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


your aattering invitation to address this
vast assemblage, vain would be my en-.
deavor, after the rich banquet we have
enjoyed, to entertain you with historic or
classic illusions, or with The graces Of
polished style. Mine, sir, is the more
humble and appropriate task TO describe
briefly the battle Of Lake Erie. A story
SO often told must fail to in;eres: most Of
you, and should decline repeating it.
but for the expressed wish Of macy to
hear il from the lips Of the last surviving
commissioned officer Of Perry's squadron.
Prior 10 the 10th Of September, 1918,
the United States squadron on this lake,
commanded by Commodore Perry, an.
chored in Putin Bay, which is formed
by cluster Of islands fifty miles from
this place. The enemy were in the port
of Maiden, forty miles further distant,
preparing TO meet and give us battle.
Our crews were reduced in number Of
men by prevailing fever, which induced
Gen. Harrison to send US thirty.six vol.
unteers from his army. Some of these
! still live, and are here present.
Within a day or two previous to the
flight, Perry called council of com.
manders, and assigned TO each his station
in the order OF battle, and concluded his
orders by stating bis intention to bring
the enemy 10 close quarter, in order no!
10 lose by the short range OF his cannon
AIDES, and the last emphatic injunction
with which he dismissed them was, that
he could not, in case Of difficulty, advise
them better than in the words OF Lord
Nelson, In case you lay your enemy
close alongside, you cannot be ou, Of
your ylace.'
Early n the morning Of the l0Ih, n cry
came from II masthead, Sail Ao ! All
hands sprang from their hammocks, and
ere they could dress and reach the deck, t.,
six sail were announced. Signal was
made to the squadron, "enemy in sight,"
"0et under ,ooy," and soon the hoarse
sound of trumpets, and shrill pipe boats
wains, resounded throughout the feet
with, "4AU hands up anchor, ahoy :"
After some detention by adverse winds
we cleared the islands and directed our
course towards the enemy, distant at 10
| o'clock about FIVE miles.
! The American squadron consisted o.
nine vessels carrying 81 guns and 400
men, and the British of six vessels carry
! ipg G3 gus and ell men. The line Of
bai,lc was arranged with the Scorpion
and Ariel ahead, followed by the hLg.ship
Lawrence, Caledonia, Niagara, and four
small vessels, and they were ordered TO
keep within half cables length Of each
other. By this arrangement il was un-
derstood that the Lawrence should fight
the flagship Detroit, Commodore against
Commodore; the Caledonia The Lsdy Pre-
vost. the Niagara the Queen, and the four
small vessels astern, attack the Hunter
and Little Belt. The Scorpion and Ariel
were 10 support the Lawrence, and fight
the Chippewa, the head vessel Of the
British line.
The Commodore now produced the
burgee or lighting flag, hitherto concealed
! in the ship. 1t was inscribed with large
white letters on blue ground, legble
throughout the squadron, "DonI give up
the ship" the last words of the expiring
Lawrence, and now 10 be hoisted at the
masthead OF the ship bearing his name.
The Commodore made spirited appeal
TO the crew, and up went the flag to the
fore royal amid hearty cheers, repeated
throughout the squadron. and the drums
and Ies struck up the thrilling call, all
hands to quarters" The matches or pass.
ages from below 10 the deck were closed
excepting the main ore in the center,
through which balls might be passed up
to the cannon, and the wounded down TO
the surgeons apartment. Over this
apartment was an opening, or seylight
ten inches square, to pass cartridges
through from the magazine, and to lei
in light 10 the surgeon. The floor OF this
apartment was level with the water out.
side, and left the surgeon and the wound
ed quite ms much exposed 10 the cannon
balls Of the enemy as We're those on deck
Every preparation being made, and
every man at his station. a profound 81
lence reigned for more than an hour,-the
most trying part Of the whole scene. II
was like the stiffness that precedes the
hurricane. The Two squadrons moved
on in their respective lines, gradually ap-
proximating ill quarter before l2,
when tho awful Stiffness and suspense
were relieved by sho. aimed at the
Lawrence from the Detroit, about one
mile distant. Perry signalied to the
squadron TO make more SAL and come
into close action. at the same time press
ing forward the Lawrence to within can.
lister distance of the Detroit, and then
opened upon her rapid and destructive
file. The Caledonia followed the Law
renee in gallant style, and maintained
her position nobly. The Scorpion and
Ariel being small, attracted less firing
from the enemy, whilst their large guns
in constant play did great execution
The Niagara failing TO graPple her an
tagonist the Queen, the little vessel shot
ahead and joined the Detroit in firing
upon the Lawrence, and finally made a
complete wreck of her. Fortunately,
however. Perry had escaped injury, and
stepping into boat he ordered the fight
ing flag to be brought 10 him, and then
pushed off to the Niagara, which had by
this time come up nearly abreast OF the
Lawrence, but further from her than the
enemy's flag ship Detroit was on the op'
posite side. Perry reached her deck. ex'
posed on his way to balls and mrsketry,
unscathed. He found her fresh ship,
with only two or or three persons injured,
and every cannon in working order.