E 356 .E6 B91 Copy 2 mm Class _ii_3_5^L_ BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE WITH NOTICES OF COMMODORE ELLIOT'S CONDUCT IN THAT ENGAGEMENT. BY HON. TRISTAM BURGES, w '%,^mm0&W PRBvIDENCE : BROWN & CADY 1839. fn 7 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839, by Francis Y. Carlile, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Rhode-Island. ■•>«nfe providence: B. CRANSTON & CO. PRINTERS. CONTENTS. Preface, .... Lecture, Notes, .... Diagram, No. 1, Diagram, No. 2, Diagram, No. 3, . , . American Official Account, . British Official Account, English Naval Court Martial, American Court of Inquiry, Com. Perry's Letter to the Secretai; Charges preferred by Commodore Perry, Captain Turner's Affidavit, . Captain Stevens' Affidavit, Captain Champlin's Affidavit, Purser Breese's Affidavit, . Captain Brownell's Affidavit, Captain Taylor's Affidavit, Doctor Parsons' Letter, A Letter from an Officer, Elliot's Letter to Perry, Perry's Reply to Elliot, • • • P age 5 17 • • • 59 • 70 • • • 73 « 77 • • • 80 « 85 • • • 90 • 91 t'V of the Nav^ r, 93 ^erry, 98 • • « 103 • 106 • • • 108 • 110 • • • 112 • 115 • • 120 • 126 • • • 128 • 130 PREFACE. In the winter of 1836, a course of lectures was read in the city of Providence, before the Historical Society of Rhode-Island. The early history of the State was a general theme, and, among other things, the maritime affairs of our little Commonwealth were deemed worthy of attention. The writer of the following Lecture, collect- ed the materials, arranged most of the lec- tures, and wrote several of them, for an entire course, on this part of our history. These were intended to have been read before the Society, after the general course was termi- :nated ; but this was, for a sufficient reason. VI PREFACE. then omitted, and it is not now probable that it will ever be done. The lecture on the fleet and battle of Erie, was the only one of the course then read. It will be remembered, that not long before that time, he, who, at the beginning of that battle, commanded the Niagara, had publicly set up a claim to the whole glory of its suc- cessful termination. This was, doubtless, one reason why the printing of the following lec- ture was then requested, both by the Society, and by individuals, who regarded the achieve- ments of the distinguished commander of that fleet, as a heritage of glory, to be cherished, and preserved, by the whole nation. A copy was not then furnished, because it was be- lieved that the gentleman, who had been ap- pointed by the General Assembly of Rhode- Island, to write the biography of Commodore Perry, would soon finish, and publish that work. This would supersede all necessity for printing this lecture. The delay of that publication, and another event of a public character, have induced the writer of the lecture, at the anxious request PREFACE. Vli of the family and friends of Commodore Perry, to furnish a copy of it for the press. In doing this, it has been thought appropri- ate to give the reasons which induced the wri- ter to regard the fleet and battle of Erie, as a part of the maritime affairs of Rhode-Island. At the commencement of the revolution, it is believed that the people of Rhode-Island were, in their maritime character, much in ad- vance of any other of the Colonies. They had more nautical men fit to command, and more vessels fit for public service, than any other. The idea of a national fleet was first conceived in Rhode-Island. Of this, ample proof shall be furnished. At the August session, holden at East- Greenwich, Anno Salvatoris Nostrorum, 1775, the General Assembly of Rhode-Island made the first movement ever made, on this side of the Atlantic, to build, and establish a national fleet. It will be found in their own words, at page 103-4 of their journal ; and as no other words can be so apposite to their meaning, they will be quoted here just as they stand on their record. Vlll PREFACE, cc liereas, notwithstanding* the humble and dutiful petition of Congress to the King, and other wise and pacific measures, taken for obtaining a happy reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies ; the Ministers, lost to every sentiment of justice, liberty, and humanity, continue to send troops and ships of war into America, which destroy our trade, plunder and burn our towns, and murder the good people of these Colonies : It is, therefore. Voted and Resolved, that this Colony most ardently wish to Fee the former friendship, harmony, and intercourse, between Britain and these Colonies, restored^ and a happy, and lasting connexion estab- lished between both countries upon terms of just and equal liberty ; and will concur with other colonies in all proper, and necessary measures for obtaining these desirable bless- ings ; and as every principle, divine and human, requires us to obey that great and fundamental law of nature, self-preservation, until peace shall be restored upon constitu- tional principles ; this colony will most heartily exert the whole power of Government, in PREFACE. IX conjunction with other colonies, for carrying on this just and necessary war, and bringing the same to a happy issue : and among other measures for obtaining this most desirable pur- pose, this Assembly is persuaded that the building and equipping an American fleet, as soon as possible, would greatly and essen- tially conduce to the preservation of the lives, liberty and property of the good people of these Colonies ; and, therefore, instruct their dele- gates to use their whole influence, at the ensuing Congress, for building, at the Conti- nental expense, a fleet of sufficient force for the protection of these Colonies, and for em- ploying them in such manner and places, as will most annoy our enemies, and contribute to the common defence of these Colonies : and they are also instructed to use all their influence for carrying on the war in the most vigorous manner until peace, liberty, and safe- ty be restored and secured to these colonies upon an equitable and permanent basis." That Congress to which Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward had been elected delegates, assembled at Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the X PREFACE. 5tli day of Septemberj 1775. A quorum attending on that day, they adjourned from day to day, until the 13th of that month. It is not known on what day the Rhode-Island de- legates took their seats in that Congress ; but, as it appears by the journal, vol. 1, page 147j " Tuesday, October 3d, one of the delegates from Rhode-Island laid before Congress a part of the instructions given them by their two Houses of Legislature, on the 26th of August last." These are, verbatim, the words of the Congressional record. These instructions are the first intimations, on the records of Congress, of any movement on the subject of a continental fleet. They were the germ of our United States navy. That germ was planted in the maritime soil of Rhode-Island. It has flourished ; and its branches now reach every sea, every ocean ; and the glory of our country sets in safety under their shade. Who, in our State, or our Assembly, first intimated the building of a national fleet, can- not now be known. There is no record of his name. It might be George Champlin, or Wil- PREFACE. XI Mam Bradford, or John Brown, or Welcome Arnold. It was for our country a glorious conception ; and twin-brother to the bright idea of Themistocles, who taught the Atheni- ans that the wooden walls of the Delphic Or- acle, were that national navy with which they destmyed, or dispersed, the fleet of XerxeSj and secured the liberties of the Grecian States. It is true, our literature has hitherto been silent concerning our own achievements, and but for this humble effort, the facts, now stat- ed, would have been left rusting in our re- cords like a sword in the scabbard, until drawn out and held up to the world by men of other States. It is remarked by historians, that the Spar- tans satisfied themselves by doing gallant deeds ; while the Athenians not only knew how to perform, but also how to celebrate heroic exploits. What Decatur said of Lawrence, might be said of Rhode-Island. '' The young fellow," exclaimed the hero of Tripoli, " has not much talk for himself ; but there is no more dodge in him than there is in the main-mast." Xll PREFACE. On the 25th of November, 1775, Congress took into consideration the rules and orders for the fleet of the United Colonies. On Tues- day, the 28th, they were debated, paragraph by paragraph, and finally agreed to and settled. December 22d, the committee for engaging armed vessels, reported that they had engaged four, viz. : The Columbus, Abraham Whipple, Captain ; the Alfred Dudley, Saltonstall, Captain ; the Andrew Dorea, James Biddle, Captain ; the Cabbott, John Burroughs Hopkins, Captain. That they had appointed Esek Hopkins com- modore of the fleet. That they had appointed John Paul Jones, Rhodes Arnold, Haysted Harker, Jonathan Pitcher, and Stanbury, first Lieutenants ; and Benjamin Seabury, Jo- seph Olney, Elisha Weaver, Thomas Weaver, and M'Dougal, second Lieutenants. This is the first American fleet which ever hoisted sail to the winds of heaven. The pro- ject of such a fleet was first proposed by the General Assembly of Rhode-Island. It was laid before Congress by the delegates from Rhode-Island ; as, I believe, Rhode-Island fur- PREFACE. XllI nivshed two of the ships — and, we all know that Rhode-Island furnished the Commodore of the fleet ; two of the Captains ; three of the first, and four of the second Lieutenants ; and in all probability, most, if not all the other of- ficers and men for at least two of the ships. This report was received and established ; and Commodore Hopkins, with the fleet under his command, was ordered to proceed to the Bahama Islands, and capture the warlike stores of Great Britain deposited at New Providence; and then to cruise on the coast of the Carolinas, and intercept the British vessels found in those waters. The first of these orders was fulfilled to the letter. For the Commodore more than load- ed his fleet with those stores ; and was obliged to impress one of the colonial vessels to aid in bringing away the captured cannon and mu- nitions of war. It is believed he sailed from the United Colonies early in February, 1776 ; for on the 3d of March, of that year, he cap- tured the fort at New Providence. After this success, his fleet being deeply laden with stores so highly important to the XIV PREFACE. Colonies, he, to secure these vahiable stores, returned directly, and unladed them at New° London. Sir Peter Parker was, at the same time, ap- proaching" Charleston, S. C, with a powerful British fleet. He made his attack on that place, June 17th, 1776 ; and had Commodore Hopkins cruised on that coast, he must have, in all probability, met the English fleet of much greater force than his own, and nothing short of a miracle could have saved his fleet with all their stores, from capture and entire loss. On the 19th of August, 1776, Commodore Hopkins was ordered by Congress to join the fleet. In the following November, the rank and pay of naval oflicers were raised, and a bounty given on captured guns. The ranks, above Captain, were Admiral, Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral, and Commodore. Esek