The Republican journal., 1910-08-04

and summoning the commanding officers
of the several vessels of his little fleet
by signal to repair on board the flagship
for orders, he gave them in few words
their last instructions preparatory to
the approaching battle and unfolded the
Union Jack, which is a small blue flag
with white stars and on which was in
scribed in letters of white, Don't Give
up the Ship!" the motto of the American
navy. The sight of this flag, bearing
upon it the dying words of Captain Law
renee, brought enthusiastic cheers from
the officers and crews.
! AS the officers were about to take their
leave to go on board their respective ships
Perry declared that it was his intention
to fight the enemy at close quarters from
the first, and he could not advise them
better than in the words of Lord Nelson:
eff you lay yourself close alongside the
enemy you cannot be far out of your
place. AS soon, therefore, as the ap-
proach of the enemy warranted the dis
play of the signal every vessel was under
sail, beating out against light head
wind, and with boats ahead, towing.
I The object of this was to get to the
windward of a small island which lay
between the two hostile squadrons, and
thus gain the weather guage that they
might bear down upon the foe with this
important advantage. But the wind was
light and battling and Perry's patience
was severely tried by the incessant tack
ing, and seeing that much time was being
lost and little progress made, he called
out to his sailing master, Taylor: 'Wear
ship and run to the leeward of the ISL
andv' Then we will have to engage
the enemy from the leeward, exclaimed
Taylor. Il don't care d-n; to wind
ward or to leeward they must fight me
today was Perry's reply. He now
formed his line of battle and the wind
suddenly shifting he still had the weather
guage and headed clear of the island.
AT Ills a. m. a bugle was sounded on
board the enemy's foremost ship, the
Detroit. Loud cheers burst from the
threats of all their crews, and a ire
mendous fire was opened upon the Law
renee from the British long guns, and
the latters guns were so short that she
was obliged to sustain the fire of the
British for about forty minutes, until she
got within range, without being able to
fire shot. Losing no time in waiting
for the other ships Commodore Perry
kept on his course in such gallant and
determined style that the enemy sup
posed he meant to board Immediately.
About twelve o'clock, having gained
more favorable position, the Lawrence
opened fire, but the long guns of the
British still gave them the advantage,
and the Lawrence was badly cut up
while unable to do the enemy much dam
age in return. Their shot pierced her
sides from all directions, even killing the
men on the berth deck and in the steer
age, where the wounded had been car
ried to have their wounds dressed. 1t
appeared to be the enemy's plan to de-
stroy the flagship at all events, and the
heaviest fire from all their largest ships
was directed against the Lawrence.
Realizing the hazard of his situation
Perry made all sail and directed the
other vessels to follow for the purpose
of closing with the enemy. The ire
mendous fire to which he was exposed,
however, soon. cut away every brace and
many of the spars of the Lawrence, and
she became unmanageable. The other
vessels We're unable to get up, and in this
disastrous situation the Lawrence con-
tinued to receive the main force of the
enemy's fire. Though within canister
distance not more than three of her guns
could be brought to bear upon her an
tagonists. Throughout all these scenes
of CHASTITY horror the utmost order and
regularity prevailed, without the least
sign Of trepidation or faintheartedness
AS fast as the men at the guns were
wounded they We're quietly carried below
and others stepped manfully into their
places. The dead remained where they
fell until after the action was over. At
this juncture the enemy thought that
the battle was theirs. The Lawrence
had been reduced to mere wreck. Her
decks were streaming with blood and
covered with the mangled bodies and
limbs of the slain. Nearly the whole of
her crew We're either killed or, wounded
and her guns were nearly all dismounted.
The Commodore and the officers person
ally worked the few guns that were in
condition, assisted by the men that were
still capable of duty. According to an
account given by DR.. Parsons, the sur
geon of the Lawrence, the muscular
material was reduced to its absolute
minimum when the battle had ragged an
hour and half" He says: 81 heard a
call for me at the small skylight and
stepping toward it l saw that 1t was the
Commodore, whose countenance was calm
and placid. Dr., said he, send me one
of your men, meaning one of the six that
were detailed to assist me in the cockpit,