The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-09-21

s9The carnage on board the prizes was prodi
gious They must have lost 200 in killed, be-
sides wounded The sides of the Detroit and
Queen Charlotte, were shattered from bow to
stern. There was scarcely room to place ones
hand on their .larboard sides, without touching
the impression of shot. great many balls,
canister and grape were found lodged in their
bulwarks, which were too thick to be penetra-
ted by our caronades, unless within pistol shot
distance Their masts were so much shattered
that they fell overheard soon after they got in
to the Bay.
esThe loss of the Americans was severe, par
| ticularly on board the Lawrence. When her
! flag was struck she had but nine men fit for du-
ty, remaining on deck. Her sides were COM
pletely riddled by the shot from the long guns
! of the British ships. Her deck, the morning
after the conflict, when first went on board,
exhibited a scene that defes description for
it was literally covered with blood, which still
adhered to the plank in clots-brains, hair,
and fragments of bones were still sticking to
the rigging and sides. The surgeons were still
busy with the wounded. Enough Horror
appalled, my senses - .
sAmong the wounded were several brave fel-
lows, each of whom had lost leg or an arm
They appeared cheerful, and expressed hope
that they had done their duty. Rome and
Sparta would have been proud of these heroes.
"It would be invidious to particularize in
stances of individual merit, where every one
so nobly performed his part. Of the nine sea-
men remaining unhurt at the time the Law
renee struck her flag, five were Immediately
promoted, for their unshaksn frmness in such
trying situation. The most of these had
been in the actions with the Gurriere and Java.
"Every officer of the Lawrence, except the
Commodore and his little brother-a promis-
ing youth, Ii years old-were either killed or
wounded.
"The efficacy of the gun boats was fully
proved in this oction, and the sterns of all the
prizes bear ample testimony of the fact They
envy severely. The Lady Provost lost twelve
men before either of the briggs fired upon her.
Their fire was quick and precise. Let us hear
the enemy. The general order of Adjutant
General Baynes, contains the following words:
tHis (Perry's) numerous gun-boats (four) which
had proved the greatest annoyance during the
action, were all uninjured.'
''Thc undaunted bravery of Admiral Barclay
entitled him to better fate To the loss of
Gus wounds. He had before lost an arm: it
was now his hard fortune to lose the other, by
ashot which carried away the blade of the right
shoulder canister shot made violent con-
fusion in his hip. His wounds were for SIM
days considered mortal. Every possible atten-
ton was paid to his situation. When Commo-
dore Perry sailed to Buffalo, he far
covered that he took passage on board our fleet.
The feet touched at Erie. The citizens saw
the affecting spectacle of Harrison and Perry,
leading the wounded British hero, still unable
to walk without help, from the beach to their
lodgings.
''On board the Detoit twenty-four hours af-
ter her surrender, were found snugly slowed
in ho hold two Ind yho had
the courage to go on board at Maiden, for the
purpose of acting sharp-shooters, to kill our
officers. One had the courage to ascend into
the round top and discharge his piece, but the
whizzing of shot, splinters, and bits of rigging,
soon made the place too warm for him. He
descended faster than he went up. At the mo-
ment he reached the deck the fragments of
seaman's head struck his comrades face. and
covered it with blood and brains. He vocifer-
ated the savage interjectfon 'quoh,' and sought
safety below.
s'The British officers had domesticated bear
at Maiden. Bruin accompanied his comrades
to battle-was on deck ofthe Detroit during the
engagement, and escaped unhurt.
''The killed of both fleets were thrown over
board as fast as they fell. Several were washed
ashore upon the island and the main, during
the gales that succeeded the action.
commodore Perry treated the prisoners with
humanity and indulgence Several Canadians
having wives at Maiden, were permitted to Wis
it their families on parole.
''The British were superior in the length and
number of their guns, as well as in the nun Der
of men. The American feet was manned by
motley set Of beings Europeans, Africans,
Americans from every part of the United States
Full one-fourth were blacks. l saw Rus
sian, who could not speak word of English.
They were brave-and who could be otherwise
under the command of Perry?
E'The day after the battle, the funeral obse-
quies of the American and British officers, who
had fallen in the action, were performed in an
appropriate and affecting manner An open
ing on the margin of the bay was selected for
the interment of the bodies. The crews of
both fleets attended. The wether was fine
The elements seemed to participate in the So
lemnities of the day, for every breeze WAS
hushed. and not ruff1ed the surface of
the water. The procession of boats, the neat
appearance of the the officers and men-the
music-the slow and regular motion of the
oars, striking in exact time with the notes of
the solemn dirge-the mournful waving OF. the
fags-the sound of the minuts guns from the
different ships in the harbor-the wild and
solitary aspect of the place-the stiffness of
nature, gave to the scene an air of melancholy
grandeur, better felt that described. All ac-
affected. What contrast did it exhibit to the
terrible conflict of the preceding day! Then
the people of two squadrons were engaged in
the deadly strife of arms. Now they associa-
ted, like brothers, to pay the last sad tribute of
respect to the dead of both nations
"Five officers were inferred, two Americans
and three BritiEh. Lieutenant Brooks and
Midshipman Lamb, of the Lawrence Capt.
Finnis and Lieutenant Stoke, of the Queen
Il II
troit. The graves but few PAGES from
the beach, and the future traveller of either ma
ton, will find no memento whereby he may dis
tinguish the American from the British hero
'sThe marines of our feet were highly com
plimented by the Commodore, for their good
conduct; although it was the first time that
most of them had seen square-igged vessel'
There is one circumstance which was rela-
ted by Perry, that deserves particular mention
TT has something in it which does not helono