Hopkins, of North-Providence, in the State of Rhode-Island, was the first, and the only American, who, in an American fleet, bore the title of Admiral. These facts prove, that, at the commence- ment of the Revolution, the people of Rhode- PREFACE. XV Island were in advance of the other colonies, in skill and enterprise in naval affairs. They also prove, that the American navy, which bears over the ocean, and in view of all na- tions, the power of our country, was origin- ated in Rhode-Island. When these things are considered, and it is called to mind that Commodore Perry was a native of Rhode-Island, and that he carried with him from that State up to the lake, those men, who, under his direction, with the aid of a few others, built and equipped that fleet, which, under his command, subdued the ene- my on those waters, it is not too much to re- gard this distinguished enterprise as a part of the maritime affairs of Rhode-Island. Be this as it may, the achievement was glorious for our country, and no manner of considering it can diminish its merits or tarnish its splendor. Nothing more is claimed for the Lecture than what may be due to a plain and true ac- count of the fleet and battle, drawn from a faithful examination of all the evidence in the case. Providence^ Jlugust^ A, D. 1839. LECTURE. It is the purpose of the present lecture to give a concise narrative of the fleet and battle on Lake Erie. In the summer of 1812, Oliver Hazard Perry, of Rhode-Island, a young man, Cap- tain in the United States Navy, was com- mander of a flotilla of gun-boats, which, — as Burke says of chivalry, had been deemed in our country the cheap defence of nations, — collected for the protection of the waters of our coast, from Newport to New York. In the winter of 1812-13, he v/as ordered to Lake Erie, to take the command, and provide a fleet for that station. The enemy had then, 2 18 LECTURE. on those waters, two ships, two brigs, and several schooners and sloops, in all, mounting more than sixty-four guns. The Americans had the Caledonia, a brig, afterwards mount- ing three guns, and two or three unarmed small schooners or sloops. The British had, by land as well as by water, the entire com- mand of that lake ; and the frontier, border- ing upon it, was at the mercy of General Proc- tor and his savage allies. Commodore Perry arrived at Erie on the 26th of March, 1813. He carried with him from Newport, 149 men and 3 boys, all of whom were volunteers. Some were commis- sioned officers, some warrant officers, some ar- tificers, some seamen, and some ordinary sea- men. About one third of the petty officers and men remained at Sackett's Harbor, for service on Lake Ontario. This was done by the order of Commodore Chauncey, the commander on that lake. It greatly retarded the operations of Perry on lake Erie ; and was, doubtless, in- tended by Chauncey to have that effect. They had left Newport, February 19th, with Perry, LECTURE. 19 and had volunteered from pure personal at- tachment to him. Nothing can show this attachment to Perry more strongly than the fact, that James Wea- ver, a master's mate, who, a boy, when Bar- ton captured Prescott, was then his guide, now volunteered to go to Erie with his gallant young townsman, in the dead of winter, to this unknown northern service. The fleet of Eneas, so Maro sings, when riding at anchor in the Tyber, and, in his ab- sence attacked by the Rutulians, and likely to be burned, was, by a miracle of poetic my- thology, changed into a shoal of dolphins, and went off sporting down the stream ; and if so, they may, for aught we know, be at this time playing about the mouth of that river ; or shewing their bright sides to the sun, in other parts of the Tyrean sea. Perry, and his hardy Rhode-Island mari- ners, travelled up to the lake, for something not quite so poetic. They were required to change the oaks, and the green pines and hemlocks, then standing on those shores, into a fleet of ships and ves- 20 LECTURE. sels, and fit them out to encounter, and over- come, in battle, on those waters, a fleet then armed, equipped and manned with British sail- ors ; men, who had never, before that time, met an equal, in any fleet, on that element. In this there was no poetry, nor any other miracle than bone labor, matchless skill, and unconquerable bravery. Every Yankee is an axe man ; and all the companions of Perry were of the full blood ; and most of them the best of that blood, the Rhode-Island stock. These, with a few more shipwrig-its, smiths, caulkers, riggers, and sailmakers, built and equipped this fleet ; and launched the whole into the harbor of Erie, rigged and ready to sail, in about ninety days, after the first blow was struck. They built from the stump, six vessels ; the Lawrence, of twenty guns — two long twelves, and eighteen 24 pound carronades ; the Nia- gara, of two long twelves, and eighteen 24 pound carronades ; the Ariel, of four guns, 18's and24's; the Scorpion, of two guns, thirty- LECTURE. 21 twos ; the Porcupine, of one gun, a thirty-two; and the Tigress, of one gun, a thirty-two. During the same time, they repaired and made efficient, the Caledonia, of three guns, 24's and 32's ; the Somers, of two guns, thir- ty-twos ; the Trippe, of one gun, a thirty-two, and the Ohio, of Hke force, but not in the battle. At the mouth of the harbor of Erie, there is a bar ; and on this, the water was then so shallow, that the vessels could not be floated out over it. They had been built in this place, because, in no other on the lake, could they be secure from the enemy. To carry them out over the bar, in the face of this enemy, superior in force, had they all been furnished with guns, and, as it must be, entirely unarmed, was a labor, which tasked the Yankee invention, no less than the valor, of the young Commodore and his associates. They were loaded on the backs of camels, and carried out over the bar into deep water. An Arab, who, from the back of his camel, on the desert, had, at a safe distance, looked at 2* 22 LECTURE. the French and English fleets, in the bay of Abouker, would not believe a word of all this story. It is literally true. These camels were of simple mechanism, and American manufac- ture. They were long*, broad, deep boxes, made of planks, like scows, and perfectly wa- ter tight ; with holes to fill, and sink, and pumps to exhaust them of water, and raise them so as to float with their upper edge high above the surface. These, placed on each side, and connected by strong beams, on which the vessels being placed when they were sunk; thus raised the vessels up above the bar, when the camels were pumped out, and rose again by their own buoyancy. The guns of the fleet had been mounted in batteries on the shore ; and the militia, under General Mead, then encamped in the neigh- borhood, were embodied, and united with the seamen in defending these vessels, while they were thus travelling over the bar, on the backs of these able bodied camels. Thus, in the face of an enemy, superior in force, this fleet was built, put afloat, and LECTURE. equipped. The enemy, however, before they were ready to make sail, withdrew to the har- bor near Maiden ; and retired under the guns of the British fortress. The American fleet, when ready for sailing", consisted of the Lawrence, the flag vessel of Commodore Perry ; the Niagara, afterwards Captain Elliott ; the Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner ; the Ariel, Lieutenant Packett ; the Scorpion, Sailing-Master Champlin ; the Som- ers, Sailing-Master Almy ; the Trippe, Lieu- tenant Stevens ; the Tigress, Lieutenant Conk- lin ; the Porcupine, Midshipman Smith. The Ohio had sailed down the lake, on other ser- vice, before the 10th of September, and was not in the battle. These nine vessels, mounted, in all, fifty-four guns ; ten less than the British fleet. The Lawrence, the Niagara, the Caledonia, the Ariel, and the Scorpion, were all equally good and fine sailers ; but the Somers, Trippe, Ti- gress, and Porcupine, were dull. The British vessels were stout built, with thick bulwarks of solid oak ; but the Ameri- can were built in a hasty manner, and intend- 24 LECTURE. ed merely to carry g-uns and men ; and bring: them down along side of their adversary. So soon as Perry had mounted his guns on board, he pushed out on a cruise ; but manned in a considerable part by brave fellows froni the militia. They run up, and over the lakCj to the British side, and passed their fleet, then in port ; but no movement being made by the enemy to come out, and capture the Ameri- cans, they leisurely sailed down the lake, and then up again to their port, at Put-in-Bay. At the pressing request of Perry, Commo- dore Chauncey sent him one hundred men, up from Ontario, under the command of Captain Elliot. He took the command of the Niagara, before commanded by Lieutenant Turner, of Newport. The one hundred men, brought with him, were all able bodied, and had been in considerable service, on the waters of On- tario and Erie. Most of these went on board the Niagara, with Elliot. This gave that ves- sel a decided superiority, in that respect, to any other in the fleet. In model, in equipment, in rigging, sails and movement, she was, before that, on a par LECTURE. 25 with the Lawrence ; and these men having been in more service, more brave they could not be, gave the Niagara a decided vsuperiority in that respect, to the Lav/rence. Lieutenant Turner mentioned this to Com- modore Perry, when Elliot was calling the men who came with him, to their several stations ; but because Elliot had brought them up to Erie with him, the Commodore declined altering his arrangement. The deficiency of men in the fleet, was supplied by brave fellows, volunteering from the ranks of General Harrison's army. This army was then encamped in the neigh- borhood of the fleet ; and waiting the event of the battle, which, it was believed, would enable the Commodore to transport the Gen- eral and his troops, to the other side, to en- counter General Proctor, and the British forces then near Maiden. The Americans were eager to engage, and open the way into Canada. General Harrison and his brave companions, were anxious to have an opportunity to wash off in their ovv^n blood, the foul blot, placed on the American 26 LECTURE. character, by the retreat, and surrender of Maiden and Detroit ; and by driving the Eritish and their Indian allies, from Upper Canada, to secure the frontiers of Michiq-an, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New-York. How long the British fleet niio-ht have kept their shelter, in the harbor of Maiden, is not known. Exigencies called them out ; the want of provision, in the British army, com- pelled them to put out, and attempt to clear the lake of the American fleet; so that they might, with safety, run down to Long Point, their depot of stores, and provision the camp. The British fleet had a veteran commander, tlie American, a young sailor. Barclay had conquered with J^elson^ at Traffalgar; Perry had probably never seen the combined movement of ships, in a fleet, formed in line of battle. The tv/o fleets might be equal in number of men ; but all, in the British, were seamen, or marines, or soldiers ; while many, in the American, were militia, or new levies, from the ranks of the army. In number of vessels, we exceeded by three ; the enemy had a superiority of ten in the LECTURE. 