The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-08

she was handled About 10 80 o'clock a
buge was heard from their flagship, which
was followed by succession of cheers from
| the different vessels, and at the same time
the strains of Rule Britannia" from a
band in the Detroit were carried by the
faint breeze to the ears of the Americans
In the Lawrence nothing served to break
the silence except few short orders which
| followed by the shrill piping of the Boat
swains whistle. broke over the waters with
startling clearness; then another silence
! the more oppressive by the contrast, would
| follow. The men, Invested of all unneces-
sary clothing, revealing brawny arms and
weatherbeaten chests. stood by the guns
their set faces and quiet demeanor plainly
showing the seriousness of the conflict.
PERRY'S GALLANT BEARING.
The bearing of Perry at this moment is
said to have inspired confidence in all who
saw him. The youthful commander, closely
watching the approaching enemy, gave the
few necessary orders in a calm, firm voice,
which filled all around him with an intense
earnestncSs and a determination to conquer
or die lie was fully conscious of the re-
Sponsibility resting upon him. The pos
session of the Great West was at stake.
Whether it was to pass into the hands of
Great Britain or of the United States
would be largely determined by this battle.
Whether the young Master-C Ommand ant
was to go into history a hero or covered
with the ignominy of defeat was to be de-
cided that day. 1t was indeed "a time to
try mems souls" About this time Perry
ordered grog and rations to be served, for it
was more than likely that at the regular
time for the midday mess the squadrons
would be engaged. After q hasty meal the
men again returned to their quarters. The
youthful American commander now passed
along the deck and examined each gun to
make sure that all was in readiness, and
as he approached the several gun crews he
had word of encouragement for each.
Observing some of the men from the Con-
stitution, he said:
Il need not say anything to you. You
know how to beat those fellows
Approaching another gun manned by men
who had served under him i'm Rhode Island,
he remarked:
"Ah. here are the Newport boys. They
will do their duty, warrant"
After some maneuvering in the variable
wind to gain the wea ther gauge, Perry said
to SailingMaster William Nigneron Tay-
lor:
Run to the lee side of the islands," The
Sailing Master ventured to reply:
Then you will have to engage the enemy
to leeward. sir
Il don't care" answered Perry: ito wind
ward or leeward, they shall fight to-day
and the American vessels passed under the
lee of the islands, but a favorable shift in
the wind soon afterward placed them to
windward.
1t was Perry's intention to have the Nj
agara lead the American line of battle. as
he supposed that the Queen Charlotte would
lead the English vessels: but finding that
the Detroit was at the head of the British
line, Perry decided to run the Lawrence
ahead of the Niagara, so that the two flag
ships might come fairly alongside.
THE FIRST SHOT.
At II 40 a. M, while the squadrons were
yet a mile apart. the Detroit discharged a
long 2i-pounder at the Lawrence by way
OF testing the distance. The shot rico
chetted along the water and passed beyond
the American flagship, upon which Perry
seized trumpet and sent the word along
his line for the vessels to close up and take
their prescribed positions, which were, ITO
keep within half cables length of each
other, and enjoining it upon the command
ers to preserve their stations in the line. =
Five minutes after this the Detroit fired
a second 24-pound shot. and it crashed
through the Lawrence's starbOard bulwarks
and sent cloud of splinters over the men
stationed in the batteries.
Sailing Master Champlin. of the Scor-
pion. now trained his long 32-pounder on
the Detroit. firing the first American shot
John ii. Packet, of the Ariel who had
been Midshipman on the Constitution
during her action with the Java. fired one
of his long 12-pounders. The Queen Char
lotte then fired her first gun, which was
aimed by Canadian gunner. John Chap
man. The shot went through the Law
rence's main mast. while another shot fired
from the same gun entered her starboard
side at the water line. The Lawrence then
opened fire on the Detroit with her two long
12-pounders. TO which the enemy responded
with long "a, 49,, and 12-pounders. their
leading ships concentrating their fire on the
American flagship. About the same time
the Niagara opened with her two long r.
Founders, which were handled so rapidly
that IN short time nearly all the ammu-
milton for these guns was expended. But
the enemy paid very little attention to her,
centering his fire on the Lawrence
Finding that he was suffering heavily
from the enemy's long guns. Master Com
mandant Perry, at IL 10 p. m. made sail
to get at close quarters, where he could
bring his short guns into play. The rest
OF the American line followed bis example,
but the slow-sailing Caledonia, a prize brig
built for burden rather than speed, being
immediately astern the Lawrence. compelled
the Niagara and the vessels i'm her wake to
shorten sail lest they should run ahead of
her, for they had received peremptory or
derS TO preserve their stations in the line. !"
As Perry did not signal change in these in
structlOns. the Lawrence. with only the Scor-
pion and the Ariel forged considerably head
OF the American column and drew upon her
self the principal fire of the English vessels.
Notwithstanding this, Perry calamity made
for the enemy's flagship, and when about
800 yards away he backed his t0psails and
again opened fire. while the Ariel and the
Scorpion engaged the Chippewa. In spite
| of the fact that these schooners were desti-
tute of bulwarks, 50 that their crews were
| exposed to the full effect of grape and
| canister, they were CALAMITY brought into
close action by Lieut.. John III. Packet and
Sailing Master Stephen Champlin. mate
rally assisting the Lawrence i'm her un.
equal fight. The calm caused by the can.
nonading now placed the American flagship
in critical position, for the other vessels
OF the squadron were far from supporting
distance.
CLOSE QUARTERS.
Perry soon perceived that he was yet toe
far distant to damage the enemy materially
so he ordered word to be sent from vesse
to vessel by trumpet for all to make sail
bear down upon Barclay, and engage in
close combat. The order was ira nsmitteG
by Capt. Elliott, who was the second in
command. but he failed to obey it himself
His vessel was a fast sailer, and his mer
We're the best in the squadron, but he kept
lat III.