E356 .E6J8 Copy 2 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IIIHI DDDD50fil373 • I 1 • v^ :t <. 'o , I. * ,0 ■^•'- 0^ "-^^ r'\o^ *r..<^^ O ^""^t. . ^"•n#. ^ .l^nL'* > .-^^^^^ V V" » ' • " % ^^ ^'^ " ^^ *-'VV.* A ^bv ^°-v.. .55°.<. TVT* .A ■ %*^-'%o' . v*^'\^^' "°^*^^'^°' "V^'^^'y' • V..** :S^; %.<•* .-iSsM-. \/ .-'Jfe--. **.,** .-iMji-. \..^^* /ii w ""•♦ ^o 'f' A> ... ■0> :. '-n^o^ •' ^', "^-^^o* ^ r ' *l:^'* 1 * °' c>^ J.0 * 5-^ "^^ -J .* «0 l,"- -^r. C** ♦' ?^°--^. a." ^^•n^. ^'i'^ ..-•-. '^^ -^W^" .^ANI^^o ^-^^"^^ ° • ' ' A^ ^ ' • • 'A 'O. 'o . . .^°^ *- % ■<;* '^0^ -^-1°. A^ ^-^..o^ cv^^^oi'- -^ov^ :^&*- "-^--0^' !''^W-. "^bv^" ;;^&'< '-^^0^' "^^W- -^ov^" '^. *•!■'• a" •^-ov^ :j^^'^ '-^^o^' !^^^: ^^ov^' ;^^^'- "-^^o^' "^'^W-, ^ai^" y^^m>^\ '-^^.^ ^^-n.. V'i^ >'-^<^. VjKXF '^0^ ^°^ ' ^r 0° .i^^', °o ^^^^-^ mtpAt V /■ /' 'iv,.- / ■^^„ i'^^ ^ V THE GILBERT STUART PORTRAIT OF COMMODORE OLINKR UAXAUH i'KKkV. OWNED HV MR. OLIVER HAZARD PERRY OI-" LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS The "Niagara" Keepsake — Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Seitcs. Copyright, lUi:t, [>y The Journal of American History, o z: > 2 5 •- :: n a H « 's c = & !1 I o z u 2 D Cd X Q Id s J ComptlrtJ attb Publialjpii bg tijp Eiiiturial g'taff of eljr Sounial af Auwriratt l^iaturu. ln^pr llje Aua^trpa uf tlip Hoarii of pprrg'a lirtnra (Epnlrmttal CHommta- Huitwra nf X^t ^tnXs ai ^pnttaglnanta THE jiouxiNG ()i- Tin-; i.Arxiiiixi; THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY FORTY-SECOND STREET BUILDING, NEW YORK cr u ^ W^t **25^togara" (0n Hiatttng l^pr as ^1|p iCag, Scrrtttlg SatapJi, mt % i>l|ar? of iiistrg lag. lEri^, ^rnnBuluama, April 2, 1913 BY The Editor of The Journal of American History Who laid the ancient forest in tliis keel, Bowing his back to serve in this great oak, That rises, after fourscore years a-soak, To flout the metal tubs we now anneal, — As these wrought-iron spikes rebuke our steel ? What axe-song welded thee, what mighty stroke, Niagara, — Lawrence, and the rest, that broke Oppression from our starry Commonweal t Thine, Dobbins* — dauntless! Lo, thy frontier band God calls, Presque Isle's staunch men and women takes, — Strong, rough-hewn timbers and wrought-irdn, — makes A blade of destiny, hews Perry's hand To swing this Erie forest, whirls the brand. And sweeps the British insult off the Lakes ! * Captain Daniel Dobbins' own ax, October 34, 1813, felled the great black nak and hewed out the timber that afterwards became the keel of the " Niagara "—the hrst tree felled and the lirst timber hewn in the building of Perry's fleet. A SPIKE TAKEN FROM THE RAISED "NIAGARA" AS SHE LAV ON THE BEACH OF MISERY BAV, Al'RIL 7, 1913 Text and Illustrations in this Book are Copyrighted, V.\V\. by The Journal of American History AH Rights Reserved (g)CI.A36 98r)4 APR 25 1914 u Y^ -v THE MORNING OF THE LAL'NCHIN'G-STKRX VIEW O l' llil, ■M.\(,\K\ .sli(iKII.\ INTO THE \V.\ri;k, .11 NE 7, lul:! l:l:;i()KE SHE PASSED The ""NiayAra" Keepsake — Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series, Cupyriglit, iyi3, uy Tile Journal of American History. W\}t "Niagara" in tlir (Unttntutal drlrbrattmta Slip Patrtntir (rinttrilnttinn nf Ibf S'tatc nf ^Jrmtsyluania to lljf llicmnry of (Dlturr ifjajarii ilcrry mxb iTljoac Hlljo iFouiiIit Itiitlj i^tm IIY FRANK ALLABEN Editor in Chief of Tlie Journal of American History AF'PILY tlie people of the great State of Pennsylvania now own the historic " Niagara "' that carried Com- modore Oliver Hazard Perry's fighting flag to victory in the hattle of Lake Erie one hundred years ago. Through their able representatives, the Pennsylvania Board of Perry's \'ictory Centennial Commissioners, the people of Penns}ivania have raised the famous old brig from her long sleep at the bottom of " Misery Bay," Prescpie Isle Harbor, Erie, Pennsylvania; they have lovingly rebuilt and refitted her; and thev joyously are sending her on her gallant cruise through the (ireat Lakes this summer to salute the peoples of the vast empire of the '■ Old X'orthwest " which was won for the Stars and Stripes from the " Niagara's " staunch deck. Can any one be a Penns}ivanian and not exult in the com])lete success of this great patriotic achievement? Eor this service the whole country owes a debt of gratitude to Pennsylvania ; the State of Penn- sylvania is under deep oliligation to her Board of Perry's Victory Commissioners; and this Board is in turn grateful to its President, General A. E. Sisson, who has devoted his attention assiduously to the problems connected with the raising, rebuilding, and equipping of the " Niagara," and to Captain William L. Morrison, First Battalion, Naval Force, Pennsylvania, Commander of the U. S. S. " Wolverine," who for two years has worked enthusiastically with General Sisson, a volunteer \\ilhout i)ay, superintending every detail of the raising, rebuilding, and e(|ui])])ing of Perry's war-brig. At the launching of the " Niagara," Lieutenant-Governor r>ur- chard of Rhode Island, Perry's native State, uttered words which must stir the heart of every patriotic American. " On the sea and on the lakes, marking the eastern and western confines of the colonies, [7] PERRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR reconsecrated and rededicated as shrines of patriotism, shall float upon the beautiful waters by the shores that they defended, the invincilile old ' Constitution ' and the redoubtable ' Xiag-ara." ^'outhful feet shall tread their decks and youthful eyes shall kindle at the recollection of Lawrence's message and of Holmes' verse. These precious relics, lovinglv preserved by a grateful posterity, will carry down a messas^e from the patriot fathers to succeeding generations." To this noble sentiment every American heart will res])ond ; and we of other States g'ladly join with the people of Pennsylvania, not alone in honoring^ the heroes of 1812. who foug'ht for our freedom, but in honoring also the generous men of Pennsylvania who have brought up the brave old " Niagara " out of her tomb of seventy years at the bottom of their beautiful lakeport. in order that she herself, who went through the strife, might symbolize and eloquently recall to us our great responsibility and privilege of guarding the sacred herit- age that the heroes on her deck, and all the others like them, preserved at such great cost, to hand it down to us and to our children. When, by joint resolution of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed February 28. 1908, an Ohio Perry's Victory Centennial Com- mission was appointed by Go\-ernor Harmon to prepare ])lans for a centennial celebration on Put-in-Bay Island. Pennsylvania was the first of the other States to extend a hel])ing hand to Ohio. General A. E. Sisson of Erie, who had distinguished himself during several terms in the Pennsylvania Senate, and who was then Auditor-General of that State, drew the bill to create a Pennsylvania Board of Perry's \'ictory Commissioners. Fortunately for the State and for the whole country, as it has transpired, he himself became President of the Commission created under this bill. Associated with him were four gentlemen of Penn- svlvania, who have served their State in otiicr capacities and have cordially and enthusiastically cooperated with him in the measures connected with the " Niagara " which must make the centennial cele- brations of this summer of 1013 memorable for all time. These gentlemen are Honorable Milton W. Shreve of Erie. Representative in Congress from the district containing the City of Erie ; Honorable Edwin H. A^are of Philadelphia. Senator from the First Senatorial District of Pennsylvania ; Honorable Thomas C. Jones of IMcKeesport. formerlv Judge of Alleghenv County, Pennsvlvania; and Honorable George W. Neff, M. D.", of Masontown. Other States followed the example set by Pennsylvania until no less than ten States had undertaken to cooperate in making the Perry 3 ll I PENNSYLVANIA PERRY'S VICTORY CENTENNIAL COMMISSION HON. MILTON W. SHREVE cr^oN P M > "ON EDWIN H. VARE HON. GEORGE W. NEFF "0^. A. E. bISSON, Pr.s.dent ^^^^ THOM.AS C. JONES THE IXIACAKA KICKPSAKE Celel^rations of 1913 a matter of National inijjorl. Moreover, tlie Coiii^Tess of the United States was enlisted in this g'reat ]iatriotic enterprise, and appropriated a (|uarter of a milhon n\ dollars which, conditioned upon a proper financial cooperation h\- the i)articipating States, will become available in carrying out the proposed plans. Three commissioners were appointed to represent the United States Government: Lieutenant-General Nelson A. Miles, representing the Armv, Rear Admiral Charles H. Davis, representing the Navy, and General j. Warren Keifer. 'I he Commissioners for ( )hio are: George 11. W'orthington and John H. Clarke, Cleveland; S. M. Johannson, I 'ut-in-lki}- ; EV\ Winkler, Cincinnati; Horace Holbrook, Warren; William C. Mooney, Woodsfield; Horace L. Chapman, Columbus; George \\'. Dun, Toledo. The Commissioners for Michigan are: Arthur P. Loomis, Lans- ing; Roy S. Barnli;irt, Grand Rapids; E. K. Warren, Three Oaks; George W. Parker, I )etroit. The Commissioners for Illinois are: General I'hili]) C. Haves, Joliet; William Porter Adams, W illis |. Wells and Chesley R. Perry, Chicago; W. H. Mcintosh, Rock ford. The Commissioners for \\'isconsin are: John M. Whitehead, Janesville; A. W. Sanborn, Ashland; C. P>. Perrv, Wauwatosa ; S. W. Randolph, Manitowoc; Louis Bolnnricli, Milwaukee; Sol 1'. Hunting- ton, Green Bay: Rear Admiral Frederick ?