, and avoid being raked; but, IN do
ing this she got entangled with the Queen,
which left 10 alternative uut to strike the culors
Of both ships. Perry now shot ahead near tue
Lady Provost, which, from being crippled in
ler rudder, had dritted out Of her place 70 the
eew2rj and was pressing forward toward the
head of the British line TO support the two ships.
Oue brOadsIde from the Niagara si.enced her