The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-04-27

making eighty-three killed and wounded
out of 101 reported fit for duty in the
Lawrence on the morning Of the battle.
On board the Niagara were two killed,
and twcnty-threc wounded, making twenty
five, and of these, twenty-five were killed
or wounded after Perry took command Of
her.
About four o'clock boat was discov-
cred approaching the Lawrence. Soon
the Commodore was recognized in her,
who was returning to resume the command
OF his tattcred ship, determined that the
remnant Of her crew should have the priv
ilege Of witnessing the formal surrender of
the British officers. 1t was time of con-
ficting emotions when he stepped upon
the deck. The battle was won, and he
was safe, but the deck was slippery with
blood, and strewed with the bodies of
twenty officers and men, some of whom
sat at the table with us at our last meal,
and the ship resoundcd with the groans of
the wounded. Those of us who were
spared and able to walk, met him at the
gangway to welcome him on board, but
the salutation was silent one on both
sides-not word could find utterance.
And now the British officers arrived, one
from each vessel, to tender their submis-
sion, and with it their swords. When
they approached, picking their way among
the wreck and carnage of the deck with
their hits towards Perry. they rendered
them to his acceptance With dignifed
and solemn air, and with a low tone of
voice, be requested them to retain their
side arms, inquired with deep concern
for Commodore Barclay and the wounded
officers, rendering to them every comfort
his ship afforded, and expressing his regret
that he had not spare medical officer to
send them, that he only had one on duty
for the fleet, and that one had his hands
full.
Among the ninety-six wounded there
occurred three deaths; a result so favor.
able was attributable to the plentiful sup
ply OF fresh provisions sent off to us from
the Ohio shore to fresh air,-the wound
ed being ranged under an awning on the
deck until We arrived at Erie, ten days
after the action, and also to the devoted
attention of Commodore Perry to every
want.
Those who were killed in the battle were
that evening committed to the deep, and
over them was said the impressive Epis-
copal service.
On the following morning the two fleets
sailed into this bay, where the slain off,
GERS of both were buried in an appropriate
and affecting manner. They consisted of
three Americans, Lieutenant Brooks and
midshipman Lamb and Clarke, and three
British officers, Captain Finnis and Lieut..
Stokes of the Queen, and Lieutenant Gar
land of the Detroit Equal respect was
paid to the slain of both nations, and the
crews of both fleets united in the ceremo-
ny. The procession of boats, with two
bands of music, the slow and regular mo-
ton of the oars, striking in exact time
with the notes of the solemn dirge, the
mournful waving of flags and sound of
minute guns from the ships, presented a
striking contrast to the scene presented
two days before, when both the living and
the dead, now forming in this solemn and
fraternal train, were engaged in fierce and
bloody strife, hurling at each other the
thunderbolts of war.
On the eight day after the action, the
Lawrence was dispatched to Erie with the
wounded, where we received a cordial
welcome and kind hospitality. The re.
mainder of the vessels conveyed Harri-
sons army to Maiden, where they found
the public stores in flames, and Proctor
with his army in hasty retreat. Perry
Joined Harrison as a volunteer aid who
With our troops, chiefly from Ohio and
Kentucky, overlook and captured the
army. Perry then accompanied Harrison
and Commodore Barclay to Erie, where
they landed amid peals of cannon and
shouts of the multitude, and from thence
he proceeded to Rhode Island.
Commodore Perry served two years a;
commander of the Java, taking with him
most of the survivors of the Lawrence
He after this commanded squadron il
the West Indies, where he died in 1919
Possessed of high toned morals, he wa
above the low dissipation and sensuality
too prevalent with some officers of his day
aud in his domestic character was a mod
el of every domestic virtue and grace
His literary requirements were respecta