\1. S_\-mon(Is, Galesville. The Commissioners for New ^'ork are: William Simon and Senator George D. En:erson, Buffalo; John T. Mott, Oswego; Clinton Bradford Herrick, ^I. D., Trov; Henrv Harmon Xol^le, Kssex. The Commissioners for Rhode Island are: Senator John P. Sanliorn, X^ewport ; Louis N. Arnold, Westerly; Sumner IMowrv, Peacedale; Henry E. Davis, W'oonsocket; Colonel Harry Cutler, Providence. The Commissioners for Kentucky are: Colonel Henry W'atterson and Colonel Andrew Cowan, Louisville; Samuel IM. Wilson, Lexing- ton; Colonel R. W. Nelson, Newport; Mackenzie R. Todd, Frankfort. The Commissioners for Minnesota are : \Y. H. \\'escott, Rose- mount; J. Edward Meyers, Minneapolis; Ralph W. Wheelock, St. Paul; Milo B. Prince, Owatonna; Clyde Kelly, Dulutb. All of these commissioners together form the Tnter-State Board, the general officers of which are George H. \\'orthington, President- General ; Colonel Henry Watterson, First \^ice-President-General ; Welister P. Huntington, Secretary-General; General A. E. Sisson, Treasurer-General, and Colonel Llarry Cutler, Auditor-General. [11] PERRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR Perry's Victory Centennial Committees have also been appointed in the different lake ports where special celebratinns have been i)lanned, and these Committees have l)een affiliated in an Inter-Citv I5oard, of which Honorable William J. Sterne, Mayor of the Citv of Erie, is President. In 191^ General Sisson drew np and had introduced in the Penn- sylvania Legislature another Ijill ])roviding' an ap])ro])riation. It was passed and on June 14, 191 1, approved and signed bv Governor Tener, making $75,000 of the money of the State of Pennsylvania available " to aid in the erection of a memorial on Put-in-Piav Island in Lake Erie, State of Ohio, in commemoration of the victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry at the l)attle of Lake Erie, and the centennial celebration of that event in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirteen." This bill provides that " no part of the money herebv appropri- ated shall be availalde for said celebration until the Commissioners appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania are satisfied that a suf- ficient sum has lieen appropriated, by the L'nited States and the States participating, for the completion of said memorial." Rut it closes with this very interesting exception: " Excepting, however, that said Commission mav expend from said apfiropriation such an amount as it may deem appropriate and advisable, under all of the circumstances, to be used to properlv recog- nize the fact, in connection with said proceedings, that the fleet com- manded by Commodore Perry at the P)attle of Lake Erie was con- structed in Pennsylvania, and sailed from the port of Erie to meet Barclay and the Piritish fleet, returning after the battle to Presque Isle Bay at that place, with all of the enemy, living, as prisoners of war, and all of his ships as spoils of war, — at which place the wounded of both sides were nvu'sed, — and where, at the bottom of the bav, now lie the remains of the ' Niagara," to which Commodore Perry during the battle transferred his flag from the disabled ' Lawrence '." This l)ill of General Sisson's will always have a special historic interest, first of all for Pennsylvanians, but equallv for all, as con- taining the first allusion in official documents of the Perrv Celebration to Perry's unraised flagship entombed in the harl)or at Erie. Who first definitely broached the splendid project of raising the " Niagara," — whether General Sisson of the Commission, or Captain Morrison of the Pennsylvania Naval Eorce aboard the " Wolverine," — it may be difficult positivelv to determine; but to both these gentle- men it early presented itself as a practical possibility, since which L13] CAl'TAIN WII.LIAM 1,. MORRISON. X. K. I'., COMMANDING U. S. S. " WOLVERINE " The "Niagara" KecpSiikc — Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, liUS, oy The Journal of American History. 2 X H o a O s u 2 w E w o w ■2: >- I. s THE NIAC.AKA KKEI'SAKK time they have enthusiastically worked together, early and late, with a success now known to the entire nation. From its foundation The Journal of American History has dedicated itself to the cause of a deep and genuine American patriot- ism. As the centennial of Perry's victory approached, its Editors began a work of research for tlie materials, textual and illustrative, to present the great decisive conflict in its true light. T was struck by the phrase in many of the enactments, provid- ing for a Perry Celebration, that this event should " take the form of an educational, military, naval and historical celebration." Visiting, early this year, some of the cities where celebrations had been ])lanned, I was, I confess, somewhat discouraged. I feared the greatness of the opi)ortunitv might not be fully realized, — the opportunity to (|uicken patriotism, in ourselves, our children and the whole country. P)Ut learning what General Sisson and Ca])tain Morrison were doing at Erie, supplemented by the local committees of that city, I became assured. 1 felt that the indomitable spirit of Captain Daniel Dol)bins still reigned there; that it was still tlie place of energy and action, where patriotic things are done, even as it was in those old days of 1812 and 1813 when the music of the hammer and the ax, which strong-hearted Dobbins and his men played in the forests of Erie, foretold the doom of British supremacy on the Great Lakes and prophesied the end of that threatening shadow of P>ritish dominion which lay over the " Old Northwest " and the still greater West beyond. From that moment this book has been planned as a tribute, not alone to Perrv and his heroes, but to the great State of Pennsylvania that has raised up the glorious old " Niagara " and given her back to us, that she mav again proudly dominate, throughout our jubila- tion, the waters of the Upper Lakes. We have been embarrassed by the wealth of interesting material collected. Scarcely a third of what has been gathered together can be compressed within the hundred pages to which this book is limited — that in price it may be brought within the reach of every American. The reproduction of Perry's fighting flag, on the back cover, has been faithfully made from an excellent photograph of the original. The field of the flag itself, about eight by nine feet, was originally blue, with letters about a foot high, cut out of white muslin and sewed upon it, forming the undying utterance of Captain James Lawrence of the "Chesapeake," as he was carried Ijelow, mortally wounded, " Don't give up the shi])! " The present dim, faded bluish tint of this [15] perry's \-ictorv centennial souvenir famous fighting- Imrgeon, — which flew from the masthead of both the •• Lawrence " and the " Niagara " during the l)attle, — has been faith- fully reproduced. On the front cover, reproducing the original oil painting in fac- simile, appears the famous portrait of Perry conceded by experts to be his' best likeness. It is from the painting by John Wesley Jarvis f(ir the City of New York. I^erry sat for this portrait in 1S16, at the invitation of the corporation of the City of New York. Through the courtesy of the Art Commission of that city it was taken down from its place into a perfect light for this book, so that four negatives through French screens might be taken by our expert color-engravers for "The Niagara Keepsake." Like one \\ith more flowers than he can asseml:)le in a bouquet convenient for the hand, we have tried to pkk and choose for this wreath which we would lay fragrant upon the memory of Perry and his heroes. FACSIMILE OF THE OBVERSE AND REVERSE OF THE MEDAL GIVEN TO COMMODORE PERRY BY CONGRESS AFTER THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE The "Niaj^'.ira" Ke(?psake— Perry's \icti.ry Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyrit;ht. ]9i:i. r>y Tlie Journal of American History. PORT SIDE UF THK '• \ I.\( lAKA " AS SHK CA M K II' (IL'T OF MISKRV i:\V. MARCH i:. llii;i SHOWING BULWARKS AND ONE OF HER GUN PORTS The "Niagara" Keepsake— Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 1913, ny The Journal of American History. STERN VIEW OF THE ■ NIAGARA/' APRIL 2, 1013. JUST AFTER SHE HAD KEI^N KhAUiKD UN THE bHuRE UF MISERY BA The "Niagara" Keepsake— Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 1913. oy The Journal of American History. isc: \^^ ®Iif laiBtu9 mtb Irbutltiing of X\}t "Niagara* Qllir lErntarkaMf (Emtiiittmt of Prrry'H (Dlb Hiar-Hrtg aa *hp (Eautf Up (Ditt nf tl]p laii. fHakimj it Pusatble to (6ft All ^rr iGiHra atti IJratorr l|rr aa i'lje Haa The Editor of The Journal of American History S eaiiv as initl-suniiiier of 1912 Ca])tain W. L. Morrison was authorized by General Sisson, in liehalf ol the I'ennsvlvania Perry's X'ictory Centennial Coniniission, to employ a diver to make a careful examination ot the condition of the " Niagara " after her eighty years' _ sleep at the bottom of Misery Bay. The diver was promptlv employed and the examination made. " At the request of the Pennsylvania Perry's A'ictory Centennial Commission." reads Cai)tain Morrison's report, made at the time, " the T. A. Gillespie Company diver was engaged to make an examina- tion of the Niagara, sunk in Misery Bay, part of Erie Harbor, Pennsylvania. " The wreck is located in about twenty feet of water, ])uried on an average in six feet of sand and mud. The starboard side was intact to a height of some six feet. The port side was more com- pletely buried in the sand, and seemed to be in fair condition. The stem and stern-post were intact. " I respectfully submit and consider it practical to rebuild this ship, and from the examination am satisfied that two-thirds of the original structure is still intact." The contract for raising and beaching the " Niagara " was let November 10. 1012, " but owing to the severity of the weather and snow storms," in the words of Cai)tain Morrison. " the work could not l)e satisfactorily accomplished as in more suitable weather." During the fall and winter the work went on slowlv, most of the time through holes cut in the ice covering Misery Bay. Working [19] PERRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR through twenty feet of water, a sand sucker was used to uncover the hull which lay huried in six feet of sand. With the removal of this sand, pre])arati()ns were made for the work uf raising hy passing lour chains under the hull. As described l)y Ensign Kessler, of the " Wolverine," to accom- plish this, " two pieces of two-inch ])ipe were joined at an angle and attached to the bottom, giving a hyclraulic pressure of approximately two hundred pounds per square inch. This pii)e then formed a verv powerful jet, which was placed in position at one side of the wreck and gradually forced under the hull by means of the hydraulic pres- sm^e behind it. The mud and sand were blown away, inch by inch, and the pipe-jet forced further and further under the wreck, until THE LINES OF THE " XIAGARA "— WoXDERFl'LLV "FAIR AXD SWEET" ropes attached to the ends of this pii)e-jet could he fished up on the opposite side of the hull and a heavy chain, attached to these ropes, drawn underneath the vessel." Four chains, one forward, one aft, and two amidships, were thus placed around the sunken hull and made fast to strong beams, sup- ported on pontoons, one on either side of the wreck. The actual raising was then begun, the hull of the historic battle-brig being " raised a link at a time," as expressed in one of Captain Morrison's reports, " l)v means of a twenty-foot lever." The " Niagara " was brought to the surface on a blustering day, March 6, 1913, without any damage or breaking of her hull. Gradu- ally the old brig, still chained to the beams supported by the two pontoons, as described, was shifted toward the shore of Misery Bay. [20] o y. c K tj > o 3 -- "1 X c H ^ S3 VIMW OF THE "NIAGARA." Al'KlL i:. I'.H;:. SI AK.r.' iaK.I ' MIH . I.MOKING AFT The "Niagara" Keepsake— IVrry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, mi;i, II.V riic Journal of American History. THE NIACAKA KI'.KI'SAKE On account n\ ice and the severe weather, tlie actual heachiny- was delayed until April 1, I'H.x The state in which tlie " Niag'ara " reached the surface, on Alarch (), is best descrilied in a rejiort niade by Captain Morrison: " 1die condition of the hull is as follows: — ■' The starboard side was gone to the point of the turn of the bilge. The port side was intact amidships to the heighth of the rail for a distance of sixty feet, showing six gun ports. Idiis section had to be removed before the shi]/was hruiled out, as there were no decks left to support same. ■■ The keel, stem, and stern-posts, and natural knee lloor timbers were in an excellent state of preservation, and will be used in the re- building of the brig. The bulwarks were of white pine, with red cedar and black walnut stanchions; the gun-ports, ten (10) feet center, were thirtv-six (36) inches sfpiare. r)olts, that held the gun britchens, extended through the bulwarks and are fastened with slot and key. " the action of the acid in the oak, in contact with the iron spikes, had in some cases eaten a hole two inches in diameter around the spikes. In other cases it had apparently preserved the wood, and made each spike appear like a knot. ■■ The planking was worn away, presumably by the action of the sand, on an average of one inch. The oakum in the seams is still intact, and the seams were further calked with tea lead. "One i)oint which may throw light on the Terry-Elliot contro- vtrs\' was discovered: ■' A l.olt apparently by accident, had been driven some eight inches through the keel, into possibly a keel block, and when launched this keel block might have been carried with the ship into the water; and, if not, this bolt would have calked weeds, accounting for the inabilitv of the Niagara to engage sooner in action." One of our illustrations shows a gun-port on the side of the " Niagara," as she came up through the ice. ]\Iarch 6, and .shows her bulwarks still erect above deck on this side to the height of the rail. Other illustrations, from photographs taken by Lieutenant Nick of the " \\V)lverine " on April 2. the day after .she was beached, show the substantial condition in which the " Niagara " came to shore, the bulwarks on the port side having been removed. The contract for the rebuilding of the " Niagara " was signed on Saturday evening, April 5, and on ^Monday following, April 7. the work began. Cin that day the writer, through the courtesy of PERRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR Captain Alorrison, spent several hours inspecting tlie liistoric relic. The hull was then set squarely into position, blocked up from the shore, with a proper bed and ways constructed. The lines of the vessel, with all her principal dimensions, etc., had been taken and transferred to a temporary mold loft. These lines and other data were transferred by Captain Morrison and Ensign Kessler of the " Wolverine," and the drawings are here given. Thc\- show how ad\'anced was the art of ship-building a hundred years ago, as practiced by Henry Eckford and Noah Brown. They are wonderfully " fair and sweet "' lines. On April 7 the plank- ing on the sides of the " Niagara " was intact, as sIk.iwh in the photographs taken April 2; and as I stood at her stern-jxist, where THE LINES OF THE ■■NIAGARA," STERN VIEW she lay blocked and erect, and saw her graceful and beautiful sides, I realized with a wondering thrill the truth expressed by Lieutenant- Governor Burchard at her launching, that she was " built like a ship and modeled like a yacht." She was, indeed, built on the lines of our famous clipper ships of that period, the wonders of the world, but skilfully adjusted to the shallow waters of Lake Erie, with a shallow draft. \Mth hcr sails up she could undoubtedly scud before a fresh breeze, — sailing qualities which served her and us well in the battle of Lake Erie. Whether or not the projecting bolt in her keel, dragging the seaweed which abounds in the lake at the season when the battle was fought, retarded her movements while the earlier, lighter airs prevailed, [34] O H U 't1 o .1 ^ "I « ^- -J : if o z 5 M THE NIAGARA KEEPSAKE certaini}-, after Coniniodorc IYmtv reached her deck and the l>ree/'e fresliened, tlie swiftness with which slie, responchng to his will, came up and hroke throug-h tlie British hnc, before tlie " Queen " and the " Detroit " could ^s^et disentangled, decided the issue of the battle. 1 was also struck by the staunch and rugo-cd timbers Imilt into the " Niagara." A forest was spoiled to make her. The ril) between every frame was (is, for these ribs are still in her) a " natural knee." Trees forking at a proper angle were selected and cut down so as to afford this natural liend, giving the old brig wonderful strength and abilitv to bear shocks and strains. Her keel is of black oak Till'. STAR I'LAX OF Till-; "XIAGARA' timber, fourteen by eighteen inches, reniarkalilx' ]ireserved. It has been used in its entirety in the rebuilding, as has most of the keelson, which is of timber ten by twelve inches. The frames are twelve inches wide at the keel, with a center distance of twenty-one and a half inches. The planking was of three-inch oak. ller hull was held together by wooden pins, "tree-nails," and hand-hammered wrought-iron spikes — materials as substantial as the solid timbers they fastened. While some oakiuu was used, the brig v.-as largely calked with lead, a novel feature explained 1)y the state- ment of Noah Brown that oakum was hard to get. The lead made her al)Solutely secure and water tight. The steeler in the dead wood aft, instead of being of ])lanks, |2Tl PERRY S \ICTORV CENTENNIAL COUVENIR was carved out of a single piece of wood. From stem to stern-post the " Niagara '" is one hundred and eighteen feet lushnell sang "Don't Give L'p the Ship," written by the lulitor of Tiik Journal of American History. Lieutenant-Governor Burchard of Rhode Island followed with a short but inspired address; after which Mr. Shrcve, Congressman and Perry Commissioner, de- livered an address of great historical interest. These papers are not dwelt upon here, but are given in lull in the pages immediately following. It will be seen that the si)irit running through them is one of dedication and consecration, at this tune when we recall our heroes, many of whom died for us, while all offered themselves for the sacrifice should Providence so ordain. With such memories, and with such thoughts stirring those who have had to do with the raised and renewed vessel, the grand old ■■ Niagara " goes forth to greet the children's children of those who fouglit, and those who died, upon her stalwart deck. Ma\ she tell us all a story of the seriousness of the life we are in, and make us great of heart. The final launching of the " Niagara" in the evening was not without dramatic lieauty. Not many of those present in the morning witnessed it. I was at the time in attendance upon a meeting of the Pennsvlvania Commissioners, in General Sisson's oiilice, where some details connected with the present book were decided. Afterwards I accom])anied General Sisson to the Reed Blouse where he was to meet Governor l.urchard. 1 went up to my room and looked out through one of its north windows, over the roofs of I^-ie, o\er I'.rie Harbor, and over Misery Bay to its far shore, where I had been able dailv to see the light-colored Imlwarks and dark hull of the " Niagara " against the woods. I did not see them now. She was gone ! [37] TKRin- S \-ICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR I hastened dnwn ami intc.irnied General Sissnn that 1 believed they had bronghl her off. I shall never forget the brig-lit smile of relief that lit his face; and when I oft'ered to go ont and make certain, I am sure he could have blessed me. I had not far to go. The " Niagara " had just completed her launching and had been brought in. 1 carried ihe welcome tidings to General Sisson and Governor P>urchard, and we felt that the day was like the golden sunshine in which it set. The relief shown bv General Sisson gave me a glimpse of the burden he had been carrying. A remark he had made a night or two before came back to me — that the raising and rebuilding of the " Niagara " was almost as serious as the battle of Lake Erie. They at least ha^'e this in common — both have turned out to be great victories. We all.^the State of Pennsylvania and the whole country, — owe a debt of gratitude to General Sisson, and T feel sure we shall find some w^ay to pay it. I learn from eye-witnesses that when the " Niagara "' completed her journey down the ways, at 6:20 P. M., she glided into deep water like a spirit, and slowly performed several complete revolu- tions, as if bowing to the shore she had left, and saluting the entire country, as well as her late enemy, Canada to the north. A few moments later the " Commodore Perry'" was gently leading her to- ward the Public Landing of Erie. Such pleasure craft as were on the scene saluted her with their whistles, but they were not many. The band that had gone over to escort her in the morning had long since disap])eared. P>ut at this moment James Cavenaugh found a piccolo in one of the little boats, and at once sent the bars of " The Star-Spangled Banner" out over the bay; and to this simple elo(|uent strain the " Niagara " rode in to her mooring. So mav it be throughout the summer, and throughout all her years. Full bands will salute her. She deserves it. But amid all this, may we not forget. On the sweet notes of the piccolo may the " Niagara '" send the music of the Star-Spangled P)anner deep down into our hearts. WOOD FROM THE "LAWRENCE," HELD iiV THE liULl'ALO UISTUKICAL SUCIETY The "Niag.ira"' Keepsake— Perry's Victury Centennial Souvenir Series Copyright. iyi3, Dy Tlie Journal of American History. BEXTVMIN FLEMING, SAILOR AROAUn THE " NIAGARA " IN THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, WHO DIED -' IN 1870, AGED 00, LAST SURVIVOR OF THE FLEET LIVING AT ERIE The "Niajjara" Keepsake— Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Scries. Copyritjlit, 19i:i, iiy Tlic Journal of American History. Q H O H z o o 2 (5 ■< Wl}n\ tlir lEucmu Has iExuItaitt nnii Ollimiyitt Sip ii^aii Wan tljr Ulattlp, (!I^lmmn^ln•p Ikvri] ulrattafcrrf i» l^iii jFlay tu tlip "3)Jtaaara." aiib ttt frum iFiftrni lu lEigI|tmi flltmilrB, iHa^r tlip ^tara aiiii ^tripra Cum- ylrlrlit Utrturunta HONORABLE A. E. SISSON President of ihe Board of ihc Perry's V'ictory Centennial Commissioners for ttie State of Pennsylvania Treasurer-General of tbc Inter-State Board, and late Auditor-General of the State of Pennsylvania [At the launching u! the "N'agara." June 7. 