Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-11-10
Perry's Famous Victory.

Perry's Famous Victory.
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Sixty eight years ago a battle was fought
on Lake Erie between fleet commanded
by Commodore Oliver II. Perry, then 27
years of age, and a British squadron com.
manded by Commodore Barclay. The
American command consisted of nine YES
sells, viz: The flagship Lawrence, 90 guns;
the Niagara, 20 guns; the Caledonia, 8
guns; the ARIEL, 4 guns; the Scorpion, 9
guns; the Somers, guns; the Trippe, Tt
gress and Porcupine, | gun each. The
British squadron consisted of flagship De-
troit, 10 guns; Queen Charlotte, IL guns;
Hunter, 10 guns; Lady Provost, Is guns;
Little Belt, 8 guns; Chippewa, l gun and
, swiveis. In cannon the British outnum-
bered the Americans by 10. Six of the
vessels were built al Erie, under the in
spectlon and direction of Perry, in about
20 days, and by the aid of camels were
tioated over the bar which hemmed them
in, equipped ready 70 sail-a work at that
day OF no common magnitude. When the
fleet met, the Lawrence bore at her NEST
head flag inscribed with the last words
of the brave commander of the Chesa-
peake, Don't giUe up the ship" The
battle ragged with intense severity on both
sides. The late DIR. Usher Parsons, who
was surgeon in-chlef on board the Law
renee, says that for more than two long
hours little could be heard but the deafen.
ing thunders of our ~Own broadsides, the
crash of balls dashing through the tlmbers,
and the shrieks OF the wounded. These
were brought down faster than could at
tend TO them, farther than 10 stay the
bleeding, or support the shattered limb
with splints, and pass them forward upon
the berth deck. Two or three were killed
near me- after being wounded. r
When the battle was raging most severely,
Mldshlpman Lamb came down with his
arm badly fractured; Iapplied splint and
requested him TO 60 forward and lie down;
as he was leaving me and while my hand
was on him, cannon ball struck hIm in
the side and dashed him against the other
side of the room, which instantly termin-
ated his sutferings. Charles Pohig, Mar
ragansett Indian, who was badly wounded,
8 filtered in like manner Lieut.
Yarnell had his scalp badly torn, and came
below witt the blood streaming over his
face; some lint was hastily applied and
confined with large bandanna, with d.
rectICDs 10 report himself for better dress
ing after the battle, and he insisted on re-
turning TO the deck" The duties of DR..
Parsons were arduOus and eXhausting. and
were performed with persistent fidelity,
until the last man had been cared for. Be
experienced several hairbreadth escapes,
"A aIf la MI Of gLa .
profession for many years in this city, hon.
ored with professorship in Brown univer-
sity, and respected by h s fellow. citizens.
The Lawrence, against which the heav-
lest fire OF the enemy was at first directed
was terribly cut up, aud rendered nearly
unmanageable. In the midst of storm
of shot, Commodore Perry quilted hel
and proceeding to the Niagara, took COM
mand, brought her up into close quar-
tiers with the enemy, and soon insured
victory. From Put-in-Bay, he wrote TO
Gen. Harrison this terse and comprehen-
sive sentence: "Dear General We have
met the enemy and they are ours" On
the same day he wrote To the Secretary of
the Navy: at has pleased the Almighty to
give 10 the arms of the United States a
signal victory over their enemies on this
lake. The British squadron, consisting of
two ships, two brigs, one slCOp and one
schooner, have this moment surrendered
to the force under my command after
sharp conflict" The loss of the Americans
in this battle was q killed and SO wounded.
Of these % were killed and 81 wounded
ON board the Lawrence. The British loss
was Al killed and "a wounded. Commo-
dore Barclay bore testimony to the human
ity of the Americans in caring for his
wounded men. The battle was an lmpor-
tant one in is results 1t gave TO our
government the command of Lake Erie
which up to that date, had been controlled
by the British. With this success grave
and vital issues were connected. In COM
municating this achievement to Congress,
President Madison used the following com.
plimentary language: The conduct of
Capt. Perry, adlolt as il was daring, and
which was so well seconded by his com
rades, justly entities them to the admira
ton aud gratitude of their country, and
will fill an early page in Its naval
annals with victory never surpassed in
luster, however much 1t may have been in
magnitude" The attempt in subsequent
years to wrest the glory of this victory
from Commodore Perry, and transfer the
chaplet to the brow of his second in COM
mand, Elliott, proved ''a lame and impo-
tent conclusion" So long as bravery,
skill ana moral worth hold a place in
public stimatlOn, the roll of fame will re-
tain high upon 1t the name of Perry, while
by every Rhode Islander the names of
Brownell, Turner, Champlin. .Almy, Breese,
Taylor, Par ons, Alexander Perry and
their Rhode Island compeers, will ever be
held in honor.