27 number of e^uns. The vessels of the enemy were impervious to the shot of our carronades; but their long guns hulled the thin sides of our vessels, through and through. Let him be praised who has told us that " the battle is not always to the strong." Two of the British vessels were ships; none of the American were better provided v/ith masts, spars, rigging, and sails, than brigs might carry. The Detroit, Commodore Bar- clay's flag ship, had nineteen guns only; but they were long 12's, IS's and 24's. He was supported in his command, by Captain Fin- nis, of the Queen Charlotte ; in the v;hole fleet were three Captains and the Commo'dore. While in the American, there was but two Captains, Perry and Elliot ; all the other ves- sels were commanded by Lieutenants, Saihog- Masters, or Midshipmen. The evening before the battle, the order of engagement was settled. By this. Captain Elliot, in the Niagara, was to lead the van; and it was determined, to attack the enemy, at their anchorage, 'if they did not come out to engage. On the morning of the lOtli, when 2S LECTURE. the enemy hove in sight, and had formed with their flag- ship at the head of the Une ; Perry who had determined to attack that ship him- self, changed the order of sailing, run down to the encounter, and took the van himself. This change in the order of sailings was in- stantly communicated to the whole fleet, by signal. The young Commodore, at the close of the council of war, on the evening of the 9th, told his officers that he could not better advise them than in the words of Nelson : '' If you lay your enemy along side, you cannot be out of your place. "^^ He then gave the order to each command- ing officer of the fleet, in writing. This order closed with these words : " Engage each your designated adversary, in close action, at half cahWs length.'''^ In this designation the Lawrence was opposed to the Detroit ; the Caledonia, with three guns, to the Hunter with ten ; the Niagara, to the Queen Charlotte. In the American fleet, defectively manned, as they were, one hundred and sixteen men and officers, were on the sick-list, and unfit for LECTURE. duty on the morning- of the lOth of Septem- ber. 1813, when they made sail, and stood out to encounter the enemy. I have, perhaps, been prolix, in stating tlie particular circumstances of these two fleets ; because I find myself placed in the condition, not of the eulogist, but of the historian ; and, under the most solemn obligation to do exact justice, even here, in this very limited num- ber of American people assembled in this place : to do justice, I say, in every word I ut- ter ; and that, too, between the living and the dead. For after a lapse of more than twenty-two> years, from the day of that memorable battle, and fourteen years after Commodore Perry has been laid in his grave; while, during all this period of time, America and Europe, have, with one voice, awarded to him the honor of this triumphant victory. Captain Elliot has, verv latelv, claimed that honor for himself. In the summer of 1836, a book of 480 octavo pages, was published at Philadelphia, as it purports ; but with the name of no printer and 3 so LECTURE. no writer annexed to it. This book is entitled " Biographical Notes of Commodore Jesse D. Elliot." About 250 pages of this book are devoted to an account of the battle on Lake Erie, It contains a great number of letters, addressed to Commodore Elliot, and whicli could be controlled by no one but himself, Tlie book must, therefore, be regarded as autobiography. Commodore Perry, in the moment of victo- ry, flushed with youth and triumph ; on the eve of the 10th, says, in his first despatch to the Secretary of the Navy, '- It has pleased the Mnighty to give the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake." Commodore Elliot, who, on that day, com- manded The Niagara, says in the 35th page of his book : " It is not doing too much to say, that to him,'' Jesse D. Elliot, '« the country is principally indebted for the honor of that splendid victory.'' In page 195, he repeats that " it is proved to the satisfaction of every candid reader, that Captain Elliot was CHIEFLY instrumental in gaining the LECTURE. 31 victory on Lake Erie.^'' These are sweeping claims ; they should be examined with candor and without resentment. Jesse D. Elliot, now a Commodore in the United States navy, comes with his claim against Oliver Hazard Perry, in his grave, for a reversal of the long established judgment of the v/orld. He calls Pennsylvania, the State where he was born, to support his claim against Rhode-Island, the birth-place of Perry. If Rhode-Island never before lowered her flag to Pennsylvania, yet, if justice require it, let her lov/er it now. Nevertheless, first of all, review the case ; and then decide. I will, im- partially, sl.;^ the facts ; and you, in the same spirit, may judge. On the night of the 9th of September, 1813, the American fleet lay moored at Put-in-Bay, on the southwest shore of Erie. At daylight on the 10th, the enemy were discovered Irom the mast head of the Lawrence, far up the lake in the northwest. This was, by signal, immediately communicated to the fleet ; and, at the same time, the signal was given to get under weigh. Perry told his officers and men, •^^ LECTURE. ihat the enemy should fight that day. The wind being southwest, and light, the Commo- dore inquired of Sailing-iMaster Taylor wheth- er he could work out of the bay, to the w^ind- ward of the islands, at the mouth of it. When told he could not, "then," said he, " wear ship ; go out to the leeward, and give the en- emy the wind of us." Before this could be done, the wind started from southwest to southeast, and gave our squadron a fair pas- sage out, to the windward of that of the ene- my. By this event, the American fleet, and every vessel of them, was enabled to take and to keep amj distance from her adversary, which each of them might choose. This fact must be continually recollected, as we go on through the whole conflict. There had been a strug- gle, by the English Commodore, to get the weathergage ; but, as it appears, after the wind had shifted, and settled into the south- east, he gave it up, and at 10 o'clock, A. M., hove to in a line of battle, with his ships heading to the westward, and at the distance of about three leagues. LECTURE. So Commodore Perr}^, soon after, hoisted his broad pennant on board the Lawrence, in- scribed with the irnniortal words of him whose name his vessel bore — " IJonH give up the ship.'^^ And at the sight of it, the loud huzzas of the mariners resounded over the lake, from deck to deck, along the whole American line ; and awakened the echoes v/hich had been sleep- ing on those v/aters and shores, ever since the morning stars sang together. Our fleet ap- proached the enemy, at an angle of about thirty degrees ; so that, when the van-ship, the Law- rence, came into close action with the Detroit, the third, the Niagara, might be out of car- ronade shot distance. The signal was given, by the Commodore, for each ship to engage her adversary, as she came up, and as desig- nated in previous orders. Remember, those orders made the Lav/rence the adversary of the Detroit, the Caledonia of the Hunter, and the Niagara of the Queen Charlotte ; and there, in full view, lay those gallant British adversaries, with topsails back to the mast, with matches lighted, coolly waiting for the attack and the conflict. 3* 34 LECTURE. The breeze being light, the American fleet was two hours in bearing down under all sail over this smooth surface of nine miles. The wind, though light, was steady ; and not a new movement was made in steerage, running geer, or sail. All were silent. It was, in both fleets, the stillness of the elements, be- fore the storm of the hurricane. I will not believe one bosom palpitated with fear ; but many a one beat with an aspiration, and a hope for victory. In that awful pause, when at times, every eye glanced on every other eye, and all were mingling souls in a sympa- thy of courage and daring among their com- rades and commanders, how many young hearts, for the last time, breathed a sigh and prayed a prayer, for home, parents, brothers, sisters, and for " the bosom friend dearer than all .?" Many a bright and moist eye looked, for the last time, on the green shores and sunny hills of their country. Rashness, with- out courage, may rush thoughtlessly into the battle; but nothing but valor of soul can stand unmoved, and wait for the coming conflict of life or death, victory or defeat. LECTURE-. Sb They stood every man silent at his post ; while the breath of heaven, born to fill the sails of commerce, and which never had be- fore, seemed reluctant now, on those quiet waters, to aid men in mutual destruction. At fifteen minutes before 12, M., Commodore Perry gave the signal for close action ; and then by trumpet, sent down, from ship to ship, along the whole line, a repetition of the order, ^^ Engage your adversary, each as you come up, as before directed." This, be it remem- bered, was, in close action at half cablets length. At fifteen minutes before 12, M., the British Commodore commenced the action, by a dis- charge from his long guns, at the Lawrence. Perry still bore down in gallant style, and retained his fire, receiving that of the enemy, until the British began to apprehend, that his design was to board. At five minutes before 12, M., Perry opened his fire. Not intending to lose a single shot, he ordered the first divi- sion only of his broadside to be fired. He then inquired of Lieutenant Yarnall if the shot of his carronades told? Being answered in the negative, he ordered Sailing-Master Taylor ^6 LECTURE. to direct the helm put tip, and ran down, and close in with the enemy. He ran down, till every carronade and every musket might reach its mark. Taylor says within canister distance ; Perry says, in his dispatch and ac- count of the battle, at half canister ; and Yar- nall, who was ordered to note if the shot told^ says at half musket shot ; 50 yards, 150 feet"; not quite so far as from where I stand to the foot of the bridge. In this position, at this slaughtering distance, the Lawrence encoun- tered the Detroit, and there sustained the conflict v/ith her, and the vessels which came to her aid, for two and one half hours. The Ariel, Lieutenant Packett, and the Scorpion, . Saihng-Master Champlin, were just ahead, on her weather bow; and the Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner, just astern, on her lee- ward quarter, during almost the whole ac- tion.