1911] ' E liave re-launched Commodore Perry's Old Flas^-Ship, the " Niagara," and Daughters of the American Revo- lution and members of the Society of the War of 1812 are here to welcome the Brig as it returns to these northern waters in the process of being restored to its former condition. It \\ as built here one hundred years ago with five others of the nine ships composing Commodore Perry's fleet — the " Lawrence," " Niagara," " Ariel," " Scorpion," " Tigress," and " Porcupine." The first three were built at Cascade Run, near the Pittsburg Docks, and the latter three at Lee's Run, just above the old Gas House. They carried forty-eight of the fifty-four guns of Perry's fleet. This fleet was built for a purpose. Its errand was to defeat and drive from these waters the P>ritish fleet under Commodore P)arclay and regain dominion and control thereof for the United States. How well it performed that errand has been history for a century. The fleet left Erie on August 12, 1813, in search of the enemy, and in one month from that time it returned to Erie with its errand fulfilled. Mv purpose is to have you glance hastily with me at Commodore Perry and the " Niagara " at the end of the battle in which they took such a cons])icuous ])art. It was fought, you will remember, near Put-in-Bav, where a memorial is in ])r()cess of construction, on .^e])- [41] PERRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR tcni1)er 10, 1.S13, licginning at fifteen minutes lieforc noon of that day. The presenee of the " Niagara," now here hefore our eyes, tends to increase our interest in the exact part this historic vessel took in the Ijattle. Before 3:00 (/clock, P. M., tlie " Lawrence," the sister ship uf the " Niagara," which had. with Commodore Perry in command, l)orne the brunt of the l)attle up to that time and withstood the concentrated lire of the whole r>ritish fleet, was disaliled — eighty-three of the one hundred and three men on board were killed or wounded; the deck was slipperv with blood, which ran down the sides of the shii?; the wounded and the dead lay thickly strewn ever\-\\here around; every gun in the ship's 1)attery, on the enemy's side, was dismounted ; every brace line had been shot away, and the vessel had beci mie unmanage- able. Commodore Perry then transferred his flag to the " Niagara," reaching her deck at fifteen minutes before 3 ;0O o'clock. At that time the enemy was exultant and thought he had the battle won. In from fifteen to eighteen minutes from that time. Commodore Perry had, with the " Niagara." cut the British line — passing between the " Ladv Prevost " and the " Chippewa," on his left, and the " De- troit " and ■' Queen Charlotte " on his right. He raked the " Lady Prevost," at half pistol shot, w ith his port broadside, and poured his full starboard broadside on the " Detroit " and " Queen Charlotte." The carnage on board all of the P.ritish ships was terrific. Barclay was wounded. The Commander of the " Queen Char- lotte" v.'as killed, and the second officer in rank was wounded. The sur- vivors of the " Lady Prevost " had fled below, leaving on deck the Commander, who had received a severe wound in the head. The " Detroit " was practically dismantled. The " Queen Charlotte " was the first to surrender, and the " Detroit " and " Lady Prevost " (|uicklv followed The "Chippewa" and the "Hunter" tried to escai^e, but were overhauled and brought back. Thus, within eighteen minutes from the time her new commander reached her deck, this ship turned defeat into victory and won one of the most conspicuous victories in the naval history of the world; and the Nations, there contributing, since that battle was fought have been blessed with one hundred years of peace between them. [42] ■J ■n a 2 I ■J o o J in X Q a ■J Q a 5II|f Patriotir iDaiunIjlrrs nf Hip Amr rirau lUritnluttmt ^^oU\ ttt iSritrrrttt iHfmory the iS'amra anh iinbs uf tlie iflcn Wljii Hlmt thf Prirrlrsa i^critaup nf IFrcriJiim Ulitrly Jfavnm tljf 5FiiuuiJatiun i-trntc nf ODur (6rcat SJrjiublir BY SARAH A. REED Reeent of Presque Isle Chapter of the Daujhters ol the American Revolution, of Erie. Pennsylvania [Address at the launchinc of the old «ar-brirr. "Niacara. "June 7. 191!. accompanyine the presentation by the "DauEhters" of Presque Isle Chapter of a Portrait of Commodore Perry to be hujii; in the cabin of the Niasara"] r ha.s been in year.s past, and will alway.s be, tbe ,si)ecial niis.sion of "The l)aughter.s of the American Rcvo- hition " to hold in reverent memory the names and deeds of the men who won for themselves and for ns, their descendants, that priceless heritage of freedom which forms the foundation stone of our great Re- public. No intelligent student of history regards the war, commonly spoken of as " The War of 1812," other than as the grand final of the "Revolutionary War;" for not until "The Treaty of Ghent" was signed, in 1814, did England really relin(|uish her claim upon the cofonies, and not till then was our Republic left free to carve out for herself the great destiny that in a little over a century has placed the Tnited States of America among the world's great and inllucntial nations. So we feel that wc have a right to claim Oliver Hazard Vcrxy as one of the heroes of that great struggle that brought constitutional libertv to the whole Anglo-Saxon race. And this old battle-ship, that has risen from her century of re])ose beneath the waters of Presque Tsle Bay, has a mission to perform. She is to go up and down the chain of Great Lakes and remin make ConinnKlore Perry and his brave seamen seem real actors in the great drama of the Inhklins' of our nation. So we welcome the battleship " Niagara " back to the waters through which she rode to victory in 1813, and honor the staunch old timers that helped to make the British lion bow to the American eagle. We, daughters of the American Revolution, wish to tliank the men who have helped this old ship to renew her youth; and as her brave Commander can not come back in person to walk her rejuve- nated decks and guide her back to the scene of her victory, we have come to beg the privilege of jjlacing his portrait on the ship that shares, with him, the immortal honor, not only of winning a great Naval victory, but of helping, by that victory, to bring on an era of peace with the ^Mother country, so that we can celebrate the close of a century of harmony and good will with our brothers across the sea, and join hands with them in that great world-wide movement that is striving to hasten on the blessed day when war shall cease in all the world. A I'lKLL ul- VVUUU FROM THE •■ L.WVRENCE," PRESERVED BY THE BrFF.\LU HISTORICAL .-OCIETV The "Niagara" Keepsake — Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 19i:t, oy The Journal of American History. TRR vrcToR OF T AK"^ FRIF FROM V PORTRAIT, AFIER JAKXIS. I RAMHH IN Wdol) FROM THE THE \ IcroR OF L;^^;i^4K^'^^cE," IN THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY The "Niagara" Keepsake-Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 1813, t>y The Journal of American History. Jioittmof* i€* ,^ r,^« J^MES liA>VRK7V^CK KSQ ^-/t/e i^/ l/i^ cMided '■/itil^j ^y/ii'-/y £ff//rti t'if /(' f f^K . i'ta/f,//. Mtit/uzi £,\t.^td jrv'.-rfi^y ti-.i.ti/'i THE HERO OF THE ■•CHESAPEAKE," WHO GAVE HIS NAME TO ONE OF PERRY'S BRIGS AND HIS DYING WORDS TO PERRY'S FIGHTING FLAG The "Niagara" Keepsake — Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, iyi3, oy The Journal of American History. El]t IJcrru's Birtaru (Erntntntal ^nug BY The Editor of The Journal of American History [Sunff by Wilson Root Bushnell, bariionc. al the launcbine of tlic " Nia^jara." Junr 7. 19] i, ati.l by the Eric. Pennsylvania, Hieh School Chorus, six hundred voices. led by Dr. Charles G. Woolsey. before the i;r.il:d- stand on " Mothers' and Children's Day." at Erie. July 8. 191 !j I Heirs of the heroes, stout of lieart and hip. Gird us to stand, the reahn they won to hold, God of the Sweet Land, witli the brave and l)old Lawrence and Perry, shouting, " Don't give up the shij)! " II Heirs of the strong men, great of soul and gri]), Gird us to stand, the freedom wrought to hold, God of the Sweet Land, with the brave and bold Lawrence and Perry, shouting, " Don't give up the ship!" ITT Heirs of the sweet dames, pure in faith and Hi), Gird us to stand, the love they gave to hold, God of the Sweet Land, with the brave and liold Lawrence and Perry, shouting, " Don't give up the ship! " I\^ Heirs of the Fair Flag, Stripes and Starry Dip, Gird us to stand, its glory stainless hold, God of the Sweet Land, with the brave and bold Lawrence and Perry, shouting, " Don't give up the ship! " Chorits Faith of the fathers, shall we let thee sli])?" — Land of the glorv of the Starry Dip! Love less the Sweet Land of the Fair Flag? Never! Till death from life the immortal echo sever, R(-)lled from dying Lawrence into living Perry's lip, " Don't give up the shi])! " By God's strong Heart, we trust in ever. Never! Never! We won't give up the ship! LIEUTEXAXT-GUVEKXUR lURLlIAKU 1 )b:LI\' KRIXG HIS ADDRESS AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE -NIAGARA" The "Niay-jra" Keepsake — Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Cupyriglit, 1H13, Dy The Journal of American History. (§n tl^c #ca attti ntt tl|c iCakra, lHarking tlic lEaatpru m\h HJfBtfru (Hmtfiucfl uf tljr (Cnlmttra. iSrrmtaprralfii mxh SiriiciitratciJ aa ^lirtura nf IJatriutiam. S'ljuU iFluut ll^tnn tl]P Prarrful Watcra bg tlif i'linrr a tliat (Iljru Dcfnilirti. lljf Juuinribk (0li» "(Hmtatitutinu" aitti tijf Sciioubtabk •'Niagara" relic () HONORABLE ROSWELL B. BURCIIARD Lieutenant-Governor of the State of RLode Island [At the Launching of the risen, batlle-scarreJ veteran uf the War of 1812. the old " Niagara." June 7. 