Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-12-01
PERRY's VICTORY,
Interesting "Reminiscences about the Pre-
parations for Battle.

volume is beautifully illustrated, and
the completeness Of the references,
maps, authorities, and the large
amount of new material which Mr.,
Lossing has himself gathered, make
it more satisfactory than any similar
work hitherto published. The illus
trations Of familiar scenes about Erie,
made from Mr. Lossings sketches,
arc readily recognized. We extract
the following account of the building
Of Perry's fleet at Erie, and the story
of their crossing the bar to the open
lake:
Within the memory of living men
Presqu' Isle (the peninsula) has been
n barren sand-bank; now it is covered
by growth of young timber. 1t is
deeply idented toward its extremity
by an estuary called Little Bay. The
harbor is one Of the finest on the lake
when gained, but at the period in
question, and until lately, its entrance
by shallow channel, tortous and diff
fcult on account of sand-bars and
shoals Although Presqu' Isle was a
place of historic interest in colonial
times, it was an insignificant vill"os
in 1872, and less than twenty years oi
age. Many miles of wilderness, or a
very sparsely populated country, lay
between it and the thick settlements
and the supplies of every kind, but
timber, for naval preparations, had to
be brought from far away places with
great labor. Zeal and energy over
came all difficulties.
Perry arrived at Erie, as We have
observed, on the 27 Of March. He es.
tablished his quarters at Duncan's
"Erie Hotel, and entered upon the
duties OF his important errand by cal
ling around him the employees Of the
government there, Much preliminary
work had already been done under
the direction Of the energetic sailing
master Dobbins, and Noah Brown, a
shipwright from New York. Forest
trees around Erie had been fclled and
hewn; the keels of two twenty gun
brigs and clipper schooner had been
laid at the mouth of Cascade Creek
two gunboats were nearly planked up
Mt the mouth of Lees run, between
the present Peach and Sassafras
streets; and third, afterward called
Scorpion, was just commenced. To
guard against surprise and the de-
struction of the vessels by the British,
volunteer company Of sixty men,
under Captain Foster, had been or.
ganized. Captain Dobbins had also
formed guard of ship.carpenters and
other mechanics engaged on the YES
sells.
On the arrival of sailing master
Taylor, on the Sd Of March, with off.
GERS and men, Perry FASTENED to Pitts.
burgh to urge forward supplies of ev.
cry kind for the completion and equip.
ment of his little squadron. He had
already ordered Dobbins to Buffalo
for men and munitions and on his
return be was gratifiod to find that
faithful officer back and IN possession
of a twelve pound canon, four chests
of small arms, and ammunition. The
vessels, too, were in a satisfactory
state of forwardness. They were soon
off the stocks Early in May the three
smaller ones were launched, and on
the Gath of the same month the two
brigs were put afoat.
At sunset of the day before launch.
ing of the brigs, Perry left Erie in an
open four-oared boat, to join Chaun
cey.in an attack upon Fort George, al
the mouth of the Niagara River. The
Commodore had promised him the
command Of the marines in the enter.
prise. All night he buffcted the an.
cry waves Of Lake Erie, and arrived
at Buffalo the next day. Perry was
accompanied from Eric as far as Lew.
istwon by his faithful coadjutor, Cap
tain Dobbins. From that point the
latter was sent back TO Schlosser. to
prepare boats for seamcn who were 10
be sent up after the reduction of Fort
George, and to the Black Rock navy
yard, to hasten the equipment of some
government vessels that were to Join
the growing squadron at Erie.
Fort George fell. Fort Erie was
evacuated and burnt, and the British
abandoned the entire line of the Nj.
agara River This enabled Perry to
take safely from that stream into
Lake Erie and the sheltering arms OF
Presqu' Isle five vessels which Henry
Eckford had prepared for warlike ser.
vice, and which had been detained be.
low Buffalo by the Canadian batter.
les. They were loaded with stores at
the Black Rock navy yard; and on
the morning of 9th of June. oxen. sea
men, and two hundred sailors, under
Captain Brevoort and Younge, who
had been detailed 10 accompany Per.
ry TO Erie, with strong ropes over
willing shoulders, commenced wrap
ing or tracking" them up the swift
current 1t was task Of incredible
labor, and occupied full six days.
The little fotilla sailed from Buffalo
on the 18th Perry was in the Gale.
donia, sick with symptoms of bilious
remittent fever. Head wind prevailed
"We made twenty-five miles in twenty.
four hours wrote Doctor Usher Par
sons, Perry's surgeon, in bis diary. 1t
was hot until the 10Th that they enter.
cd the harbor Of Erie, just in time to
avoid the little cruising squadron of
the enemy under the gallant Captain
Finnis, of the Royal Navy, which had
been 90 the lookout for them. OF this
Perry bad been informed, on his wav,
! by men in small boat shot out from
the southern shore of the lake, and he
had prepared TO fight. When the
last vessel Of the nolila had crossed
the bar at Erie, the squadron Of the
enemy hove in sight Of Presqu' Isle
Point. Three or four days alterward
the hotilla went up TO tho mouth of
Cascade Creek, where tho two brigs
and a gunboat lay.
Perrg's feet was completed and
finished on the 10th of Jnly; but.
alas hc had only men enough to Off.
Ger and man one Of the brigs, and was
enunollad IN la ida In H. Ill. -. e