* The Niagara was astern of the Lawrence, and the Caledonia abeam of the Queen Char- lotte in the line of approach, when the action =*=See Diagram, No. 1, in the Appendix. LECTURE. ST commenced. She, at first, discharged her lirst division ; but when their shot fell short of the Queen Charlotte, Captain Elliot did not order the helm put up, and run down to within half cable's length of his adversary, the Queen Charlotte ; but it w admitted^ by him in his book, that he directed his Lieutenant to cease firing with the carronades, and/re with the long twelves only. The Queen Charlotte had 20's, to the Niagara's 24 pound carronades, but no long guns ; and, therefore, as she could neither reach the Niagara with her carronades, nor run up AGAINST the wind, and lay her along side, she packed on all sail, and run down to the aid of the Detroit and laid the Lawrence and the Caledonia along side at half past 12 o'clock, M. For the Hunter had just made sail, and run, not from the conflict with the Caledonia, bat up to the head of the line, to aid the Lit- tle Belt, against the Scorpion and the Ariel. This movement of the Queen Charlotte, is by Captain Elliot^ in his antobiography, styled, her making sail, and running aicay from the Ni- agara ; but he does not say he made sail and run down after her, as he might : For if there 38 LECTURE. were wind enough for the Queen Charlotte to run away, there was wind enough for the Ni- agara to run after her. He admits, in that book, that instead of making all sail, and run- ning down upon his adversary, the Queen Charlotte, as he had been ordered to do, no less than three times, and engagin'g her at half cable's length, he threw his topsail to the mast and brailed up his jib, so as to keep his position on the water as nearly as practi- cable. Every nautical man will tell us that this position of the sails would hold his ship to the wind, and keep her in her then present place ; so that, all the ships engaged, would be sagging slowly ahead, and to the leeward ; until the Caledonia and the Lawrence v/ere directly between the Niagara and the Detroit and the Queen Charlotte. If he fired then, it must have been at the Chippewa of one gun. For the Lady Prevost had been wounded in the rudder, and soon fell to the leevv^ard out of the reach of his carronades or lonsr sruns. If, then, after one o'clock, the Niagara lired at the Detroit or the Queen Charlotte, it must LECTURE. 39 have been across the Lawrence and the Cale- donia.* The Somers, of two 32's, and the Trippe of one 32, were astern of the Niagara for a long- time ; for they had been destined to support the Niagara, as the Ariel and the Scorpion supported the Lawrence. The Tigress and the Porcupine, both dull sailers, armed with each a thirty-two, were still more astern of the Niagara. These four gan-boats were, with their heavy ordnance, firing at long shots on the Chippewa and Lady Prevost. The Lawrence for two and a half hours sus- tained the fire of the Detroit ; and for two hours, that of the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and most of that of the Hunter ; forty-four guns, with all the marines, at half musket shot. The British Commodore ordered all his fire from all three vessels turned on the Lawrence. For here he believed was the bone and mus- cle, and here he knew was the soul and spirit of the battle. If Perry were slain, and his *See Diagram, No. 2, in the Appendix. LECTURE, ship captured, the smaller vessels would fall of course. He seems not to have reg-arded the Niagara as then in the action. Elliot, in his autobiography, declares that it was evidently the plan of the British com- mander, to disable our heaviest ships, in de- tail ; and thus to insure the capture of the whole. In proof of this, he asserts, and this assertion is literally true, that at half past 12, the Queen Charlotte made all sail and left the Niagara, and bore down and attacked and di- rected all her fire on the Lawrence. Why, then, in the name of bravery and fair companionship, did not he, with the same wind and enough sail, and as much speed, bear down and follow her ? Why did he, as he admits he did, fling his topsail to the mast, furl his top-gallant sails, and brail up his jib ? Why did he, for two hours after the Queen Charlotte left him, leave the Lawrence ex- posed to the murderous fire of forty-four guns, supported only by nine in the Caledonia, Ariel, and Scorpion ; whilst he had twenty, with the wind whistling into their muzzles, when he might have been pouring (he round, grape. LECTURE. 41 and canister, roaring out of them, against the enemy, at half musket shot ? There is no evi- dence that a musket, or more than one divi- sion of one broadside of the carronades, v\^a3 fired on board the Niagara, or that this was more than once discharged. It does not satis- factorily appear that after this first division, any thing was fired during the whole two hours and a half, except the two long twelves, or until Perry boarded her at 45 minutes after 2 o'clock, P. M. On board the Lawrence, as an eye-v/itness has stated, the most perfect order prevailed » during the whole action. There was no noise, no bustle, no confusion ; as fast as the men were v^ounded, they were carried below, and others stepped into their places. The dead lay v/here they fell, until the action was over. Commodore Perry, during the whole time, says this eye witness, exhibited a cool, col- lected, and dignified bravery ; his countenance was, the \vhole time, as composed as if he had been engaged in ordinary duty. Not a murmur, not a complaint, was heard in the ship ; while the bails— canister, grape, 4 42 LECTURE. and bullets, were sweeping" over, and driving through them, like a storm of hail ; the slain and the wounded falling on every side ; and the blood gushing, in streams over the decks, from many a young and gallant heart. There was one, and but one sentiment of regret, and throughout all the battle, that was discoverable. It was expressed, at times, in v/ords, to the commander, by Yarnall, by Taylor, by Forrest. It was uttered, in groans, by the wounded, when carried below ; and breathed out v/ith the last breath, by the dying on the deck ; and the gallant Laub, the brave and accomplished Brooks, lifting a last eye to heaven, and sending a last wish to home, died with this bitter regret on their lips — " Why, why does not the JSTiagara come down and help us P^ Perry could say nothing to the severely wounded, or to the dead; but of the unhurt, and those who though wounded kept, or returned to the deck, he v/as the life and soul. Un- touched himself, and, covered, as he must have been on that day, by a shield, impen- etrable, though invisible ; he, Irom hour to hour, continued to encouraq-e and cheer them 43 LECTURE. all to fight on, till their consort should come doicn and take her part in the battle. He, himself, worked with his own hands at the last gun ; and when that was disabled, by a shot of the enemy, he had but himself, his little brother, and fourteen men alive, and unhurt on board. Then, v/hen Lieutenant Yarnall, and his other officers, Taylor, and Forrest, again uttered their astonishment, that the Niagara still hugged the icind, and kept at a distance, freshened as^'the breeze was, by such a blaze from so many guns, for two and a half hours ; " Lower the boat," he exclaimed, ''and I will go and bring her down." The boat-yes,while the ship was a mere wreck, in that storm of battle, the boat was lowered away from the quarter where - she had been hung swinging as a mark for ev- ery shot, and was at that moment, like the commander, untouched and perfectly sound. He jumped in, with his broad pennant under his arm ; and his last words to Lieutenant Yarnall were, '' I leave it to your discretion to strike, or not ; but the American colors must not be pulled down over my head to-day." He jumped into the boat, with eight stout sea- 44 LECTURE. men at the oars ; and put off at thirty minutes after two, for the Niagara. The British ships soon saw, and directed and discharged their whole fire at him, standing, as he did, erect in the stern of the boat. Nor was it the show- er of balls, grape, canister, and bullets, but the earnest request, and entreating tears of his crew, which inducecl him to sit down. With all the speed that these eight men, at the oars, could give to the boat, and she must have sprung away like a race horse trained to the course ; how long was it before she reached the larboard side of the Niagara, and the Commodore sprung up her gangway ? What a transition, from the shattered deck^ and slaughtered crew of the Lawrence, to a ship so fresh, that as he said, " when he found the guns, spars, sails, rigging, all sound, and not a man killed on board, he stepped lightly on the quarter deck." Elliot was, at his own request, sent along the line of gun-boats, at several distances astern, to urge down the Somers, Tigress, and Porcupine. The Trippe, Lieutenant Stevens, had be- fore pushed down to the support of the Cale- LECTURE. 45 donia. The Commodore's flag was displayed on the Niagara, and the signal given to the ves- sels astern, for close action, as Perry says, at forty-five, as Yarnall says, at forty-eight min- utes after two o'clock. Soon after Perry left the Lawrence, she fell astern ; and Yarnall, with the advice of the other officers, when further opposition was not practicable, struck the colors. While these things were in progress. Lieutenant Turner, before lying on the weather quarter of the Detroit, bore down, and took a position along side of that vessel. Lieutenant Stevens, in the Trippe, a little sl<)op of one long thirty-two, had succeeded to that place, so long held by Turner in the Cal- edonia, on the loeather quarter of the Detroit. These gallant young men, without slackening their fire, had exchanged signals for boarding the Detroit; when you may imagine with what delight they saw the gallant Commodore bear- ing down in the Niagara, under a press of sail. He broke through the enemy's line ; passed between the Hunter and Detroit, at half pis- 4* iG LECTURE. tol shot, thirty feet, from each ; and from all his guns double shotted with round, grape, or canister, poured his broadsides into these devoted vessels. Rounding to, opposed to the taffrail of the Queen Charlotte, then, by her bowsprit, entangled in the mizzen rigging of the Detroit, he began a raking fire, from end to end of both their decks. The Queen Charlotte in this situation, and seeing the Somers, then commanded bj^ Elliot, with the Tigress, and Porcupine, pressing down with sweeps and sails, struck her colors. The call being made to the Detroit, she gave up the contest.* The Lady Prevost and Hunter, both disa- bled, pulled down their colors. The Little Belt, at the head, and Chippewa at the rear of the line, made all sail and run ; but the Scorpion, Lieutenant Champlin, and Trippe, Lieutenant Stevens, pursued ; and after a close chase, took and brought them back. The victory was won ; was complete ; not a sail of the enemy escaped. *See Diagram, No. 3, in the Appendix. LECTURE. 