19U] AUGHTERS of the American Revohition, Meinl)ers of the Comniission, and patriotic friends here as- sembled: — Now that this famous battleship, rebuilt and rejuvenated, is ready to he launched again into the embrace of her native and familiar waters, we have gathered to show our appreciation of this revered heroic davs and to do homage to the men who built her and drove her, through a baptism of fire and blood, to victory and to glcM-y. Rhode Island, the State of Perry's nativity, and whose soil en- shrines his venerated dust, gladly participates in this tribute to the memorv of her distinguished son and of your forefathers who fol- lowed him into the fight. It is hard to realize that when this shiji was built here, a hundred years ago, your now great and pros])erous city was a lakeside settle- ment of less than five hundred people, and that they comprised half the dwellers on this side of the lake. It is harder still to a])])reciate that the destinies of our nation hung upon the fate of these little vessels, no larger than the yachts that only half a century later were raced across the ocean for sport. The practical lesson taught by Perry's victory, — the same that [Ml perry's victory centennial souvenir was taught again at Santiago, — is that preparedness, l)acke(l liy valor, leads to victory ; and that one is impotent without the other. Let no one imagine, as I think many of us have done, that the little ships of Perry's fleet were makeshifts, crudely framed and knocked together hy the woodmen of Lake Erie. The highest skill entered into their design and construction, and the people of this com- munity, your progenitors, led hy Captain Daniel Dobhins. share with Perry in the credit due for the heroic effort to build a fleet of de- fenders whose exploit was destined to place the names of the " Lawrence " and the " Niagara," along with the " P.onne Homme Richard," the " Constitution," and the " Chesapeake," among the watchwords of American Patriotism. To the performance of this task your people of Presque Isle brought the highest naval skill from the East. The best was what they*\vanted and what thev obtained. The foremost ship designer and builder of his time at New York, Henry Eckford. designed these vessels, and Xoah L>rown of New York, one of the ablest master ship- wrights in the country, came to superintend the work; and the grace- ful modelling and skilful construction of this vessel [pointing to the " Niagara "] show the guiding of the master hand. To assist in the building and rigging of the fleet, ship carpenters, one hundred and fifty of them, I understand, were brought from New York, and block and sail-makers and riggers came from Phila- delphia. And this vessel, as she stands upon her native shore this morning, reveals the form of a graceful, little clipper-ship, properly fashioned for tlie navigation of these waters and for the work she was destined to perform; her topsides cumbered, of course, with bul- warks and ports for the purpose of combat, — but, nevertheless, a vessel built like a ship and modelled like a yacht. It is a matter of lasting pride to the people of the State that I have the honor to represent here to-day, that, besides Perry, she sent to your assistance over one hundred and fifty sailormen from Narra- gansett Bay; and your native pioneers, men of hardihood and cour- age, with this alliance and the aid of the sharpshooters from Ohio and' Kentuckv, gave into the command of Perry a force which his masterful discipline and inspiring leadership fjuickly moulded into a little navy ready to face any odds or to meet any fate. An event is made momentous not so much by the magnitude of armaments as bv the fortitude and the valor of men; and an admiring and grateful nation, during the anniversary upon which you are entering, will render due homage to the men of Presque Isle who [52] H 1 a CJ p c. ^ I 1 u: ^ 'A 2 >> rt a CJ) 2 U O ?: A H D O u o c c d ■z S .2 THE NIAGARA KEEPSAKE converted their forest trees into a navy, and a band of volunteer sea- men and ritlenien into naval heroes, who met and conquered a superior fleet led by a commander trained in ihc art o\ war under Nelson, a veteran of Trafalgar Bay, .-md who, for the lirsl lime in history, wroug-ht the annihilation of an iCnglish ileet. The thunder of Perry's cannon proclaimed upon \our inland seas the Rhode Island watchword, " Hope." In the liour of dire de- spondencv, when Winchester had surrendered and the army of the northwest had been rent asunder, when the savage and merciless foe were at your doors, and when the gloom of defeat hung like a pall over the land, it was the llame flashing from these bulwarks that rekindled the fires of National glory, revived the languishing spirit of 1776 in the lireasts of men, and turned the shame of Detroit and Mackinac into the triumphs of the Thames, Niagara, and lAmdy's Lane. The invading army was annihilated, the infamous Proctor put to flight, the warrior Tccnmptha slain, and I'.ritish control over the Indian allies forever broken. Gentlemen of the Perry Centennial Commission, you have done well in restoring this memorable relic of the prowess of your fore- fathers. Our grateful ap]ireciation is due es])ecially to your Presi- dent, General Sisson, who ardently has pushed the well-conceived idea to success, and to Captain Morrison of the Pennsylvania Naval Reserves, who so ably has carried out this labor of sentiment and devotion. On the sea and on the lakes, marking the eastern and western confines of the colonies, reconstructed and rededicated as shrines of patriotism, shall float upon the peaceful waters by the shores that they defended, the invincible old " Constitution " and the redoubtable " Niagara." Youthful feet shall tread their decks and youthful eyes shall kindle at the recollection of Lawrence's message and of Homes' verse. These precious relics, lovingly preserved by a grateful posterity, will carry down a message from the patriotic fathers to succeeding generations, — the message heard at Monterey and Buena \'ista, at Sumpter and Antietam, at Santiago and Manila Bay, — that .\merican valor is ever equal to cope w ith impending peril, against odds however appalling, when humanity or the love of country calls patriots to arms. [Note by the Editor of The Journal of American LIistorv. | Governor Burchard's beautiful words, linking together the two old war veterans, die "Constitution" and the "Niagara," recall [55] PERRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR Lincoln's immortal utterance on the field of Gettysburg', and remind us that we, the living expression of the patriotism which these old vessels symbolize, must everywhere, throughdut the Nation, reconse- crate and rededicate ourselves, at these shrines, to carr\- on the great work l)e(|ueathed to us by our fathers, in the spirit in which thev began it. A bit of history is interesting in this connection. Governor Burchard arrived at Erie on June 6, the day Ijefore the launching of the " Niagara," and sent a telegram, a copy of which follows: " Erie, Pa., June (>. 1913. '■' To the Secretary of the Navy, " Washington, D. C. " I respectfully suggest that instructions be wired to the Charles- town Navy ^"ard that the old Constitution dress ship to-morrow in honor of the launching of Perrv's Niagara. ^" R. B. BURCHARD." To the aliove Governor Burchard received the following rei)ly from the Secretary of the Navy: " Washington, D. C, fune 7, 1913. "Hon. R. B. Burchard, . " Reed House, Erie, Pa. " Re])lying to telegram regret Constitution is out oi commission and personnel not available to commission, in which status vessel must be to permit dressing ship. "DANIELS." THE LITTLE SILVER SNUFFTSUX C.\RRIED IN PERRY'S WAISTCO/\T POCKET AND AFTER- WARDS GIVEN TO HIS COUSIN, DEBORAH PERRY, WHOSE GRANDDAirGHTER, MRS. SKINNER, OF ERIE. NOW OWNS IT The "Niagara" Keepsake — Perry's Virtnry Centennial Snuveiiir Scries. Copyright, IWia, by The Journal of American History. ii '"X O F S •* >,'o ? I » -^ r; Q. CAPTAIN DANIEL^pO^BB:.S, XHE^HEKO^OK^KRI^ xTk^.T/e^^" ^"^ ^''^'^ The "Niagara- Keepsake-Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Ser.es. Copyright. 1S13. DT The Journal of AmerLcan History. El)^ ^BBixtB at ^takr in t\}t lattk nf ICak^ Sri? ®hp iUrn Ultn lutlt atiii iFougljt tl}C iFlrrt auii tl)^^ i)ntpm*taurp nf Slirir llirtnni <^* ©he Atiita nf dircat Britain ^Hruralrii m tlip NrgottatUntii (UnuurrtrJi liitlt tlie ulreatu of (Bljrnt HONORABLE MILTON W. SIIREVE Member of the Board of Perry's Victory Centennial Commissioners for the Stale of Pennsylvania, member of the Executive Commitlce of the Inter-State Board, and Member of Congress from the Eric District of Pennsylvania [At the launching of the " Niagara." June 7. 191 1] HE impressment of our seamen by Great Britain, her disregard of neutral rights and unwarrantable seizure of our merchant marine, so inflamed the public mind that on June 18, 1812, the Congress of the United States declared war against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This famous ship, now being launched for the second time, played an important part in that W'ar. The first nine months of war had witnessed the fall of Detroit, the evacuation of Fort Dearliorn, and the massacre of the River Raisin. In fact the events of the war up to the early part of 1813 had lieen particularly disastrous, and the settlers of the frontier were left practically defenseless from the savage outrages of the Indians. This impressive ceremony recalls two characters that stand out pre-eminently in the history of this historic shi]i — Captain Daniel Dobbins, who first apprised the National Government of the situation on the Great Lakes in the summer of 1812; and Commodore Perry, who won the s])lendid victorv in the Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813. Captain Dobbins, a resident of Eric, then a hamlet of four or five hundred, with the schooner " Salina," was lying in the harbor at Mackinac during the summer of 1812, when that post was cajitured by the British. 