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

every man at his station, profound ST.
lence reigned more than an hour, the most
trying part Of the scene. 1t was like the
stiffness that proceeds the hurricane. The
fleet moved on steadily till quarter be.
fore IL, when the awful suspense was re-
lleved by shot aimed at us from the De-
troit, about one mile distant Perry made
more sail, and coming within canister dis.
tance, opened rapid and destructive fire
upon the Detroit. The Caledonia, Capt.
Turner, followed the Lawrence in gallant
style, and the Ariel Lieut.. Packet, and
the Scorpion, MIR. Champlin, fought nobly
and effectively.
The Niagara failing to grapple with
the Queen, the latter vessel shot ahead to
fire upon the Lawrence, and with the De-
troit, aimed their broadsides exclusively
upon her, hoping and intending to sink
her. AT last they made her complete
wreck fortunately, however. the Com.
modore escaped without injury, and step
ping into boat with his fighting flag
thrown over his shoulder, he pushed off
for the Niagara amid shower of cannon
and nusket balls, and reached that vessel
unscathed. He found her a fresh vessel
with only two. or at most, three persons
injured, and Immediately sent her COM
mander to hasten up the small vessels.
Perry boarded the Niagara when she was
abreast of the Lawrence, and further from
her than the Detroit was on her right.
The Lawrence now dropt astern and
hauled down her flag. Perry turned the
Niagara's course toward the enemy, and
crossing the bows of the Lawrence, bore
down headforemost to the enemy's line,
determined to break through it and take
raking position. The Detroit attempted
to turn, so as to keep her broadside to the
Niagara, and avoid being raked but in
doing this, she fell against the Queen, and
got entangled in her rigging, which left
the enemy no alternative but to strike
both ships. Perry now shot further ahead
near the Lady Provost, which, from being
crippled in her rudder, had drifted out of
her place to the leeward. and was press
ing forward toward the head of the Brit
ish line to support the two ships. One
broadside from the Niagara silenced her
battery. The Hunter next struck, and
the two smaller vessels in attempting to
escape, were overhauled by the Scorpion,
Mr.. Champlin, and Trip, Mr.. Holdup, and
thus ended the action, after o'clock.
Let US now advert for moment to the
scenes exhibitedin the flagship Lawrence,
of which l can speak as an eyewitness.
The wounded began to come down before
she opened her battery, and for one, l felt
impatient at the delay. In proper time
however, as it proved, the dogs Of war
were let loose from their leash, and it
seemed as though heaven and earth were
at loggerheads. For more than two hours
little could be heard but the defening
thunders of our broadsdes, the crash of
balls dashing through our timbers, and the
shrieks Of the wounded. These were
brought down faster than l could attend
to them, farther than to stay the bleeding
or support shattered limb with splints,
and pass them forward upon the berth
deck
When the battle had ragged an hour
and half, | heard call for me at the
small sly-light, and stepping toward it l
saw the Commodore, whose countenance
was as calm and as placid as if on ordi-
nary duty. Doctor" said he, send
me one of your men," meaning one of the
six stationed with me to assist in moving
the wounded. In five minutes the call
was repeated and obeyed, and at the sew
enth call, [ told him he had all my men.
He asked if there were any sick or woun-
ded who could pull rope, when two or
three crawled upon deck to lend feeble
hand in pulling at the last guns.
The hard fighting terminated about g
O'Clock. As the smoke cleared away, the
two fleets were found mingled together
the small vessels having come up to the
others. The shattered Lawrence, lying tc
the winlward, was once more able to hoist
her flag, which was cheered by few feeble
voices on board, making melancholy
sound compared with the boisterous chccri
that preceded the battle.
The proud, though painful duty, o
taking possession of the conquered chips
was now performed. The Detroit wa
nearly dsmantled, and the destruction AM
carnage had been dreadful. The QueeI
was in condition little better-eyer
: commander and second in command, say