The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-08
BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
(Continued from mage ~

He was anxious to GO forward, recover
Detroit. capture Maiden and defeat Proc
tor. but could do nothing so long as the
British squadron was in control of the
lakes, and could strike at his line of com
municatiOn. Plans were discussed and
one agreed upon involving the transporta-
ton of Harrison's army to the Bass Is
lands. and operate from there against
Maiden. As Harrison was not quite
ready to move forward, Perry went to
Maiden on a reconnaissance. He found
the British squadron in the mouth of the
Detroit River. with the Detroit not ready
for service. and he decided upon a bold
plan to attack them then and there be-
fore she could get ready. but northerly
winds and an epidemic of lake fever
among his crew prevented the execution
of this enterprise.
Aug. q the squadron returned to Put
i'm Bay and dropped anchor there. PUTIN
Bay is on the north side of the South Bass
Island. and is the best and most com
mOdious in the islands which form the
archipelago at the westward end of Lake
Erie One of the iSletS which greatly
help To handbook the harbor is Gibraltar.
on tire north end of which is what is
known as Perry's Lookout. a high lime
stone bluff. 1t has been the property of
Mr.. Jay Cooke. the famous banker. for
many years. who has a fine Summer
house upon it and maintains the islet i'll
received from Harrison a detail of 36
men to act as marines and Sharpshooters.
At the end of the week Perry went up
TO Maiden. again to challenge Barclay
to battle, but the latter not having the
Detroit finished. declined. and Perry re-
turned to Putin Bay. In the meanwhile
the interruption of the supply line with
Long Point had become severe that
PrOctor's army was in want of rations,
and it was imperative that something he
done to get rid of the Yankee squadron.
Perry had been anticipating this. and was
therefore prepared for the signal. which
came to him early on the morning of Sept
10 of the advance. of the British squad
ron The evening before he had called
his officers around him and given instruc-
tiOn to each in writing AZ to the attack
he was to make upon the enemy at Mall
den the next morning. if the enemy did
not come out The main feature of
PerryS plans was To make the best use
of his carrOnades. At that time the car
rOnade was a favorite gun with the doni-
nant class among naval officers. 1t was
q short gun of large caliber running from
6 to 6S Founders. and named after the
Carron Iron Works in Scotland. where
they were first made in 100. They had
the advantage of being fired more rapidly
than other cannon. they threw larger
ball, and its velocity was much slower
than the ordinary ball. so that they broke
and splintered the sides of a vessel. in
ficting many wounds by the Splinters.
Their range was very short, and they
had to he brought up within less than
musketShot to be effective. Most of Perry's
guns were 32-peunders of this character,
while Barclay had more long-range guns.
Perry's plan involved getting As close to
the enemy as possible. and overwhelming
him with the fire from his carronades.
THE roup,p.TIyr STRENGTH
Through Americans in Maiden Perry
had been accurately informed as to the
British squadron. and knew precisely
what he had to meet. = Commodore Bar
clay's vessels were:
Ship Detroit, 10 guns. one shell in pivot,
two howitzers.
Ship Queen Charlotte. II guns, one
hOwitzer.
Schooner Lady Provost. Is guns, one
howitzer.
Brig Hunter, 10 guns.
Sloop Little Belt, three guns.
Schooner Chippewa, one gun and two
swivels. 80
Barclay had 81. long guns. to Perry's
Is, and therefore greatly the advantage at
long-distaflee ,fghting.~t
The@cunfParafive strength of the two is
thus. tabulated:
Guns Shot thrown. Men.
American. Dbl lbs pounds. 490
British .63 $50 . 3O2
or the American crews 123 men We're
from the regular navy. while the rest OF
the 400 were raw recruits from the army
and elsewhere, of whom 116 were so pros
trated by lake fever and cholera mOrbus
as to be unfit for service during the action.
Barclay had 80 men from the royal
navy. 50 Canadian sailors, and $40 regu-
lar soldiers.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE.
AT rhe conference the night before
Perry had designated TO each of his COM
manders the vessel that he should attack
and overcome. The main battle was TO
be fought by the Lawrence and the
Niagara, with the smaller vessels keep
ing busy similar ones OF the enemy.
Perry, in the Lawrence. was TO attack
the enemy's most powerful ship, the De
troit. and as at close range her metal
was heavier than that Of her antagonist.
he felt confident of dsposing Of her.
Elliott in the Niagara, was TO attack the
Queen Charlotte. and as the Niagara =
battery of carrOnades would give her a
superiority at close quarters with the yes
sci opposed to her the result could be
anticipated. With the two principal YES
sells of the enemy knocked out, victory
would be assured. Just before they
parted Perry brought ont large. square
battie-fag, which. at his request. Mr..
Hambleton, the PufSer. had caused 10 DE
privately prepared at Erie. 1t was blue,
and bore. in large letters made Of white
muslin. the alleged dying words OF the
gallant commander of the Chesapeake.
Don't give up the ship
when this flag shall be hoisted 10 the
main royal masthead said the Com
modore. 1T shall be your signal for going
into action.
As the officers were leaving. lie said:
Gentlemen. remember Your instruc
tons. Nelson has expressed my idea IL
the words, If you lay your enemy close
alongside. you can not be out Of your
place Good night"
GOING OUT TO MEET TIE BRITISH.
At 10 O'Clock in the morning the Amerl
can vessels got under way and stood ou'
to sea, while hundreds of soldiers and civil
ians with anxious faces lined the shores tt
watch the battle Calling his men aft
Master-C ommandant Perry jumped on 8
gun slide and gave them short address, al
the close of which he displayed his large
blue flag bearing the immortal words OIL
the dying Lawrence, Don't give up tho
ship" saying:
MY brave lads. this flag bears the words
of Capt. Lawrence. Shall hoist it,
With one voice the men shouted, "Ay
ayl SIR"