1 lis schooner fell into the hands of the enem\' and |:V.ll perry's victory centennial souvenir it was with difficulty that he made his way l3ack to I^rie. On his return he immediately reported to Genei-al Mead, and was at once dispatched to Washington, where President Madison was so taken with his appearance that he called a meeting of his Cabinet, before whom Captain Dobbins gave in detail his experience and strongly urged the President and Cabinet to lose no time in fortifying the frontier border on the Great Lakes and to begin the construction of a fleet to meet the advances of the enemy. Captain Dobbins, as a result of this meeting, was commissioned Sailing-master in the Navy; was given $2,000, and ordered to return to Erie to begin the construction of a fleet. He immediately sought the services of Noah Brown, one of the most skilful shipbuilders of his time, and together they began building the fleet, the six vessels not being completed for ten months thereafter. Tn the spring of 1813, General Proctor, Commander of the British forces, was assembling his army, augmented by several thou- sand Indians, on the northern shore of Lake Erie, while General Harrison, Commander of the American forces, was camped near San- dusky with a bodv of men most of whom were Kentuckians. Com- modore Barclav was reconstructing his fleet at Maiden, and the American fleet was being built in the landlocked harbor of Erie. It was evident that a great battle was soon to take place on Lake Erie, and Commodore Perry, a young man of twenty-six, asked the War Department to be assigned to service on the Great Lakes. Before making the perilous trip to Erie, in March, 1813, he had l)een twelve years l\efore the mast as midshipman, lieutenant, captain, and post-commandant, and, just prior to his departure for Erie, had charo-e of a flotilla of seventeen gunboats in the harbor of Newport. He was fully equipped for the important position assigned him, and impartial historians have given him a place among naval heroes which time cannot destrov. „ „ Oliver Hazard Perry was born on the 23rd of August,_ I/8.1, at South Kingston, Rhode Island. The chief characteristics of Oliver's earlv year's were an uncommon share of beauty, a sweetness and gentleness of disposition, and a perfect disregard for danger. At an early age he learned to read under the tuition of his mother, and was removed to a private school for the education of the children of the neighborhood. Afterwards he was sent to Tower Hill, distant four miles" from Judge Perry's farm, where Oliver's father continued to reside. He was so proficient in his studies that his father, desiring to secure for his children a better education tkm South Kingston afforded, established his familv at Newport. [60] '& PKRUVS CL-Tl.ASS AND BELT. SUPI'OSEnLY WORN IN THE BATTLE OI; LAKE EKl •-, (.I\ EN H) HIS COUSLN. DEIiOKAII PERRY ROI! LMSON, AND NOW OWNED BY llER GRANDDAUGHTER, MRS. SKINNER, OF ERIE The 'Ni.ifiar.i"' Kec-psake— Perry's Vktory Centenni.ll Souvenir Series. Copyriglit. l'.il:i. uy Tlie Journal of American History. mJdA- "VHli JACKET IN WHICH PERRY FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE From the Original Garment in the Custody of the Rhode Island Historical Society The "Niagara" Keepsake—Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 19i:i. oy Tlie Journal of American History THE NIACAUA KKEPSAKE Here Oliver was placed in the private school of Mr. Frazer, under whose careful and judicious tuition he made rai)id jiroo-ress in all his studies. In Newport Oliver attracted to himself no less attention and good will than among his friends in South Kingston. His modesty and gracefulness of manner won for him many friends, among the numher Count Rochamheau, son of the distinguished general of that name, who commanded the French Auxiliary Army during our Revo- lutionary War. This nobleman, being driven I)y the terrors of the Revolution from his own country, had established himself in Xe\v])ort, where his father's previous residence prepared for him many friends. Newport offered many attractions to persons of refinement; nian\- of the inhabitants were wealthy and highly educated, and the tone of society in which Oliver early mingled was elegant and intel- lectual. At eleven years of age he was confirmed in the Episcopal faith. It was Oliver's father's wish that his son should become a naval officer, and his school days, though well improved, were short. At the age of fourteen he left school to become a seaman. His residence in Newport and the occupation of his father brought him much in connection with ships and seamen, and blended with his inclination for a militarv life a desire to make his home upon the sea. (Oliver's name was ])laced upon the list of midshipmen on board the " General Greene" and in April, 1799, he received his warrant, and order to report for duty. The voung midshipman made several cruises with his father. His health and strength increased with life in the open air. He soon developed great cajiacity and courage and participated in the action that resulted in the reduction of Jacmel with great credit to himself, receiving for his skilled service the ap]M-obation of his father. This was the last active service of the "General Greene." Perry then served as lieutenant in the Tripolitan wars, in the squadron of Com- modore ^Morris, and later with Commodore Rodgers as lieutenant- commander of the United States Schooner, " Revenge," emi)loyed to prevent infraction of the Embargo Laws. After he returned to America, at the conclusion of peace with Tripoli, he served in various capacities, proving himself an efficient leader. The first service upon which the young Connnodure was em])lo\-ecl after the commencement of war with England was taking charge of a llotilla of gunboats stationed at Newport. This service \\-as not strenuous enough to satisfy Perry's deep desire for action. To the north on the shores of the great chain of island seas there was an [63] PKRRy'S victory CENTr-:NNIAL SOUVENIR impending contlict. Every indication pointed to tlie Cdncentration of power on the Great Lakes. Perry was impatient, went tn Wash- ington, and asked to be ordered into active service against the enemy. He also wrote Commodore Channcey and offered his service. Com- modore Chauncey, knowing Perry and his worth, asked the War Department to send Perry t<> Lake Erie, and accorchngly, on the L^th tlay of Februarv, ISLi, Perry received his orders to proceed to Sackett's Harl^or with the liest men of his tlotiUa. So anxions was l'err\- U< carrv imt the order that on the very ckiy, before night-fall, he had started his first detachment of fifty men under one of his lieutenants. Two days later another detachment of fifty men fol- ic iwed, and five days later one hundred and fifty men had been dis- jiatched, fullv one-third of whom were held on Lake Ontario by Chauncev and never reached Erie. On February 22nd Perry set out ior his command over the mountains and hi'lls and through a trackl\ess forest. It was a_ severe journey at that season of the }ear. F^rry had with him his little "brother, a lad of thirteen, whom he was taking to be a midshipman on his ship. After eleven days' traveling, much of the way through a dreary country where the only evidence of human life was fleeting glimpse's of savages as they hovered around the white man's trail, the two brothers reached their destination and rejiorted at Sackett's Harbor. Sackett's Harbor was a mere hamlet possessing a few houses, and was the official head(iuarters of the Army of the North. It is said that the princijial business of the community was smuggling, and the arrival of the LTnited States officials was looked upon with suspicion and displeasure. The English were in undisputed control of Lake Erie, and at Sackett's Harbor Perry learned that they were pre- paring plans for extending the Dominion of Canada along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf, so as permanently to separate the United States from the great undeveloped country to the west. It was Perrv's duty to regain control of Lake Erie, a task that would tax his skill and aliility as a naval commander to the utmost. At the time of his arrival at'Sackett's Harbor, it was expected that the English would make an attack on the i)lace, so Perry remained two weeks to assist in its defense. The attack did not materialize and on the U'lth of March he set out for Erie. On the 24th he ar- rived at Buffalo, and from there made his way in a sleigh to Erie, arriving on March 27th. Captain Dobbins, who had been in charge of the American naval affairs on the Lake, had, with the assistance (till ./ ^.^y i^rf- /:..^ /^/i>> '■■/ ^'t /, y,^^^ z^,':^^ z^/-^-*. > ' • ' ^■' ru^y/:^ /v5<- •«<--S%i> /i^*; o-^ .^ ,^-f--<'«-' ''-' e-^'-<-.-«'r .^ >* / v: '« -^ ^--v, ■ \/ z^- -^.* ..^_. J,,,/..' //.-/-^ .<^ ' -y / -- 1/ ^' i^^ // ' (^/^ J' ') ll.-trt: c^ '^' o--^^ ^ .3 / (">/ .-^ i'l-KlO' I'l, \CES CM'TAIN I )( >l!l',l NS IN COMMAND (IF THE "OliiO" AM) INSIKl ( TS lll.M I ( ) LOOK OUT FOR PILOTS Fac-simile of the Original in the C'ustody of the liulTalu Historical Society Tlie "Niay.ir.i"" KcL-ps.ikc— I'rrryS \'ittnry Centennial Souvenir Scries. CopyriKlil. Iwl^l. "y ll'e Jonrn.il of Auicric.in Ilislury. s Co S -2 — -- c >, "o be o .2 U Z an THE NTACARA KEEPSAKE of Xoah Hrown, laid dnwn scvrral vessels which were nnw nearly coiiii)lele(l. iMacIay, the historian, tells us thai llie twu hris^'s, " Niao-ara " and the " Lawrence," were constrncted at the lime l'err\- arrived; tliat tliev were hein"' huilt with while and hiack oak and chestnut frames, the outside ])lanking lieing of oak, while the decks were of pine: that many trees found their places in these ves- sels the same dav they were felled in the forest; that the hrit^s were 110 feet over all, and had a 29-foot beam; that the " Lawrence " Pi.-Pi'\-^ III \|)Mr \K 1 I K- l\ lUII'- Willi. K TH1£ l-'LEET WAS BUILDING— THK OLD GEORCr. lU'EliLER HOLSE, REIT nV I IK I.MAS RICES. Jr., .\T THE CORNER OF THIRD AND EKEXCH STKEETS was SO named 1>\- order of the Secretary of the Xavy ; and that two gunhoats, nearly planked, were at the month of Lee's Run, while work on the schooner " Scorpion "' was just begun. McKenzie writes : '■ In the evening of the twcnty-seventli Perry readied Erie, and im- mediately called around him the ])ersons engaged in building and equijjping the squadron. These were Mr. Xoah Brown ot Xew \ ork, the master shi]-)wright, and Sailing-master Dobliiiis, who was a resi- dent of Erie, and who su])erintended tlie construction ]i\ direclion of CtHiimodore ("hauncey." . [firl PKRRV S VICTORY CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR I am satisfied that much nl" the i)reHmiiiar_\' work nf constructing the fleet had liccn accomplished under Captain l)()l)l)ins, and 1 dn not find that Perrv ever claimed credit for the planning, designing, and constructing the ships here referred U). ('ai)tain l)ol)l)ins, to my mind, has never received full credit for the distinguished ser\-ice he rendered his country during that period. At the time P^errv arrived, satisfactory progress had heen made in the construction of the ships, and it was practical!}' to their ei|uip- ment that I'errv turned his attention. Perry at once sent Captain Dobhins to lUiffalo, and went himself to I'iitsliurgh in search of needed sui)plies. Captain Dobhins was with Perry when he returned from his expedition against Fort George, bringing with him the five vessels which had been blockaded b\- the British in the Niagara River. He was also with Perry during the engagement of September 10th, 1813, although not U])on the actual scene of battle while the conllict was in progress. Sailing-master l)ol)bins, as he was then called, was in charge of the " Ohio," a lioat used in sui)i)lying tb.c wants of the Navv, and at the time of the battle was returning from his second tri]) to Erie for sui)i)lies, and it was in conse(|uence of being a few miles aw^ay from the scene of the conflict that he has been lost sight of bv the historians. Nevertheless no element in the cam])aign was more essential than this supplying of the munitions of war. I will not attempt to follow Perry through the various vicis- situdes incident to equipping the fleet and securing men and material to man his shii)S. Neither will T atteni])! to (lescril)e the celebrated battle so familiar to every school boy, a battle that brought great fame to him who won it. Tt was the first time a whole P.ritish fleet had been taken in open conflict. Perry was ai)i)lauded throughout the land. lie became a national hero, and so remains to this day. The enthusiasm and excitement when the news was received at New- l^ort, his home and where his family resided, knew no b.ounds, and all were anxious for his return, but it was not until November that he reached Newjiort. His triumphant march home was a continuous ovation, the i)eople seeking every opportunity to honor him. F.very town from Boston to Savannah praised him. The Legislatures of the various states, including Pennsylvania, passed commendatory resolutions; Pennsylvania also voted a gold medal, Init it was not completed until after the death of the Commodore, and was given to his wife on the 20th day of November, 1810, l)y Col. U. N. Irvine, who was intrusted to perform that duty. Medals of every kind were [r,8] .. .r r^t ^' c/-^ o^* •4»ti I J / J ('y Tlie Juurnal of American History. jf ^lA ■■ V . f ' '. •■. fi ■y\t\^!