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

u. u, Id URSUA1, SHPIEA
ropes placed over shoulders Of .men, who
toiled patiently and willingly.
THE wArcHFUL BRITISH.
AS they rode out on the LAKE resi-
dent Of the Canadian shore put of in a
boat and informed Perry that the English
had dispatched q powerful squadron in-
der Capt. Finnis to intercept him. All
haste was made to get the vessels into
Erie. but they were so delayed by head
winds that at one time they made only
p miles in "a hours. To make their
position more critical, Perry was seized
with the lake fever, but he still insisted
on retaining command. After being buff
feted about for several days by boisterOus
winds, in momentary expectation Of cap
ture, they finally gained the harhor of
Erie only a few hours before, the British
squadron hove in sight and bl0ckaded the
port.
BY the 10Th of July the American yes,
sells were ready for sea, but there were
| only officers and sailors enough to man
one ship, and many of these men were
on the sick list. In the meantime the
British squadron maintained a rigorous
blockade, and Perry was compelled to see
the English colors fiaunted before his
eyes every day, while he was powerless
to act. He wrote repeatedly to Gen
Harrison. to Capt. Chauncey and to the
Secretary of the Navy. "Give me men,
sir, and l will acquire both for you and
myself honor and glory on this lake or
perish in the attempt" was his plea. On
the 23d of July he wrote to Capt Chaun-
cey: For Gods sake and your own and
mine. send me men and officers. and
will have the enemy in day or two
But his prayer was almost in vain. for
only few men could be sent to him.
and they were Of an inferior class,
motley set, blacks, soldiers and. boys"
Rumors that the enemy had planned a
land and water expedition against Erie
with view of destroying the American
squadron before it could get to sea again
reached Erie, and many Of the people
became panic-struck and fed to the in
terror. With what men he had Master
Commandant Perry. made the best posi-
BILE disposition for defense by throwing
up breastworks and batteries. but for
tunately the English were delayed in
massing their troops at Long Point, and
did not carry out their plans.
BY the close of July Perry had 300
men with whom to man his 10 vessels.
and even with this inferior force he de-
termned to get to sea at the first 0p-
portunity.. But now new difficulty con:
fronted him. The water in the lake had
gradually been falling. until now it was
impossible to get the brigs over the bar
without landing their guns and blocking
the vessels up on scows. To attempt this
in the face Of powerful blockading
squadron was worse than folly. and again
Perry was compelled to remain an mae
tive spectator. Commander Robert
Heriot Barclay, who had succeeded Capt.
Finnis in the command Of the British
squadron, was fully aware of his ad-
vantage. and remained off the ifarbor. de-
termined to prevent the Americans from
getting to sea; and as further preca,i-
ton, he sent spies into Erie to inform
him of any attempt that might be made
to get the vessels over the bar under
cover Of night. As the Americans did
Barclay. on Aug. 2, made sail for the
Canadian side of the lake, in order, it is
said, to accept an invitation to dinner
from the inhabitants Of Fort Dover.
Master-Commandant Perry seized the op-
p0rtunity, and on Aug. 4, without any
appearance OF preparation. he drorped
down to the bar with his ships. The
guns of the Lawrence and the Niagara
were quickly landed on the beach, two
large scows were brought alongside and
sunk nearly to the level Of the water, so
that the ends OF massive pieces of tim
ber, which had been run through the af-
ter and forward ports, passed over them.
Plugs were then put in and the water
pumped out Of the scows, and gradually
rising, they lifted the brigs higher out
of the water until they drew two feet less
than before. But even this was not suffi-
cient to enable them to pass over the
bar, and it became necessary to block
mp the tmbers and again sink the scows
and pump them out. This was done, and
before dawn the Lawrence and the
Niagara were safely over the bar. when
fboi nj ,nl
aratiOns were made to defend them. The
task had been accomplished none too
soon. for at 8 o'clock the following morn
ing the British squadron reappeared, and
after half an hour Of reconnoitering and
some harmless cannonading it made sail
for the upper end OF the Lake.
PERRY's SQUADRON.
The squadron which Master Command
ant Perry had now assembled consisted
of:
Brig Lawrence .(fagship,, Lieut.. John
j. Yarnall, mounting two long 12-pound-
ers and Is short 32-pounders.
Brig Niagara, Master-C nfant
Jesse D. Elliott, two long l2-pounders
and 1S short 32-pounders.
Brig Caledonia, Lieut. Daniel Turner,
two long 24-pounders and one short 80
FOUNDER.
Schooner Ariel. Lieut.. John II. Packett,
four long 12-pounders.
Schooner Tgress, Lieut.. Augustus IL.
NJ. Conkling, one long 32-ponnder
Sloop Trippe, Lieut.. Thomas Holdup,
one long 31pounder.
Schooner Porcupine, Midshipman
George Senate, one long 32-ponnder.
Schooner Scorpion, Sailing Master
Stephen Champlin, long 32-pounder and
one short 24-pounder.
Schooner Somers, Sailing Master
Thomas c. Almy, one long 24-pounder
and one short 32-pounder.
The squadron was thus superior in
strength to the British squadron under
Commander Barclay, and, the latter there
fore retired to the British base ut Maiden,
at the mouth Of the Detroit River which
is now known rs Amherstsb,irg. At
Maiden they were building brig, the De-
troit, to carry 10 guns, which when fin-
ished would restore, it was felt, the su-
periority of the British. Maiden was not
only the headquarters of the British navy
but also of the army, gathered for opera
tions in the Territory Of Michigan, north
ern Ohio, and Indiana. All the supplies
for both these forces had TO be taken mp
| the lake front Long Point, Gaaada. which
was nearest the settlements in Canada.
Commander Barclay. who was a gal
liant veteran Of the Nelson school, hay-
ing lost an arm and been. otherwise
wounded. was 4reatIy asfa1aiShed and die