47 The echo of the cannon, and of the triumph- ant shout, died away on the lake and the shores. The winds of heaven swept the volumes of smoke off from the shattered fleets. The setting sun looked back on the decks and the waters, crimsoned with the blood of the valiant. A feeling of awe is on the heart of every living- man, who comes unhurt out of a tremen- dous battle. For a time every human voice was silent. All paused ; the groans of the wounded and the dying only were heard. The victors were too proud to exult; the van- quished, too brave to complain. All had, that morning, sent a seaman's prayer to heaven for success in the same language ; and after the conflict, they met on the same decks where they had fought ; and mingled saluta- tions, each with the other, in his own mother tongue. All united in the care of the wound- ed and the burial of the dead; and these brave officers, American and British, v/ho fell, cheering their seamen on to mutual conflict, were, by the survivors, laid side by side in their graves, on the shore of those waters 48 LECTURE. where they had fallen, and were alike hon- ored and lamented by the mingled tears of friends and foes, and the united music and can- non of both fleets. The brave are always merciful and compas- sionate ; Commodore Barclay expressed the warmest gratification at Perry's attention to his wounded prisoners ; said he had earned by it for himself immortal honor ; and after- wards, at an entertainment and ball given to him, and attended by the bravery and beauty of Canada, he gave as a toast, with great ap- plause ; " Commodore Perrj^, the gallant and generous enemy." After this victory,* Commodore Perry, with the fleet, transported General Harrison and his army over the lake ; joined the forces as volunteer aid of the Commander in Chief; was with General Cass, as his other aid, at his side in the battle of the Thames, where the whole army of Proctor was either cap- tured or destroyed. This victory, the fruit of that on Lake Erie, *See Note A. LECTURE. 49 demolished the British forces in Upper Cana- da ; dispersed the north-west confederacy of Indian tribes and warriors ; who immediately threw themselves on the mercy of the United States ; and thus secured the whole frontier, from Lake Ontario to the Mississippi. This fleet of Erie is the first American fleet, which, in line of battle, encountered an ene- my. It was commanded, as the first conti- nental fleet had been, by a Rhode-Island man ; and to a great extent, built, and officered, and manned by Rhode -Island men. Will the peo- ple of this State be unmindful of the reputation of those men ; their own fellow-citizens, who laid the foundation, and raised that superstruc- ture, which was by them, aided by others equally brave, so ornamented and adorned, by such victories and such national benefits 9 How mortifying to the patriot, that, after more than twenty years, such a mist of delu- sion should by any cause, be spread over any part of the American people ; that any one man could be found to doubt and question the title of Oliver Hazard Perry to the glory of that distinqrdshed naval victory ! Still more 50 LECTURE. astonishing', that title is not only questioned, but another has boldly claimed that glory for himself. If you are not already wearied by the length of this narrative, permit me to state two or three things, which are either admitted by this new candidate for this honor, or cannot be controverted by him. At the close of the battle. Perry set up no exclusive claims to the glory of the victory. He submitted all, with unexampled modesty, to the award of his country. Look at his despatches ; does he tell what / have done ? To General Harrison — " We have met the enemy, and they are ours.'''' To the Secretary of the Navy — "It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake. The British squadron consisting of two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop, have this momicnt surrendered to the force under my conmiand, after a sharp con- flict." Nothing can be so conspicuous as the mo- desty, unless it be Xh.Q piety, of this most per- LECTURE. 51 feet of all naval despatches. How could he say less of himself } The victory had been given by Him who gives all things — liad been given, not to him, but to the American arms. The British squadron had surrendered to the force ; what force ? He could not avoid say- ing, to the force under my command. One epithet only, tells the nature of the battle ; it was a sharp conflict. He puts under sail none of that squadron of adjectives, after which, a vounff esrotist would have sent his first victory to the Naval Department. The autobiogra- phy exemplifies this from the 20th to the 23d page. Perry not only did not v/ish to engross the honor to himself, but he was anxious that all should share it with him. At the close of the battle, every voice was loud in praise of the first in command ; every tongue, but those of his own vessel, was questioning, or reluct- antly restrained from questioning, the conduct of the second in command. Those who had opportunities to write, were, in their letters, expressing their censure on the position held by the Niagara during the battle. 52 LECTURE. The moment this was known to Perry, he- sent Lieutenant Turner and Mr. HambletoDj one to the fleet, the other to the camp, en- treating- them to stop. " Why," said he, '' should a young- officer be ruined? Why should the public eye look on any part of the battle with disapprobation ? Honor enough for all hag been won ; and I am desirous that all my companions in arms should share it with me." By this effort, every letter not dispatched already, was stopped. One only had been sent awav, and could not be re- called. This act is and ever will be as hon- orable to Perry's generosity, as the victory was to his courage. On the 13th of September, he sent a second despatch to the Secretary of the Navy, " to give him some of the particulars of the battle." Here he saved Elliot, by a benevolent ambiguity. He says " at half past two^ the ivind springing up. Captain Elliot was ENABLED to bring his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close ac- tion." Jrle was ENABLED, he could say ; he could not say he DID bring the Niagara into close action. For every man in the fleet LECTURE. 53 knew that this was done by Perry himself. The pubhc might infer, that Elliot, when he was enabled to bring, did in Jact, bring the Ni- agara gallantly into close action ; and Elliot was willing it should be so left in this ambigu- ity. For though he requested Perry to place this enabled, at an earlier hour, he never re- quested him to say that he did do what he was enabled to do ; that is, that he did come gallantly into close action. The time ivhen he was so enabkd, was referred to one of his own Lieutenants, Edwards, and to Lieutenant Turner ; but they agreed, that one half past two, as the Commodore had stated it, was the correct time. This was the moment when Perry left the Lawrence to board the Niagara ; and this establishes the fact, that this Commodore Elliot, who now claims the honor of the vic- tory, had not, at one half after two o'clock, in the afternoon, been in close action. Some other admitted facts, place this ques- tion still further beyond doubt. It is admitted by all, that Commodore Perry left the Lav/- rence at half past two o'clock, P. M. ; that he hoisted the signal, on board the Niagara, for 5 64 LECTURE. close action, to the gun boats astern of her, at 45, as he says, and as Yarnall says, at 48 minutes after two. He could not have been less than ten minutes passing from the Law- rence to the Niagara, or more than three in hoisting the signal. How far could eight men send that light barge over the water in ten minutes ? Some oarsmen tell me two ; some one and a half, but none less than one mile. So far from the Lawrence, and a little farther, half musket shot, from the enemy, was the Niagara when Perry reached her deck. He had left the Lawrence on her larboard or left hand gangway, when she was directly abeam of the Detroit ; and the moment that the Law- rence dropped astern, as she did immediately on his leaving her, and struck shortly after ; the enemy saw him in his boat, and turned their fire from the ship to him. It is admitted that he rowed round under the stern of the Niagara and came up on the windward, then the larboard, or left hand gangway. The wind was south-east. Had the Niagara been coming* down, the wind would have been on her right hand, or star- LECTURE. 55 board side ; the wind, as it is proved by Elliot himself, was on the larboard or left hand side. If then the Niagara was, as it is admitted, abeam of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, though she was enabled to, yet she had not hegun to come gallantly into close action. Another admitted fact will tell where El- liot was when the Detroit and Queen Char- lotte surrendered. Wherever the Niagara was, when Perry reached her ; the Somers, the Tigress and the Porcupine were in succession and in a line a long distance astern of her. This is proved by Elliot's own oliicers: Elliot, fo bring them up, left the Niagara and rowed down the whole length of the line, or until he could hail the last boat ; and rowed back and boarded the Somers ; and so brought the gun boats down to engage in the action. Whatever distance these vessels, all dull sail- ers, were astern of the Niagara, Elliot had to row twice over that distance, before he could get back to the point where he left Perry in the Niagara ; then in two or three minutes, starting under full sail, to run down over the 56 LECTUHEc space which he had rowed up in fifteen min- utes.* Let these facts tell their own story ; and they will give the " whereabouts" of Captain Elliot, when the action terminated. This was in fifteen minutes, as Elliot proves, and in twenty, as Yarnall states, after Perry board- ed the Niagara. The living can protect their own charac- ters. Those who are dead, and who fell in the national service, have left their fame, per- haps the only inheritance of their children, to the safe keeping of their country ; and wo be- tide a people, when they permit the sanctuary of human glory, frail and perishable as it is, to be profaned and plundered. It was sacrilege among the ancients, and deemed abhorrent to gods and men, to destroy, or remove a stick or a stone, from a trophy erected, by a conqueror, on a battle field, or by the shore where a naval victory had been achieved. *See Note B. LECTURE. 57 Let the people of Rhode-Island protect with a pious diligence, the tombs and the glory of their buried patriots and heroes ; and alike abhor those who would tarnish the one, or demolish the other. 5* ^k -I ,>w' NOTES. NOTE A. Although every effort was made for the reh'ef of the wounded, yet there was much unavoidable delay in giving them needful attention ; for Dr. Parsons, now one of our most distinguished medical gentlemen, then surgeon of the Lawrence, was the only surgeon able to do duty in the American squadron. It was not, therefore, until forty-cight hours after the battle, that he could attend to the wounded on board the Niagara. Of them, two only told him, that they were wounded before Perry boarded that vessel. He was preserved in that service, and for the completion of it, by one of the wonderful events of that day. While he was stoop- ing in the cock-pit, diligently dressing the wounded, a shot, hulling the ship through and through, passed just above his head. Had he been standing up, nothing could have saved him ; and the wounded in the fleet 60 CONDITION AND POSITION would have been left without relief, and the country sustained a loss of one of her most able and distin- guished men in the healing profession. NOTE B. The individuals, and those too in command and so most exposed, are, at times, wonderfully preserved in the midst of slaughter ; yet do the number of dead and wounded, give fearful and solemn demonstration of the toil, peril, and exertions of those who led, cheered and urged them on in the battle. On board the Somers, the gun boat which Elliot was bringing down, two men only were wounded, whether before or after his command, it is unknown ; none were killed, on board the Niagara, when he com- manded ; and it is proved by the surgeon who dressed them, that two only, declared themselves to have been wounded during that time. The condition of that vessel and her crew, when Elliot left her, as I have stated it, was communicated to me by a gentleman, who received it from Commo- dore Perry's own mouth. He related the fact, that be found the ship perfectly fresh and not a man killed on board, as a matter of gratulation ; and one that gave him promise of a certain and speedy victory. OF THE NIAGARA. 