* i <* <» + ^ .'^.. v*l .*- "i- ■.^■ <^ Ibk. ^^^^i^.>. ,>^i.> .-A ,^,.<>.>-^\i^->.v;;;^.-> ■\. g VAt ■ " •' k'; "H .nN \ J SECOND I'AGI-: OF PERRY'S SAILING ORDERS. IlLACK ROCK H) ERIE The "Niajjara" Keepsake— Ptrry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright. iyi3, uy Tlie Journal of American History. TIIK XIACAKA KKKI'SAKK voted Perry. New "S'ork City i^ave him the freednm of the city in a Pfold box, on the cover of which was a view ol the l)atlle he had so bravely fought and won. Boston gave him a silver service, and his home town gave him a silver vase surmounted with emblematic figures. On one side was engraved a view of the battle, where Perry was passing from the " Lawrence " to the " Niagara." No conquering hero ever returned with greater honor than did Commodore Perrv. During the remaining years of his life he con- tinued to uphold the reputation he had won. While on a diplomatic mission to South .America, on the evening of August 23, 181'A his thirty-second birthday, he died at Trinidad of yellow fever. At five o'clock on the afternoon of the following day the body of the dead Commander was laid to rest with military honors amid a large concourse of people, all joining with the .\meri- can seamen in their sorrow in the great loss the nation had sustained. Seven years later the American Government sent a ship of war for the honored remains of Perry, and on the early morning of the 27th of November, 1826, the vessel entered the harbor of Newport with its sacred burden. A few days later the body was buried in the cemetery at Newport with imposing ceremony, where the State of Rhode Island has erected a monument befitting his memory. Dr. Usher Parsons, a resident of Providence who was surgeon on the "Lawrence," said of Perry: "His literary ac(|uirements were respectable, his taste refined; he united the graces of a manly beautv to a lion heart, a sound mind, a safe judgement and a firmness of purpose which nothing could shake." The first memorial to the memory of Perry and his br;ive men was erected in 1862 by popular subscription by the ])eople of Cleve- land. The inauguration was one of the events of that ]ieriod. The ceremony was inspiring and bequeathed to posterity a rich heritage relating to the events of the P)attle of Lake Erie. Many distinguished Americans who were with Perry participated in that event. The Old colored fifer was there. Mr. Ouinn of Pittsburgh, who made the cordage. Captain Brownell, who commanded the " Ariel," and Dr. Usher Parsons, Surgeon of the flagship " Lawrence," at that time the last surviving commissioned officer of the fieet. Governor Dennison, wdio welcomed the Rhode Islanders, (|uot- ing President Madison in speaking of the Battle of Lake Erie, said: " It was never surpassed in lustre, however much it may have been in magnitude." Governor Sprague, the war governor ui Rhode Island, who is still living, re])lied in part as follows: PERRY S \ICT0RV CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR " I thank your Excellency very sincerely for the kind welcome which you have given to the Rhode Island delegation. That delega- tion consists of two veterans, who served in the Battle of Lake Erie, CajMain P.rownell, on my right, as second officer of the 'Ariel,' and Dr. L'shcr Parsons, cm my left, w^hose Ctif /ix u J a I Jcrfiif SURGEON OF THE •' L.VWRENCE " AND THE L.-\ST SURVIVING CO.MMISSIONED OFFICER OF PERRY'S FLEET services, on hoard tlic ' Lawrence," in ameliorating the suffering of the wounded, have hecome historical ; a son of the heroic Perry, bear- ing the honored name of his father, and two nephews ; our Secretary of State; a large delegation of the State Legislature; the gentlemen of my personal Staff; the general Staff of the State; the Major [73] /h'<,- l^l^'i'' " 7C / //^//^^ 'I.:. 4 ^/ "^y A.^ /*^/* '!.'.<" ,-^ / / ^ ^ /^ y' ^-f r^^^J^ »^ '/tltf /•■mmfA.r- \ -^^,^,-,^^,^^^ ..^C^-^ ^- y. '^ yc<. ' ^u' at'-y , ^-t >^<^y' :(^ -V^-*--- < //,..^ ,^.^ ^< , '. r ^ ^-i.^ ^ X- 'X '^ y .•^.-'/ -■/ c ."<• y ^'. .'.-.^■^^ ^ r r.y. <'<.--r- X, r-( J, ' -' K-^p . < y 'U v / ' :;^ ^ ^' ,!,^^ ^JJ#?^^^--(-^<''>r^.-rt<- 'U'-a ' ' X ^ » t' y y* ^:._^-.. ■ / y y\ y. y-> y/.yCy/^-^'^ ,^ ^ y ^ , -■^V^-Z^/^s»-»i > ^^ ^.N ^z- / '* ''-^■^ «>' -• *''< /■^; ^ /' PERRY SENDS CAPTAIN DOIilMNS liACK TO ERIE Fl)K SUPPLIES Facsimile of the Original i[i tlie Custody of the Buffalo Historical Society The "Niag.ir.i" KcL-psake— IVrry's Victory Centennial Stuivcnir Scries. Copyriflit, rJ13, uy Tlie Juurnal uf American History, i^S^ ^ ?fe M -2 " n . THE NIACARA KKKPSAKE American citizen, had s])cnl most of his time a1)iv)a(l and was not in tonch witli the common people. Rnssell was a Minister to Sweden, and lari^el)- under inlluence of Clay. P)ayard, a United States Senator t'rom Delaware, while having.;- oj^nions of his own. alone of the other connnissioners real- ized tlie wisdom of Gallatin's policy and aided him with all his talent.'* and inlluence. With this hrief survey of the memhers of the Commission, so dilTerenl in character, hahits, and ex])erience, it is easy to understand that to make them agree among themselves was as difiicull as to make a satisfactory treaty with Great Britain. The first proposition made by England was to the effect that the great Northwest Territory should be ceded to tlic Indians under an English guaranty or protectorate, and that the United States should renew the treaty rights giving the English the right to navigate the Mississippi. To the first proposition all of the members of the Commission dissented, but to the second Adams was inclined to agree in order to retain for Massachusetts certain fishing rights in Cana- dian waters. Clay strenuously objected, and witli the same tenacity and fixedness of purpose that he fought for the declaration of war, he now fought not only to preserve the totality of our country, hut also to protect the rights of navigation on the Mississippi River, and thereby save from further oppression the great western part of our country. .And so for five long months they contended, during all of which, time it was the master mind of Gallatin that by his logical reasoning and accurate conclusions ])ersuaded the members of the Commission to agree. 1 will not atlem])t to recount all of the propositions and counter- propositions that ])assetl between the |)arties, nor the many alter- cations between Clay and Adams. The treatv, when signed, did not contain a single word regarding the impressment of seamen. Xor did it mention the inlamous liritish " Orders in Council," under which our rights as neutrals were in- vaded bv British practices which pi-aclically were legalized ])ir;icy on the high seas, l^xjilicit mention of these matters would not have been tactful and was not necessary. Never again did Great liriiain presume to exercise the alleged " rights " against .\nierican com merce which had caused the war. The treaty was hailed with delight by both countries, and for a hundred years along the three thousand miles of the boundary line [79] PERRY S VICTORY CEXTENXIAL SOT'VEXTR between the United States and the r>ritish Possessions in America there has not been a sing-le regiment or com])any or soldier to protect the rights of either Nation. Immediately following the IxUtle of T.ake Erie the men of both fleets participated in the solemn burial of their dead. The 1)oats moved slowly in i^rocession with oars keeping time to the music of the fife and drum. The flags were at half-mast and the signal guns were fired at regular intervals. The landing place was wild and picturesque. The graves had been dug beneath the sjireading l)rancbes of a lofty willow near the shore. The American and P.ritish walked two bv two, in alternate couples, to the graves of their heroes. The last gun was fired and the sorrowing com]iany departed to their ships; and there for a century their remains have reposed, in absolute solitude, American and English side by side and undisturbed. The wounded of both fleets, after the battles of Lake Erie and the Thames, were sent to Erie, where Barclay was seen, with tottering stei:)s, sup- ported between Harrison and Perry, as he walked from the landing- place to his quarters. From this celebration the American people will catch a new vision of a united country, all free, all vitally related, bound in a universal brotherhood of peace and good will. Ttie "Niagara" Kee|is;ike— I'l-rry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Sci CupyriglU, I'.li:!. iiy llie Journal of Amorican History. I t \1 THE SWORD PRESENTED TO PERRY AFTER THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE liV THE CITY OF ALBANY, NOW IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW YORK, The "Niagara" Ket:psake — Pfrry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 1913, uy The Journal of American History. M Ei}t "Niagara" att^ t{)t "Uiilui^riur" QIlic (Tutu (DliJ CGuariiiatts uf tlip Siakra, thf ^ailttiu Urasrl atiti llje g'lramcr. tlie HUmiif u Uriii txixb tlif 3)rmi ^hiy, (Gu Ifinti] tu i'aluti? tlie yroplra illipij ^lwc Btvvtii BY The Editor of The Journal of American History they go liave forgotten war in the concord and o-ood-will tlial reii;n |fj I'T of Erie Harbor, the beautiful old Bay of Presque Isle, that has seen momentous things in the history of our country, — even as on August 4, 1813, she sailed ifkJi VYA^ry U% ^'^^^ over the 1)ar under Perry's colors, — at Sundown k3IOX" IN TIIK ^-'"^"^[^iTTlTEO^lAK? ERIE. FiRKD THE FIRST AND I ,\ST SHOTS I X/IH K n^ WARDS COMMAXDER OF THE U. S. S. ■■ M l( H K.AX. MUV W OIA l-.K I N 1.. W H U U XOW ESCORTS THE • MAC.ARA The "NUgira" Keepsake— Pirry's Victory Centennial Souvenir Series. Copyright, 10r.