The Washington times., 1901-08-04


ing out the first part of his plan The
united attacks of the three vessels almost
dismantled the American brig, besides
causing great slaughter on board It.
After two hours and a half of this con-
test the wind freshened and the two
squadrons drew slowly ahead. The Law
renee fell astern and partially out of the
contest While this unequal battle be-
tween the Lawrence and its three oppo-
nents had been taking place the Porcu-
pine and the smaller ships had been un-
able to get into the thick OF the battle.
Sweeps were put out and every breath of
wind was utilized to the utmost By dint
of these expedients they drew into range
and gradually closed. AS they did
Captain Perry found himself in disabled
and useless ship. with his decks full of
dead and wounded. and unable to get into
the fight which was slowly drawing away.
He then decided to abandon the Law
renee. Attended by few men he drop
ped into a boat and was rowed to the
Niagara The colors of the wreck which
had been the Lawrence We're hauled
down. Captain Barclay saw success for
his plan of battle as the Lawrence drop
ped its flag. One OF the two larg Ameri-
can boats was disposed of. and the battle
two gun sloops such as the Porcupine.
His men lined the sides of their ships
and broke into cheers. As If by common
consent there was cessation of the firing
while both sides prepared for the final
clash. This was about 2:30, and the battle
had been on since noon.
AS they prepared to engage anew the
wind freshened again and the American
oil. .~ln n
the enemy. The Niagara. leading the
small vessels, bore steadily down to
within half pistol shot. and the Ameri-
cans had the battle TO their liking. The
Niagara broke into the British feet with
the Chippeway and the Lady Provost on
one side and the Detroit. Queen Char
lotte, and Hunter on the other.
In passing both broadsides were dis
charged into the enemy. 1t ranged ahead
of the ships and continued the short and
deadly fire. It's effect was telling. The
Porcupine, with the little ships. had fol-
lowed the Niagara into the heart of the
British squadron, and with their cannon
ades and single guns were delivering an
effective fire at the range they had been
seeking for nearly three hours. Close dis
charges of grape ind canister tore the
English ships wide open. dismantled them,
and filled their decks with dead and dy-
ing.
There could be no length to such a con-
test. 1t had taken the English YES
sells nearly three hours to dismantle the
Lawrence, but that was at long range.
In this deadly conflict the decisioin was
a matter OF moments. Smoke from the
rapid hroadsides covered the contestants,
and the men worked unseeing and unseen
Within fifteen minutes after the Ma
CARA had broken into the heart of the
English feet there was a cry passed
among the small vessels that the British
had struck. Then an officer of the Queen
Charlotte was seen through the smoke
standing on the taffrail of his ship wav-
ing white handkerchief tied to board
ing spike.
Both sides had suffered about equally
in the decisive action. The manner in
which the Lawrence was cut up was al
most without parallel in naval warfare.
When Perry left it it had but one gun IN
use on the starboard side, or that on
which il was engaged. The last time this
was discharged Perry himself aided in
firing it. OF its crew twenty-five were
killed and sixty-one wounded. The Ma
CARA, in its fierce, short fight in the CEN
tire of the English squadron. in which the
English crews were cut to pieces, had
two killed and twenty-five wounded
about one-fourth of all at quarters The
smaller vessels divided the rest of the
loss in an average of one man killed and
several wounded. The total loss to the
fleet was twenty-seven killed and ninety
six wounded
The American crews had come into the
battle suffering from cholera morbus,
and many were totally unfit for duty
Captain Perry. himself, was suffering
under debility from 4 recent attack of
lake fever. and was not in proper con-
dition for service when he met the enc
my.
The English lost forty-one killed and
ninety-four wounded. All the vessels
were considerably injured in their hulls.
the Queen Charlotte suffering most in
proportion. Both the Detroit and the
Charlotte rolled the masts out of them
at anchor in Put-in-Bay two days after
the enga cement in a gale of wind.
While the historians have conceded
superiority of metal to the American
fleet. greater disparity than that in
guns was apparent in the crews. In this
the superiority should have been with
Lawrence testified before a court of en-
quiry that there were but 1s1 men and
boys ''of every description on board the
flagship, and that only 103 were fit for
duty when the ship went into action. The
Niagara was in nearly the same condi-
ton. A part of the crews were militia.
The British also had a considerable pro-
portion of soldiers on board, but neither
side claimed that this was a serious dis
advantage in smooth water. Under
such conditions the soldier was probably
as efficient as the sailor.
Instantaneous results attended the win
ming of the battle. The four smallest of the
captured vessels were fitted up as trans
ports and the American vessels, with the
exception of the Lawrence, were employ
ed in the same duty. They carried the
troops which won Upper Canada from
the English. Captain Perry ascended to
Detroit on the 9th in the Ariel and re-
captured the town.
For gallant conduct in the battle of
Lake Erie Captain Perry received gold
medal from Congress. The same award
was made Captain Elliott. Rewards
were bestowed generally upon the officers
and men of the ships. The nation has
long considered this fresh-water victory
one of the most notable OF itS achIeFe-
ments in war
Where the other vessels of Perry's lit
tie SQUADRON which cleared the lakes of
the British now are is a matter of con-
lecture But the Porcupine. minus its
one gun. its hull filed with sand. its
stern post missing. its planks rottinS
and its name almost forgotten, &c
stranded on the sand, a curiosity to tle
residents of summer resort. This VIII
be the end OF one of the ships which en-
III.