The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-08-29
UNHONORED
And UNSUNG.
ANTHONY WILLIAMS HERO OF BAT
TIE OF LAKE ERIE FALLS AN
UNMARKED CRAVE.

uameless graves many men, whose
yalor ON corey battlefelds, whose
influence for good, whose mratyrdom
for truth and right should place
their names, if known, far up in the
temple of fame
The shoulder straps on when
bIaBes the generals star always at
tracts attention to a military parade,
and we ask. "Who is that fine look
ing oficer?" while the blue-coated,
palsied, with armless sleeve, hmps
by unnoticed,
We admiringly gaze upon mag
nificent painting OF some great bat
file. so true to life that we can almost
hear the dying groans and see the
0uivering lips as they, for the last
slime. breathe the name OF wife OF
mother. We ask and are told the
name of the wounded general fail,
ing from his horse, and the name OF
the brave colonel VINO has fallen
'y6,nded outside Of the Qualifications
Int none can tell US, even if we thlhN
ia ask the names of the brave men
who, facing death, are carrying tnel.
wounded general from the helu' OF
who have leaped over the parape|
facing bayonet and shell, and at the
risk of their own lives, rescue their
bleeding colonel ilom death or cap
ture.
How many Of the millions of men
and women who have gazed in Silent
awe at that great painting on the
walls of the nations capitol, showing
that daring passage of Commodore
Perry and eight others in an open
boat, from the flag ship Lawrence 10
the Niagara, during the terrible bat
lie of Lake Fire, September 10, 1873
remember of noticing anyone except
Commodore Perry and his noble
son? Yet, there were seven other
heroes in that boat, and mere chance
has brought to light the name ano
history of one of them.
On looking at this painting, or al
its Photographic reproduction, one
will see colored oarsman on the
left side of the boat with upllftet
hand. The name of this Afro-Amrei
can is Anthony Williams, and, as the
SEQUEL will show, no Drawer maj
fought under that immortal herr
who said on the afternoon of Sep
tember 10, 1913: owe have met th'
enemy and they are ours"
Anthony Williams was born II
Salem, Mass, and went to Erie, Pa.
In 1913, with Capt Elliott, who com
manded the Niagara in the battle o
Lake Erie until the Lawrence wa
disabled, after which Commodore
Perry made it his flagship. Anthem!
Williams as brave as a IoI
was possessed of more than ordinar!
intelligence, which Commodore PERI!
was quick to perceive and at ono
gave him a position at one Of tn
: guns, and his duty was to ran
home" the load. He soon familiar
lied himself with every detail, ant
before the memorable battle he coul'
ill, acceptably, any position at tn
guns. To give a just account OF tn
mart that Anthony William took Il
this engagement will be to give
history of this memorable battle.
Ut will be remembered that tn
p-;t;sb feet was commanded by Con
rnoJoTe Robert Heriot-Barclay,
skillful and experienced naval olnc az
Who had served with Nelson on IN
Nile and at Trafalgar, and conslsle
~ s;x vessels, including the new an
Stronelv-built Detroit, manned VIII
so9 we'll drilled officers and men an
carving GO guns, So OF whlcn WEI
Sono Guns while the American squa
~on consist OF nine small vessels ca
wing hut "a guns of shorter RAM
than the British cannon; 4lV vi
GERS and men; Of these !l6 were
fhe sick list, and three OF the Vesse
were very small, carrying put o
gun each. D,
put very few of Commodore ~
.vss men and had any naval expe
,ence or training whatever, and ma
had never seen a ship or gunooat I
fII q few DAYS before the battle.
was a motley crowd of hunters, fr'
fIersmen and militia, whose redee
ing characteristics were bravery. d
eagerness to fight The superior
of the enemy in numbers and in p
eIraI force and discipline was
Sent to Commodore Perry, but
esperness OF his men to learn IN
Snfies. their anxiety to meet
enemy. and their prompt and hea
response OF "Aye, aye, sir" wi
Commodore Perry, holding up
DAG said. "My brave lads, this
contains the last words of Can't
Lawrence. Don't give up the sh.
shall I hoist it," 1t gave Commo,d
Perry confidence in the result OF
coming conflict. He believed I
sucb bravery and patriotism wo
Weld to nothing except death
fhe result showed that his conflde
IN his men was not misplaced
The British losses were lofty,
killed and niuety-four wounded,
Americans lost twenty-seven killed
n;nctv-siv wounded OF the twel
seven killed and ninety-siX woun
IN the American fleet twenty-five
fine 15illed and siXty-one or
wounded we're on hoard the nag 5
lawrence. making eighty-three
ed and wounded out Of one hund
ann one reported fit for duty
hoard she Lawrence on the mornin
fhe hagtls There were two ~
and a,TSeuty.three wounded on DO
tie Nia&ara, twentv-two OF w
= -. ENfaNa