(. oy Tlie Journal of American Ilibtory. DECK \-TE\V OF THE " JIICIIir.AN." NOW TITE "WOLVERINE." IN ISTH, WITH (IFFICER r.RIDLEY to' THE RIGHT AND FRONT, WHO FIRED THE FIRST SHOT IN THE HATTLE OF MANILA AT THE WORD OF ADMIRAL DEWEY, "YOU MAY FIRE WHEN YOU GET READY, GRIDLEY" The "Niayara" Keepsake— Cupynght. 19i:i. 1.3 y's Victory Centennial Snuvenir Series. ; Journal of American History. THE NIAGARA KEEPSAKE vessels, while the " Wolverine " was built at the very beg'inning^ of the new age of iron vessels. The " Michigan " was, in fact, the very first iron vessel launched upon the Great lakes, and a crowd assembled at her launching to see the iron ship sink to the bottom. Her original name, " Michigan," she relimiuished in modern times, that it might be borne by a new l^attleship of the L'nited States Na\y. and took her jircsent name, " Wolverine." The little hitch in the relauiiching of the " Niagara " has been noticed elsewhere. It is a curious coincidence that the " Michigan " also stuck on the ways at her launching, and launched herself, un- attended by crowds, dm-ing the night following. The building of the " Michigan," was authorized bv an .\ct of Congress approved September 0, 1841, approjiriating one hundred thousand dollars " for the construction or armament of such armed steamers or other vessels for defense of the Northwestern Lakes as the President thinks jiroper, and as may be authorized bv the existing stipulations between this and the British Government." She was designed by and constructed under die direction of Samuel liart, naval constructor, of New ^'ork. Early documents show that, as first contemplated, she was to have been a wooden vessel. A little later a vessel of iron was determined upon, and in Mav, 1842, a contract for furnishing the material and building the iron hull, engines, boilers, etc., was let to Stackhouse & Tomlinson of Pittsburgh. These ma- terials were brought in sections to Erie, Avhere the vessel was put together. She was launched on December 5, 1843, and on December 8 the name, " Michigan," was selected for her bv the President of the United States. She was completed and commissioned in 1844. The iron work of the " \\^olverine " is still in a remarkable state of ])reser- vation, and she is i^ropelled to-day by her original engines, — curious alTairs, but practically " in as good condition as when built." Characteristically the " Niagara " tells us the war-story that brought a long peace, wdiile the "Wolverine" can tell of seventy years of the peace that came, ^'et the " \\'olverine," too, has a war- story of her own — during the Civil \\^ar when the country the " Niagara " had fought to preserve well-nigh fell to pieces. During that conflict, the half centenary of which is also just now u])on us, the " Michigan," armed to her teeth, did unremitting dut\' on the Lakes, guarding against the numerous Confederate plots hatched on Canadian soil. [87] i'i:kkv s victory centennial souvenir One of tlie most audacious of these had the seizure of the " Michigan '" herself as its object, and was ail-but successful. A traitor was on board ; but was suspected, watched, trapped, and cap- tured. Missing- the " Michigan," the conspirators boldly seized another vessel (ui Lake Erie, but many of them were eventually secured and scnnc of them executed. Interesting and exciting, this story is too long for this time and place. We must mention, however, a very interesting link between the two old war vessels. Captain Stephen Champlin from Rhode Island, Perry's first cousin, commanded the " Scorpion " in the battle of Lake Erie,' one of the vessels built in Erie. He fought her well, ably sup- porting Perrv, first while the latter was on board the " Lawrence," and afterwards w bite he was on board the " Niagara." Champlin fired the first and the last shots in the battle of Lake Erie; and, as was fitting, in his old age, which was the youth of the " Michigan," became the commander of that vessel. Captain Champlin was the second commander of the " Mich- igan." Her latest commander. Captain Morrison, now in turn be- comes the first commander of the rejuvenated " Niagara." Under his hand she was tenderly raised, rebuilt, and c(|uipped, and he will conduct her on her centenary voyage. Lieutenant W. H. F. Nick, second in command of the " Wolverine," has also ably served the " Niagara." He took some of the most interesting photogra]ilis, reproduced in this book, and has been indefatigable in charge of the details of the general cele- bration in Erie. Ensign .\. G. Kessler of the " Wolverine " labored with Captain Morrison to transcribe for posterity the lines of the "Niagara" as she came up out of her long sleep; and, in fact, all the officers and the entire crew of the " Wolverine " deserve great credit. And so these two old sisters, of war and of peace, the " Niagara " and the " Wolverine," the sailing vessel and the steamer, the wooden brig and the iron .ship, will together, in the words of Miss Reed, "go ujiand down the chain of Great Lakes and reminfl a newf generation of the price paid l)y our forefathers for the freedom we enjoy to-day." 1881 UXriT-D STATES STEAMI-.R '■ MICIMGAX " \()\V TIIF. '■ WniA'I-.RI XE "— IX lSJt2 The "Niay.ir.-i" Kei^psake — Perry's Victory Centennial Suuvctiir Scries. Copyriglu, JflKt, i>y The Journal of American Iliblory. The Editor of The Journal of American History ^_^R().AI Eric, her one lake p.irl, the Stale of IVnnsyl- vania gave to the Nation I'erry's Heet, with 1 )()hhins and his brave men. She gave the old " .Michigan," now the " Wolverine." To-day she regives the " Niagara," and .sends the Second Battalion of her Naval Force aboard the " Wolverine," as an escort. What, then, shall be the permanent memorial at Erie to the valor of the men and women of the State of Pennsylvania? In ]May, 1''13, Governor Tener ajiproved another bill drawn up by General Sisson. Its preamble speaks of "the Brig, Niagara, to which Commodore I'erry transferred his flag from the disabled Law- rence during the battle, and which — for nearly one hundred years at the bottom of Misery Bay, an arm of Presque Isle Bay, at Erie — has been raised by the Commissioners appointed l)y the Governor of Penn- sylvania. . .and is now the property of the State of Pennsylvania." It speaks of the appropriateness of " a permanent marker, arch, or memorial. . .at Erie to commemorate not only the bravery of Com- modore Perry and his gallant men. but the part taken by Pennsyl- vanians in Iniilding the fleet and in fighting the battle, including the conspicuous services of Captain Daniel Dobbins of Erie, who was instrumental in inducing the Government to build the fleet, and was in charge of its construction when Perry arrived in March, 1S13." The bill accordingly appropriates $75,000 " for the purpose of restoring the aforesaid Brig, Niagara, to the condition she was in at the time said battle of Lake Erie was fought, as nearl\- as said Commissioners can, with the exercise of reasonable diliijence. restore it to its original condition, including foil armor\-, and I'KRKV S X'ICTOKV CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR ec|uipnient of cverv kind, and tor |)a\'ing the expenses incident to the proper participation of said r«ri_<^- in the events of this centennial year, and the i)roi)er care therefor nnlil inrther provided for by the Legislature." Thus to the generosit}- of the State of Pennsylvania we owe much at this time. The bill further i)rovides that any balance which may be left of the said appropriation shall be " expended by said Commis- sioners at the City of Erie, I'ennsylvania, in commemorating the 1)uilding of the fleet," etc., " in conjunction with moneys contributed bv the citizens of Erie, and others, for the purpose of erecting said permanent marker, arch, or memorial." Some sort of memorial seems thus assured. H(^w shall it he made worthy of tlie great State of Pennsylvania and her brave sons and daughters? A beautiful memorial arch should be erected over State Street at Perry S(|uare, Erie. Put may not the memorial also take the further form of a permanent endowment to carry on a patriotic service along lines that Perr\' himself would he most in- terested in if he were with us? It is notorious that the Xaval Militia of our States suffers con- stant neglect as a de])endency of annual sessions of our Legislatures. \\'h\- not establish at Erie a ])ermanent summer training camp and rendezvous for the Xaval h^orces of all our States? The Peninsula about Presr|ue Lsle Pay should be made a National Park for this purpose. This can be easily arranged, as it is already owned princi- palh' ])v the National Goxernment and the State of Pennsylvania. Here the " Niagara " and the " Wolverine " would form a jiatriotic nucleus. This is a ser\-ice of love not tor Pennsylvania alone, but for other States and the whole country. The Journal of American H I.STORY will co-(iperate heartily, gladly acknowledging through its pages contributions to the Pennsylvania Commissioners for this pur- pose. It believes it can also speak for the hearty co-operation of the men and women of our patriotic societies throughout Pennsylvania, and everv other State, as well as for the teachers and pupils in our l)ublic schools everywhere. We suggest that beautifully bound liooks of record be kept ])erma- nentlv on board the " Niagara," in which the name and address of everv donor of not less than one dollar be permanently enrolled as one of the builders of the " Niagara " and the " Niagara Memorial." Such books The Ioi-rn.\l of American Historv will gladly donate to the Pennsvlvania Board of Perry's X'ictory Centennial Commissioners. [92] So z- —■ ^ ^ ji-OO s> Cj zo oz V7 X « P o H Z o ^ THE XIACAKA KICKI'SAKE An account of the old Conestoo^a Watson, drawn bv six horses and escorted l)y i)icked men of the United Stales Cawah-y, traversing UNriEl) STATES CAVALKY ESCOUT OF TIIF. DU PONT POWDEK WAGON the State of Pennsylvania to get powder to the " Xiagara " in time for the Erie Celebration, a repetition of ilic i^ --t. .*' ■'«^/ ,^^ i^ '■*' "<#• -♦ ^_^ *^^ /% ^''-^ \U- '^'^0^ "^o 4^°^ ^^.' # »■>' .^^ iPvv y''^. vO i^^ •a Atff \ ^.a" ym^'^ x/ :^'^ %/ .^^l&'o \/ ;^\ %,^^ ;>^^ *bv" V, *.«<." .^ inL'* -?■ bV" .•• /% •.^^•- /\ •^_. ^ • ■ay o »-^^UM^y* *) ■ ^^ .^' /^Va^ v./ :m^\ V.^^ /I<^l^'o V.<^" ♦ A> .'i^oL'*. "^ <^ * o , o ' A^ -^K- ,iy ° " ■• o "C;v9' .;b"> i-. •\„/ .-'Jfev \a' :'M^'- \/ :^^-' %/ ••»#, 0,0' ^<^^ ^^ ' ,','■> • ' A" y^ q, ».,■.• j,0 <^ .^q« 4> . t ' . -n^o^ ^bV" <> 'o . . * .0^ \3, q*. ^- ^° V'-irf' y q^ • o V '^^n^^ o^\---.^V'*" ^' WERTBCX)KB1NDING . „ 11- rmi> "-JAN 1889 •^■ ^° * Grantviilo. pA ,Cy '^ q^. *"^* aO >, -..o' •?,^ ,0^ .•.vi% -^ v^^ &^ .^"^