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

invaded our country, and though they
were brought to a standstiil before Fort
Meigs, they succeeded in cutting off and
massacreing Col. Dudleys regiment just
out of gunshot of the fort. They gained
complete possession of Lakes Michigan.
Huron and Erie, and had superior force
on Lake Ontario. An expedition under
Gen. Pike succeeded in capturing York,
now Toronto, but at the moment of vic
tory magazine exploded, by which Gen
Pike and one-fourth of his men were killed
or wounded.
The command of the Lakes was of the
greatest Importance. as il gave the Brit
ish control, through the means Of their
Indian allies, of the greater part of the
country west of the Allegany Mountains.
and made it possible. if not probable. that
the war would end in that region being
wrested away from the United States,
and annexed to Canada
Gen. William Henry Harrison had led
forward the Kentucky and Tennessee
militia In an attempt 10 recover the Amer
lean ascendency, but so long as the Brit
ish had control of the Lakes he could ad-
vance no farther than Fort Meigs. nine
miles above Toledo. However, he main
tanned himself there, though under the
greatest difficulties, his supplies having
to be brought hundreds of miles through
an unbroken wilderness. from Pittsburg
and Cincinnati. 1t was absolutely es.
sential for us to retain possession of what
are now the States of Ohio. Indiana,
Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. and TO
do this we had to regain control of the
Lakes beginning with Lake Erie.
LIEUT. JESSE DUNCAN ELLIOTT.
At this period appears upon the scene
Lieut.. Jesse Duncan Elliott, a stormy
petrol OF the Navy, whose conduct and
character are to be a ferment center for
the rest of his life. Elliott appears to
have been one of those officers, frequent
in the annals of war, who have courage.
enterprise and ability, but are determined
TO use them for their own advancement.
without regard to the rights of others or
the requirements of their country. He
was born i'm Maryland i'm 1882, and I'm
1S04, when he was % years old, was ap-
pointed Midshpman i'm the Navy. In
1910 he had gained his Lieutenantcy. and
when In iol2 Commodore Chauncey was
sent north to see what he could do To
make head against the British on those
waters he selected Lake Ontario and it's
tributary waters for his own immediate
field of operations, and sent Lieut.. Elliott
10 what is now Buffalo to see what could
be done there. At first Elliott showed
the greatest energy and CAPACITY. TIE
bought some small craft. gathered ND all
the house carpenters that he could find in
that thinly-settled neighborhood. and set
them to work. under the direction of y
naval constructor. whom he had brought
with him. to building vessels out of the
trees of the virgin forest. Guns. balls.
powder. chains, anchors and other iron
work were sent forward to him from
Pittsburg and New York. Ii was easier
getting this forward during the Winter.
when deep SHOWS made sleighing a com.
paratiyely easy and expeditions mode OF
travel. He selected Presq'Ile (now Erie.
Pa.) as his naval base, because the har-
Dor was defended by bar which the
heavier British vessels could not cross
He then gathered some militia to garrison
fort to defend the harbor The Britis,,
heard of his operations. and sent a coupie
OF vessels, the Detroit with six guns and
o6 men, and the Caledonia with two guns
and smaller number of men. down the
Niagara River to look after him. Ccr
Z, iSl2. they were anchored csi the nm.
poslte SIZE of the river and Lieut. Elliott
ofssnized party, attacked apa took botl,
with slight loss to himself releasing 4O
Anyerican prisoners confined on board
Then the difficulty was to get the ships
10 the American side of the river. and he
IA an exciting time, as the British forts
enG troops did their utmost to prevent