61 Elliot produced no evidence before his court of inquiry, sufficient to induce a belief that Perry was mistaken in this statement. Lieutenant Webster, when called up a second time, and asked by Elliot " what damage the Niagara sustained during the action^ not while he commanded ; mentioned sundry wounds in spars and rigging ; and concludes by saying two men were killed and several wounded in his division before he went below. If the answer be as extensive as the question, and cover the whole action, it perfectly corroborates, but does not contradict the statement of Commodore Perry. The letter of Mr. Barton, nominal surgeon of the Niagara, written at Winchester, in Virginia, on the 22d of April, 1821, to Commodore Elliot, and sworn 16 Oil the 24th of that tti6nth, before ^ome justice of the peace in Frederick county, Virginia, can hardly be regarded as evidence. This man was, on the day of the battle, and for many days after, so sick, that the wounded men on board the Niagara were not dressed by him ; nor, until the third day, when Dr. Parsons, acting as sole surgeon, took care of those brave fellows, who had been shot to pieces in the Niagara, after Perry took the command. What could Barton, sick as he was, and stationed below, know of the battle? As a specimen of his hearsay stories, take his declaration, in that letter ; 62 CONDITION AND POSITION that five were killed outright, on board the Niagara, If he knew this fact, how did it happen, that Captain Elliot returned to Commodore Perry, the names of but two, Peter Morel, seaman, and Isaac Hardy, ordu nary seaman ? These two only were killed on board that vessel ; and it may be uncertain, whether before or after Elliot left the ship. That two only were wounded before Perry took command is placed beyond a doubt by the testimony of Dr. Parsons. All that Barton states, he had heard from men on board with Elliot ; and like himself, anxious to ex- cuse themselves and their commander, and to stand well with the public. Admit all they claim, and two men o^^,-, fell where Elliot fought ; while onboard the Lav. i-once, where Perry was engaged, twenty-two were killed and six- ty-one wounded. On board the Niagara, when un- der Perry's command, it is fully believed two were killed, and unquestionably twenty-two were wounded. No ships can be in close action for two hours and a half, and remain so sound as to be perfectly managea- ble in spars, rigging, sails, steerage, and battery ; and perfectly fit to run down and encounter the enemy at any chosen distance. When Perry left the Lawrence, she was utterly un- manageable, and could not move a sail, or fire a gun. The Detroit, which had been engaged with her and OF THE NIAGARA. 63 the Caledonia, was, as Commodore Barclay says, " a perfect wreck, and the Queen Charlotte in a condition but little better." What was the condition of the Niagara when Elliot left her? Let the service which she immediately per- formed under the command of Perry, give the answer. She was so perfectly fresh, so entirely unhurt in steer- age, spars, rigging, sails, and battery, that without stopping a moment to repair, he instantly, at 45, or at most, 48 minutes after 2 o'clock, made signal for close action to the vessels astern ; and packing on all sail bore down and broke through the enemy's line. This being the condition of the Niagara when Elliot left her, why should we call witnesses to prove that she had been, during the battle, out of the reach of the ene- my's fire 1 For if every man on board were to swear that she had been yard arm and yard arm with tlie Queen Charlotte, for two hours and a half, not a man, woman, or child on earth, would believe one word of the story. No ; the Niagara was perfectly /res/t, and hanging in the wind, ata safe distance, when Perry boarded her, at 45 minutes after 2 o'clock. With such a ves- sel, with none killed and but two wounded, ho was able to make sail, bear gallantly down, break through the enemy's line, and in fifteen minutes after he came on board, as Elliot's witnesses testify, or in twenty, or 64 CONDITION AND POSITION twenty-five, as Yarnall states, to terminate the action by a signal and glorious victory. NOTE C. Lieutenant Webster called and examined under oath by Commodore Elliot, testifies, that when he went be- low, the gun boats were a long way astern of the Ni- agara. No evidence is brought to prove, and there is no reason to believe, that they were nearer when El- liot left the Niagara, after Perry came on board. Indeed, if these vessels had been near, or the near- est within hailing distance, and the others no further off in succession down the line, tlie call to close up, would have been sent by sound of trumpet. The fact of Elliot's going after them, proves that they could not be expedited, in their approach, by signal or trumpet. They were astern of the Niagara, and in the same line with her ; so that Elliot, when he had rowed to the most distant, and then back to the Somers, was no nearer the enemy than the Niagara was, when he left her. How long was Elliot in rowing twice over this dis- tance ? If it were but one half as far as the Lawrence was from the Niagara, when Perry boarded that ves- sel, Elliot must have been fifteen minutes in those two movements. Where was Perr}^, in the Niagara, dur. ing that time ? Let it be told by Midshipman Mont- OF THE SOMERS. 65 gomery, one of Elliot's own witnesses. He says, " the Detroit struck in fifteen minutes after Perrv came on board the Niagara ; and the Queen Charlotte a few minutes after." If this be correct, Elliot had that instant reached the Somers. He proves, that when he reached that vessel, both her long 32's were shotted iwith balls of that weight. These he ordered drawn, and the guns shotted with grape and canister. Was this done to save the 32 lb. balls, as the 24 lb. carronade balls had been saved, because they were too distant to reach the enemy ? Or, was it the fact, that he then saw the colors of these two ships were down ; and that while he was pressing up, with sweeps and sails, into the thickest of the jiglit, after it was all over, it was well to have the rest of his men husn in unloading and loading the guns 7 Had the Somers been within point blank shot when he boarded her, the quickest way to have cleared his guns, for a load of grape and canister, would have been to place the 32 lb. shot, which then incumbered them, between wind and water in the enemy's broad- side. Two such balls, directed by a skilful eye over that smooth water, might have finished the conflict, if the conflict had not already been finished. In a late publication, purporting to be a Naval His- tory, it is stated that the boat service performed by 6 Qq Elliot's boat service. Elliot in the battle, was as perilous as that performed by Perry. Is this correct ? The Lawrence was with- in half musket shot of the enemy when Perry left her, and the Niagara was out of carronade shot when he reached her. The whole fire of the enemy was poured in upon him during his whole passage from one to the other vessel. Elliot, when he left the Niagara to bring up the ves- sels astern, was out of sight of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte ; and from that time until he returned to the Somers and boarded her, was out of reach of all their guns, and does not appear to have been noticed by them. The writer, who could compare these two ser- vices together, and pronounce them equally perilous, must have a strange obliquity of purpose, or of under- standing. NOTE D. It is in proof and is admitted to be true, that Com- modore Perry rowed round the stern of the Niagara and came upon the larboard side. It is then true that this vessel was not bearing down on the enemy, for had that been the case, the boat's crew being equally ex- posed to the enemy's shot on either side of the vessel, she would have been boarded, on the starboard, that being the side first reached by the boat. It is also admitted that the Commodore boarded on POSITION OP THE NIAGARA. 67 the windward side of the Niagara ; the wind must then have been on the larboard side, for on that side he boarded. The wind was southeast, and this vessel must have been heading to the westward or the wind could not have been on her larboard quarter. She was abeam of the Detroit, and had she been running down on that ship her course must have been north, and the wind, at southeast, would have been on her starboard quarter. It cannot, then, be true that she had hegun to run down to the enemy's line when Commodore Perry boarded her. It is admitted that the Somers, Tigress and Porcupine, were astern of the Niagara when boarded by the Commodore ; but it is also admitted that these vessels were all heading to the westward with the southeast wind on their larboard quarters. The Niagara must therefore have been heading the same course ; or the other vessels could not have been astern of her ; for had she at that time been running down on the enemy they would have been on her beam as they were a few minutes after, when Perry packed on all sail and put up his helm to rush down and break through the enemy's line. At the court of inquiry, requested by Captain Elliot, most of his officers, called by him as witnesses, testify that the Niagara was in close action during the whole battle. Nevertheless, Captain Elliot asks of several of them this question, " When Captain Perry boarded the 68 POSITION OF THE NIAGARA. Niagara, was not my helm put up and the vessel bear- ing down on the enemy ?" This question contradicts all these witnesses, and admits that when Captain Perry boarded the Niagara, at 45 minutes past two o'clock ^ she was not in close action ; and all the witnesses who say " yes" to this question contradict what they had said before, viz., that the Niagara was in close action when boarded by the Commodore, while all the forego- ing admitted facts, viz. the southeast wind on the larboard quarter, the other vessels astern, the rowing round the stern and boarding of the Commodore on the lar- board side of the Niagara, prove beyond question, that the helm was not put up and that she had not then begun to run down on the enemy, when boarded by Captain Perry. APPENDIX. DIAGRAM, NO. 1. DIAGRAMS. 71 EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM, NO. 1. This Diagram represents the position of the two fleets at the commencement of the action. The arrow indicates the course of the wind, which was from the southeast. The fleets were headed westward. AMERICAN SQUADRON. 1. The schooner Scorpion, Saihng Master Champhn, of two guns, 32 pounders. 2. The schr.Ariel, Lieut. Packett, 4 guns,18's and 24's. 3. The Lawrence, Captain Perry, with twenty guns, two long 12s and eighteen 24s. 4. The Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner, with three guns, 24 and 32 pounders. 