The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

Commodore Ferrys flagship at the fan
after the British guns had practically
CThe photograph of Commodore Perry
Erie. Pa, July 5.-Beautifully deco
in preparation for the centennial of Co
tomorrow by a Peace Sunday" and CO
the scene and the thousands more who
out Of the harbor. as she did a hundred
years ago. After leaving Erie she will
visit other lake ports and participate In
commemorative celeb2ations.
Perry's Sword ON Exhibition.
During the week of celebration the
sword used by Perry at the battle will
be on exhibition, as well as a brace of
pistols, and his flag inscribed Don't Give
up the Ship" The sword has been lent
by Perry Belmont. of New York, a grand
son of Commodore M. c. Perry. the broth
er of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.
the hero of the battle. Mrs. Alexander
Perry, OF Washington, D. c.. lent the
pistols. The flag is the property Of the
government Commodore NJ. c. Perry
commanded the naval forces of the Unit
ed States during the Mexican war. and
later opened up the ports of Japan to
American commerce. The relics were
secured through the efforts of Secretary
of the Navy Daniels. who has provided
a suitable guard for them during the
time they will be on exhibition.
Erie is a particularly propitious place
for the holding of a celebration in honor
of the famous battle of Lake Erie. Al
though the battle itself took place on the
western end of the lake. it was at Erie
that the boats Of the commodores fleet
We're built and manned.
The close of the first summer of the
war of 1872 saw the British in full pos
session of Lake Erie. Gen. Van Renssel-
laer was defeated at Niagara, in an un-
successful attempt to conquer Upper
Canada. and Gen. Hull had surrendered
at Detroit. The brig Adams. of 80 tons.
the only war vessel on the lakes flying
the American flag in 1872 had been cap
tured. The British had only to use their
fleet of five vessels to effect landing on
the southern shores Of the lake and
march inland to the heart Of the United
States. Gen. Harrison was in command
of the Northwestern army, with head
quarters at Sandusky. but 1t was a WELL
known fact that he would be unable 70
check the advance of the British, once
they started south. A fleet was neces-
sary to guard the southern shores of the
lake and endeavor to drive the British
from Lake Erie.
Trees FelIed; Made Into boats.
Capt Dobbins, commander of a mer-
chant vessel plying the lake, had been
captured by the British and released.
after which he carried the first official
news of the surrender of Detroit to
President Madison at Washington Dob
bins explained the situation on Lake Eric
and was commissioned to return to his
native town Of Erie and superintend the
building of an American fleet. Work was
l.
one ship carpenter. picked up at Buffalo,
and the aid of house carpenters and any
enc who could handle an ak. saw. or
hammer, trees were felled and the boats
constructed.
In ISL. Oliver Hazard Perry. then a
lieutenant from Rhode Island, ran the
Revenge on shore at Watch Hill, r. l.,
and wrecked her in a storm. He was
tried by court-martial, but acquitted. He
failed to get command when the war of
1872 broke out He later applied to Com
modore Chauncey and was ordered to
report at Erie Perry reported at Erie
where the work Of building the fleet was
in progress. In May. of 1913. he and
Capt. Dobbins went down to Lake On
tario. leaving Commander Taylor in
charge of the building at Erie. Fort
George fell and the British evacuated
the Niagara River frontier. Perry pur-
CHASED nVe vesseiA, lying below Black
Rock, the brig Caledonia, schooner Som
ers. sloop frippe and the schooners Ohio
and Amelia, each carrying one and two
twenty-four and twelve pound guns, and
started with this fiotilla to join the fleet
under construction at Erie. The British
fleet heard of this move of Perry's and
took steps to intercept him. The British
squadron at that time was made up of
the Queen Charlotte with seventeen guns,
Lady Provost with thirteen guns, the
Hunter with ten guns. Little Bell with
three guns and the Chippewa with one
gun. In a fog on the Eastern end Of the
Lake, Perry passed the British feet at
distance Of about five miles, neither
fleet being aware of the others presence
Perry arrived at Erie in the latter part
of June and rushed the work on the
boats being built there. By the middle
of August the boats had been completed.
armed and partly manned. Perry could
not get more than 800 men to man his
little feet. He set sail for Sandusky and
reported ready for action to General Har-
rison at that point on August II.
Perry's Little Fleet.
The fleet consisted Of the following
vessels. their respective commanders and
Lawrence, flagship, eighteen
cannon and two long
Commodore o. H. Perry;
Niagara, same armament, Capt. Jesse d. |
Elliot; Calendonia, three long twelve
Founders, Purser Humphrey Hagrath;
Ariel. four long twelve-pounders. Lieut..
John Packet: Trippe. one long thirty.