The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-09-21

on board the encmy's ships. But Perry
Immediately changed the course Of the
Niagara from the one in which she was
steering, making nearly a right angle,
and crossing ahead Of the Lawrence. bore
down. head foremost, to the enemy's line,
determined TO break through it and take
a raking position. The Detroit attempted
to turn so as TO keep her broadsiGe TO the
Niagara, and avoid being raked. But
in doing this, she iell against the Queen,
and got enlsngled in her rigging, and
thus were exposed both British ships TO
roking and destructive FIRE from the Nj
agara whilst heavy blows were received
from the small vessels astern, which had
by this time come up within good dis.
tance for effective shots, and the two
ships were unable TO FIRE in return. Their
commanders were thus compelled 10 haul
down their colors in token Of submission
or sink. Perry then shot ahead to the
Lady Provost, which having been crippled
in her rudder, had drfted out of her
place in the line TO the leeward, and was
pressing forward towards the head Of the
British line, TO support the two ships.
One broadside from the Niagara silenced
her battery. The Hunter next hauled
down her flag, and the two smaller vessels,
in attempting 10 escape, were overtaken
by the Scorpion and Trip, and thus
ended the action after 3 o'clock.
Let US now advert for a moment to the
scenes exhibited in the Lawrence, Of
which l was an eye witness. The wound.
ed began 10 come down before she opened
her fire. Soon, however, the storm Of
battle burst forth. in deafenng thunders
Of our own broadsides, 10 the crash OF
balls dashing through our timbers and
bulwarks, and in the shreks OF the wound.
ed. These were brought down for aid
faster than l could attend to them, further
than to stay the bleeding, or 10 support
shattered limbs with spints, and pass
them forward upon the berth deck. In
less than two hours few men were left
on deck in working order, and the six
men stationed with me at first 10 assist in
moving the wounded, were called away
one by one to work the guns, and even
some of the wounded themselves crawled
back TO the deck to lend a feeble hand in
pulling at the last guns.
A, this time the surgeons room pre-
sented a scene truly horrible, There lay
the lifeless bodies OF midshipmen Laub
and Chas. Pohig, boh killed in the Sur.
geon's room after having their wounds
dressed. Laub had hardly left my hands
when a cannon ball struck him in the side,
dashing him against the WALL and cutting
his body nearly in twain. Lieut.. Brooks,
son OF the Governor Of Massachusetts, an
elegant and accomplished officer, lay with
lis hip mashed BY cannon ball, Of which
he died before the battle closed. Ham
blc,on, the intimate friend Of Perry, lay
bleeding, his shoulder being broken
Cax,on, promising officer, lay with bis
shoulder and arm shot away, and doomed
soon to die, and several others, with
limbs crushed and flesh lacera,ed, al
lay weltering in their blood, and writhine
in agony, and calling for cold water to
relieve The sense of faintness. Whilst
was intent upon stopping the flow Of blood
new visitor came from the deck, re
porting that the Commodore had gone tC
the Niagara, and that our own ship, una
bic to fight longer, was hauling down hel
colors. This added wailings OF despair
TO the groans Of the wounded. Deatl
or Darmoor prison seemed inevitable
and some were clamorous for sinking the
ship, and all going down together. Blu
in few minutes more a cry came from
the deck that "the ship has struck %
lcaped upon deck, calling out, what shiE
has struck ? and saw the Detroit's flag
actually hauled down, and the Queen
flag coming down. 1t was enough Tht
day was decided !! the enemy beaten
and ! rushed back 10 the wounded. shou;
ing victory victory
As the smoke. cleared away the two
squadrons seemed mingled together un-
distinguishably. The shattered Lawrence
lying 10 the windward was once more able
TO hoist her flag. which was cheered by q
few feeble voices, making n melancholy
sound, compared with the tremendous
cheers that preceded the battle. The
shot holes between wind and water were
Immediately plugged to prevent our sink
ing, and the masts secured from falling
overheard.
Perry forthwith dispatched two MESA,
ges 10 Harrison and TO the Secretary of the
Navy, remarkable for their pith and brew
ity. TO Harrison he says. "We have met
The enemy, and they are ours; two ships,
two briggs, one sloop and one schooner "
To the Secretary, at has pleased the AL
mighty to give 10 the arms Of the United
States signal victory over their enemies
on this lake. The British squadron, con j..
sisting of two ships, two briggs, one sloop
and one schooner, have this momen: sur
rendered 10 the force under my command.
after sharp conflict"
The proud, though painful duty, oi
taking possession of the conquered ships
was now performed. The Detroit was
nearly disman;led, and the destruction
and carnage had been dreadful. The
Queen was in a condition little better
Every commander and second in COM
mand, says Barclay, in his official report,
was either killed or wounded. The whole
number killed. in the British feet, was
forty one. and of wounded. ninety four.
In the American fleet, twenty seven killed,
and ninety six wounded. OF the twenty
seven killed, twenty-five were on board
the Lawrence and of the ninety
wounded. sixty one were on board the
same ship. making eighty-lhree killed
and wounded out OF lOi reported at for