5. The Niagara, Captain Elliott, with the same arma- ment as the Lawrence. 6. The schooner Somers, Sailing. Master Almy, with two 32 pounders. 7. The schooner Porcupine, Midshipman Smith, with one 32 pounder. 8. The Tigress, Lieut. Conklin, with one 32 pound gun. 9. The sloop Trippe, Lieutenant Stevens, with one 32 pound gun. BRITISH S(lUADR0N. a. Sloop Little Belt, of three guns. h. The ship Detroit, with nineteen guns. c. The brig Hunter, with ten guns. d. The ship Queen Charlotte, with seventeen guns. €. The schooner Lady Prevost, with thirteen guns. /. The schr. Chippewa, with one gun and two swivels. 12 DIAGRAMS. EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM, NO. 2. This Diagram represents the position of each ship at the moment when Perry left the Lawrence, in his boat, for the Niagara. 1 and 2, are the Scorpion of two guns, and Ariel of four guns, contending with the Little Belt of three guns and the Hunter of ten guns. The Hunter, early in the action, had left her position in the line, between the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, and pressed forward to the support of the Little Belt. 3. The position of the Lawrence at the moment when Perry left her, in her disabled state, for the Niag- ara. The former lay an unmanageable wreck, and as the fleet moved slowly forward, during the action under easy sail, she dropped to wind- ward, and at the close of the engagement, was in the position in which she is represented in Dia- gram No. 3. 4. The Caledonia of four guns, which had pressed for- ward to the aid of the Lawrence, in her unequal contest with the Detroit and Queen Charlotte. 5. The Niagara at the moment when Perry left the Lawrence to board her. The dotted line from 6 to 5, will show the course of her steerage from the time she left her place in the line, till the com- mand of her was assumed by Perry. The dotted line from her bow, through the line of the British fleet, will show her course after Elliot left her. 6. The Somers, of which Captain Elliot took the com- DIAGRAM, NO. 2. DIAGRAMS. 75 mand toward the close of the action, after leaving the Niagara and rowing down to the Trippe. 7, 8 and 9. The Porcupine, Tigress and Trippe. The dotted line from 5 to 9 and from 9 to 6, repre- sents the route of Captain Elliot in his boat, after he left the Niagara to go down the line and bring up the small vessels to the windward. He passed down the line to the Trippe, thence along the line of schooners to the Somers, of which he took the command and brought her into action at near the close of the battle. The dotted line from 3 to 5, exhibits the direction of Captain Perry's boat in passing from the Law- rence to the Niagara. As the Lawrence fell to the rear immediately after he left her, his boat was exposed to the full broadside of the enemy. The other dotted line will exhibit the course of the Ni- agara while under the command of Elliot, and af- terwards under that of Perry, as explained above. BRITISH FLEET. a. The Little Belt. b. The Detroit. c. The Hunter, which had left her place in line, astern of the Detroit, and took station in advance of her. d. The Queen Charlotte, which had passed forward and united her force with the Detroit, for the de- struction of the Lawrence, after she discovered the Niagara had avoided an encounter with her. e. The Lady Pre vest, which had been injured in her rudder and fallen out of the line, y. The Chippewa. 76 DIAGRAMS. EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM, NO. 3. This Diagram represents the position of the vessels of both fleets at near the close of the action, while Perry, in the Niagara, was pressing through the ene- my's line, pouring one broadside into the Hunter, on his larboard side, and the other into the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, from the starboard guns. AMERICAN FLEET. 1 and 2. The Scorpion and Ariel, in the positions, which they had maintained throughout the action. 3. The Lawrence which had dropped to the windward, after Perry left her. 4. The Caledonia which had pressed forward and taken the place of the Lawrence, after the latter had fallen out of the battle. 5. The Niagara, under the command of Perry, bearing down through the enemy's line, and in this posi- tion, with all her guns double shotted, she raked the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost with her starboard guns, and brought down the flags of the two ships ; and with her larboard guns silenced the Hunter. She then rounded to, and silenced the Lady Prevost, and thus terminated the conflict. 6. The Somers, under the command of Elliot, press- ing up to close quarters, at near the termination of the action. 7 and 8. The Porcupine and Tigress, which were un- able to get into action. DIAGRAMS. 77 DIAGRAM, NO. 3. cv ,:,/-' * CO 05 U3 * ^ V J DIAGRAMS. 79 9. The Trippe, which had gallantly pushed forward with her single 32 pounder, to the support of the Caledonia, after the latter had taken the place of the Lawrence. The dotted line indicates the course of the Niagara, under the command of Perry. The wind re- mained in the same quarter as at the commemce- ment of the action. BRITISH FLEET. a. The Little Belt, which, after the Hunter had struck, attempted to escape, but was pursued and taken by the Scorpion, Lieutenant Champlin. h. The Detroit attempting to wear, to avoid the Nia- gara's raking broadside, and by that movement became entangled with the Queen Charlotte. c. The Hunter, which surrendered after receiving the raking fire of the Niagara, as she passed her. d. The Queen Charlotte afoul of the Detroit. In this situation both ships surrendered. /. The Chippewa, which after the surrender of the oth- er vessels, crowded all sail and fled, but was pur- sued and captured. perry's official ACCOUNTo AMERICAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. Copy of a letter from Commodore Perry to the Sec- retary of the Navy. United States schooner- Ariel, Put-in-Bay, ) I3th September, 1813. 5 Sir — In my last I informed you, that we had captured the enemy's fleet on this lake. I have now the honor to give you the most important particulars of the ac- tion. On the morning of the 10th inst. at sunrise, they were discovered from Put-in-Bay, where I lay at anchor with the squadron under my command. We got under v^ay, the wind light at S. W. and stood for them. At 10 A. M. the wind hauled to S. E. and brought us to windward ; formed the line and brought up. At 15 minutes before 12j the enemy commenced firing ; at 5 minutes before 12, the action commenced on our part. Finding their fire very destructive, owing to their long guns, and its being mostly directed to the Lawrence, I made sai), and directed the other vessels to follow, for the purpose of closing with the enemy. Every brace and bow line being shot away, she be- came unmanageable, notwithstanding_the great exer- tions of the SaiHng Master. In this situation she sus- lained the action upwards of two hours, within canister shot distance, until every gun was rendered useless, and a greater part of the crew either killed or wounded. Finding she could no longer annoy the enemy, I left her in charge of Lt. Yarnall, who, I was convinced, from the bravery already displayed by him, would do ferry's official account. 81 what would comport with the honor of the flag. At half past 2, the wind springing up, Captain Elliot was enabled to bring his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close action ; I immediately went on board of her, when he anticipated my wish by volunteering to bring the schooners, which had been kept astern by the light- ness of the wind, into close action. It was with un- speakable pain that I saw, soon after I got on board the Niagara, the flag of the Lawrence come down, al- though I was perfectly sensible that she had been de- fended to the last, and that to have continued to make a show of resistance would have been a wanton sacri- fice of the remains of her brave crew. But the enemy was not able to take possession of her, and circum- stances soon permitted her flag again to be hoisted. At 45 minutes past two, the signal was made for " close action." The Niagara being very little injured, I de- termined to pass through the enemy's line, bore up and passed ahead of their two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to them from the starboard guns, and to a large schooner and sloop, from the larboard side, at half pistol shot distance. The smaller vessels at this time having got within grape and canister distance, under the direction of Captain Elliot, and keeping up a well directed fire, the two ships, a brig, and a schooner, sur- rendered, a schooner and sloop making a vain attempt to escape. Those officers and men who were immediately under my observation evinced the greatest gallantry, and I have no doubt that all others conducted themselves as became American officers and seamen. Lieutenant S2 perry's official account. Yarnall, first of the Lawrence, although several times wounded, refused to quit the deck. Midshipman For- rest, (doing duty as Lieutenant,) and Sailing-Master Taylor, were of great assistance to me. I have great pain in stating to you the death of Lieutenant Brooks, of the marines, and Midshipman Laub, both of the Lawrence, and Midshipman John Clark, of the Scor- pion ; they were valuable officers. Mr. Hambleton, Purser, who volunteered his services on deck, was se- verely wounded late in the action. Midshipman Clax- ton and Swartv/out, of the Lawrence, were severely wounded. On board the Niagara, Lieutenants Smith and Edwards, and Midshipman Webster, (doing duty as Sailing-Master,) behaved in a very handsome man- ner. Captain Brevoort, of the army, who acted as a volunteer In the capacity of a marine officer on board that vessel, is an excellent and brave officer, and with his musketry, did great execution. Lieutenant Turner, commanding the Caledonia, brought that vessel into action in the most able manner, and is an officer, that in all situations may be relied upon. The Ariel, Lieu- tenant Packett, and Scorpion, Sailing-Master Champlin, were enabled to get early into the action, and were of great service. Captain Elliot speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Magrath, Purser, who had been de- spatched in a boat on service, previous to my getting on board the Niagara ; and, being a seaman, since the action has rendered essential service in taking charge of one of the prizes. Of Captain Elliot, already so well known to the government, it would be almost superfluous to speak. In this action he evinced his LOG-BOOK OF THE LAWRENCE. 83 characteristic bravery and judgment, and since the close of the action, has given me the most able and essential assistance. I have the honor to enclose you a return of the killed and wounded, together with a statement of the relative force of the squadrons. The Captain and first Lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte, and first Lieutenant of the Detroit, were killed. Captain Bar- clay, senior ofhcer, and the commander of the Lady Prevost, severely wounded. Their loss in killed and wounded, I have not yet been able to ascertain ; it must, however, have been very great. Very respectfully, I have the honor to be. Sir, your obedient servant, O. H. PERRY. The Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy. EXTRACT FROM THE LOG-BOOK OF THE LAVt'RENCH. The following document, which has not before been presented to the public, is an important piece of testi- mony in the proof that the Niagara was kept out of the action till boarded by Perry. It is an attested copy of the log-book of the Lawrence, for the 10th of Septem- ber, 18 L3. The record was made v/ithia twenty-four hours after the action — and before the unwarranted pretensions of Elliot were dreamed of — by the Sailing Master, Taylor, v/hose official duty it v/as to keep a register of the important events of the day, for preser- vation. The log contained only what were well known 84 LOG-BOOK OF THE LAWRENCE. and adrnitled facts at the time on board the ship ; it was the pubhc record of the ship, open to the view of all, and undisputed by any one. The log-book disappeared soon after Perry left the fleet and the command of it was assumed by Elliot, and has not since been recovered. The followinof transcript of it was made by an officer of the Lawrence into his own private diary, on the day after the battle, and it is from that source that we have derived it. " Put-in-Bay, at 5 o'clock, A. M. discovered the enemy's squadron bearing N. W., wind S. W. ; at 7 could see all the vessels, two ships, two brigs, one* schooner and one sloop. At 10, called all hands to quarters. At a quarter before meridian the enemy commenced the action at one mile distant. In half an hour we came within musket shot of the enemy's new ship Detroit. At this time they opened a most destruc- tive fire on the Lawrence from the whole squadron. At half past one, so entirely disabled we could work the brig no longer. At two P. M. most of the guns were dismounted, breechings gone, and carriages knocked to pieces. Capt. Perry hauled down the fighting flag, which bore this motto, '* Do n't give up the ship," and re- paired on board of the Niagara, and then raised it again. In ten minutes after, we struck to the enemy. Capt. Perry made all sail with the Niagara^ which hitherto had kept out of the action, and in fifteen minutes passed in among tlie British squadron, having the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost on the starboard *One of the brigs was an hermaphrodite, and sometimes^ was called a schooner. BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. 85 side, and the Hunter on the larboard side, and silenced them all ; and ten minutes before three, they hauled down their colors. Two small vessels attempted to escape but being overhauled, struck a few minutes after three." Then follows a list of the killed and wounded on board the Lawrence. BRITISFI OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. Letter of Captain Barclay, Flis Blajesty's late ship Detroit, Put-in-Eay, Lake Erie, September IWi. Sir — The last letter I had the honor of writing to you, dated the 6th instant, informed you, that unless certain intimation was received of more seamen being on their way to Amherstburg, I should be obliged to sail with the squadron, deplorably manned as it was, to fight the enemy (who blockaded the port,) to ena- ble us to get supplies of provisions and stores of every description ; so perfectly destitute of provisions was the port, that there was not a day's flour in store, and the crews of the squadron under my command were on half allowance of many things, and when that was done, there was no more. Such were the motives which induced Major-General Proctor (whom by your instructions I was directed to consult, and whose wishes T was enjoined to execute, as far as related to the good of the country) to concur in the necessity of a battle being risked, under the many disadvantages which I labored, and it now remains t'br me, the most melanclioly task, to relate to you the unfortunate issue 86 BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. of that battle, as well as the many untoward circum- stances that led to that event. No intelligence of seamen having arrived, I sailed on the 9th instant, fully expecting to meet the enemy next morning, as they had been seen among the islands ; nor was I mistaken. Soon after day light they were seen in motion in Put-in-Bay, the wind then at south-west and light, giving us the weather gage, 1 bore up with them, in hopes of bringing them to action among the islands, but that intention was soon frustrated, by the wind suddenly shifting to the south-east, which brought the enemy directly to windward. The line was formed according to a given plan, so that each ship might be supported against the superior force of the two brigs opposed to them. About ten, the enemy had cleared the islands and immediately bore up, ur-Ior easy sail, in a line abreast, each brig being also si;; ported by the small vessels. At a quarter before 12, I commenced the action by a few long guns ; about a quarter past, the American Commodore, also supported by two schooners, one carrying four long 12 pounders, the other a long 32 and 24 pounder, came close to action with the Detroit ; the other brig of the enemy, appa- rently destined to engage the Queen Charlotte, sup- ported in like manner by two schooners, kept so far to ivinchoard as to render the Queen CharIotte''s 20 pounder carronades useless ^ tvhile she was, with the Lady Prevost, exposed to the heavy and destructive fire of the Caledonia, and four other schooners, armed with heavy and long guns, like those I have already described. Too soon, alas ! was I deprived of the BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT, 87 services of the noble and intrepid Captain Finnis, who soon after the commencement of the action fell, and with him fell my greatest support ; soon after, Lieu- tenant Stokes, of the Queen Charlotte, was struck senseless by a splinter, which deprived the country of his services at this very critical period. As I per- ceived the Detroit had enough to contend with, without the prospect of a fresh brig, provincial Lieutenant Ir- vine, who then had charge of the Queen Charlotte, be- haved with great courage, but his experience was much too limited to supply the place of such an officer as Captain Finnis, hence she proved of far less assistance than I expected. The action continued with great fury until half past two, when I perceived my opponent drop astern, and a boat passing from him to the Niagara, {which vessel was at this time jierfectly fresh,) the American Commo- dore seei^ng, that as yet the day was against him (his vessel having struck soon after he left her) and also the very defenceless state of the Detroit, which ship was now a perfect wreck, principally from the raking fire of the gun boats, and also that the Queen Charlotte was in such a situation, that I could receive very little assistance from her, and the Lady Prevost being at this time too far to leeward, from her rudder being in- jured, made a noble, and alas ! too successful an effort to regain it, for he bore up, and supported by his small vessels, passed within pistol shot, and took a raking position on our bow, nor could I prevent it, as the un- fortunate situation of the Queen CImrlotte prevented us from wearing ; in attempting it we fell on board her; 88 BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. my gallant first Lieutenant, Garland, was now mortally wounded, and myself so severely that I was obliged to quit the deck. Manned as the squadron was, with not more than 50 British seamen, the rest a mixed crew of Canadians and soldiers, and who were totally unac- quainted with such a service, rendered the loss of offi- cers more sensibly felt, and never in any action was the loss more severe, every officer commanding vessels, and their seconds, was either killed or wounded so se- verely, as to be unable to keep the deck. Lieutenant Buchan, in the Lady Prevost, behaved most nobly, and did every thing that a brave and experienced officer could do in a vessel armed with 12 pound carronades, against vessels carrying long guns. I regret to state that he was severely wounded. Lieutenant Bignal, of the Dover, commanding the Hunter, displayed the greatest intrepidity; but his guns being small (two four and six pounders) he could be of much less service than he wished. Every officer in the Detroit behaved in the most exemplary manner. Lieutenant Inglis showed such calm intrepidity, that I was fully con- vinced that, on leaving the deck, I left the ship in ex- cellent hands ; and for an account of the battle after that, I refer you to his letter, which he wrote me for your information. — Mr. Hoffineinster, purser of the Detroit, nobly volunteered his services on the deck, and behaved in a manner that reflects the highest hon- or on him. I regret to add that he is very severely wounded in the knee. Provincial Lieutenant Purvin, and the military officers, Lieutenants Garden, of the Royal Newfoundland Rangers, and O'Kcefe of the BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. 89 -41st regiment, behaved in a manner which excited my warmest admiration ; the few British seamen I had, behave'd with their usual intrepidity, and as long as I was on deck, the troops behaved with a calmness and courage worthy of a more fortunate issue to their ex- ertions. The weathergage gave the enemy a prodigious ad- vantage, as it enabled them not only to choose their position, but their distance also, which they did in such a manner as to prevent the carronades of the Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost, from having much effect ; while their long guns did great execution, particularly against the Queen Charlotte. Captain Perry has be- haved in a most humane and attentive manner, not only to mvself and officers, but to all the wounded. I trust that, although unsuccessful, you will approve of the motives that induced me to sail under so many disad- vantages, and that it may be hereafter proved, that under such circumstances the honor of His Majesty's flag has not been tarnished. I enclose the list of killed and w^ounded. I have the honor to be, &c. (Signed) R. H. BARCLAY. Commander and late Senior Officer. His Majesty^s late shiji Detroit, September 10. Sir — I have the honor to transmit to you an account of the termination of the late unfortunate battle with the enemy's squadron. On coming on the quarter deck, after 5''0ur being wounded, the enemy's second brig, at that time on our 8 90 ENGLISH COURT MARTIAL. weather beam, shortly after took a position on our weather bow to rake us ; to prevent which, in attempt- ing to wear, to get our starboard broadside to bear upon her, a number of the guns on the larboard broad- side being at this time disabled, we fell on board the Queen Charlotte, at this time running up to leeward of us. In this situation the two ships remained for some time. As soon as we got clear of her, I ordered the Queen Charlotte to shoot ahead of us, if possible ; and then attempted to back our fore-topsail to get astern, but the ship lying completely unmanageable, every brace cut away, the mizen topmast and gaff down, all the other masts badly wounded, not a stay left forward, hull shattered very much, a number of the guns disa- bled, and the enemy's squadron raking both ships ahead and astern, none of our own in a situation to support us, I was under the painful necessity of answer- ing the enemy, to say we had struck, the Queen Char- lotte having previously done so. I have the honor,