USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 17
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about a council of the military and naval commanders. It was deter- mined that the British squadron must immediately sail and give battle to the Americans, or effect communication with their depot of supplies at Long Point. It appeared they were in extremity.
The men also brought valuable information regarding the British naval force. Their flagship, the Detroit, Commodore Barclay, was armed with nineteen long guns; the Queen Charlotte, Capt. Finnis, seven- teen carronades ; the Lady Prevost, Lieut. Com. Buchan, thirteen long guns ; the brig Hunter, Lieut. Bignall, ten guns, mixed armament ; the Little Belt, three guns; the schooner Chippewa, Master Campbell, one heavy gun. The force consisted of 32 officers and 490 men, including troops serving as marines, and volunteers. It thus appeared that the two forces were singularly evenly balanced. But the British had some advantages. Their soldiers serving as marines were veterans, while the marines of Perry's fleet, obtained from Harrison's army and at Erie were raw recruits. Their men, being just out of port, were all in health; there were a hundred on the sick list in the American squadron.
And then there was a striking contrast between the commanders. Perry, aged 27, was not only a young but an inexperienced officer, who had never been in a single engagement, ship against ship, much less squadron against squadron. In fact he had never seen any war service except in the Mediterranean during the trouble with Tripoli, and during a short time while in command of a gunboat flotilla at Newport, R. I. Situated as he then was with a squadron and armament hastily gotten to- gether, he was besides hampered by the sickness prevailing among his officers and crews, and he himself was but just out of a bed of sickness. On the other hand Commodore Barclay was a seasoned veteran, who had served under the great Nelson in the battle of Trafalgar, besides other naval combats, and was now in command of a squadron that with three exceptions had been in active service under Capt. Finnis as cruisers for more than a year, and Finnis was an experienced officer second in command to Barclay. But Perry was young and filled with energy, courage, initiative and spirit, and was unusually well endowed with wisdom, and confidence in himself. Moreover he had the faculty of inspiring his men with his patriotic confidence. He was like a great commander of many years later : he did not know when he was beaten.
It was on the 9th of September, in the evening, that he received the intelligence that necessity had driven the British to decide upon action, and he summoned his officers on board the Lawrence to apprise them of the situation and give his final instructions, for he now expected to meet the enemy next day. He claimed the honor of fighting the enemy's flagship with the Lawrence, and assigned the Niagara to meet the Queen Charlotte. He showed them his fighting flag, made by the ladies of Erie, inscribed with the dying words of Lawrence, "Don't give up the ship," wrought in letters of white upon a blue ground. It was to be a signal to
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close with the enemy. He gave them counsel and advice, and they then took their departure for their own vessels to get all in readiness for what was expected on the morrow.
The morning of the tenth of September, 1813, broke calm and fair. It was reckoned early fall as the computations by the calendar go, but in temperature, and the hazy calm that prevailed it was as summer. The air scarce stirred, only enough to mark a catspaw here and there upon the smooth surface of the yet sleeping lake that surrounded the little island, an indenting bay of which sheltered the American squadron. At the moment the scene was an embodiment of peace, and even the strokes of the ships' bells as they noted the passage of time appeared to be softened in the cool of the morning, partaking in the indistinctness of their sounds something of the quality the haziness of the early atmos- phere imparted to the sight.
At length, lifting above the eastern horizon, the sun rose. It seemed to clear away the haziness off toward the northwest, for almost simultan- eously with the sunburst, came the call from the lookout at the masthead ot the Lawrence : "Sail, ho!" Immediately there was a stirring below and Lieut. Forrest, the officer of the deck, calls back: "Where away?" "To the northward and westward; in the direction of Detroit river," answered the lookout. The news was communicated to the com- mander of the squadron, and at once all was stir and bustle. The word was passed to the other vessels of the squadron, and the or- derly bustle spread to every one. Orders were called and with cheerful alacrity the sailors sprang to their post, laying hold upon the halliards as the anchors were buoyed by others of the crew. Soon all were under sail.
The vessels of the enemy had been slowly but steadily lifting above the horizon line, for they were favored in making their way out of the narrow passage of the Detroit river by a light southwest breeze that had sprung up with the sun. While the sailor men were busy with the work of getting the ships under way and putting things in readiness for the encounter which now was near at hand, the officers were watching the movements of the enemy's ships as they very gradually drew nearer. There were six of them. Presently from the masthead of the Lawrence was displayed the signal ordering the vessels to get under way. In half an hour the whole squadron was beating out through the narrow pass- age. There is a small island in front of the entrance, called Rattlesnake island and Perry was putting forth every endeavor to pass to windward of it so that he might obtain the weather gauge on the enemy, a very im- portant and desirable consideration. It was a difficult maneuver in the light wind, and after losing much valuable time with little hope of ac- complishing his desire in the end, Perry, even with the prospect, in consequence of having to endure the smoke of the enemy's guns, of being at a disadvantage, gave orders to go to leeward of the island, "for I am
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determined to fight the enemy this day." Scarcely was the order given than the wind died away completely, and in another minute was blowing from the southeast. As it stood he was not only enabled to pass the isl- and to windward but Perry had secured the wind of the enemy.
It was now ten o'clock in the forenoon, and the Americans had emerged into view of the British, who were now tacking, from behind the heights of Put-in Bay island. Immediately the enemy hove-to, the squadrons at the time being eight miles apart. The formation of the American line was with the Niagara in the lead, as it was expected the Queen Charlotte would lead the other squadron, and the Niagara was assigned to engage the Queen. It was, however, discovered that the British line was formed differently, and accordingly a halt was made for consultation. Through Capt. Brevoort, the marine officer of the Niagara, who was well acquainted with the vessels of the enemy and their armament (except the Detroit), it was ascertained that the ar- rangement of the enemy was as follows: The schooner Chippewa led ; next the flagship of the squadron, the Detroit; then the brig Queen Charlotte, followed by the brig Hunter, the schooner Lady Provost, and last, the sloop Little Belt. They were sailing in close order on-a-wind. Perry quickly changed his line, placing the Lawrence in the lead, to meet the Detroit, with the Scorpion and the Ariel on her weather bow- being fast sailors, they were to be employed as dispatch boats to carry orders if necessary, and to support any portion of the line that might require it ; the brig Caledonia to meet the Hunter ; the Niagara, to engage the Queen Charlotte, and the rest of the vessels, namely, the schooners Somers, Porcupine, Tigress and Trippe, to engage as they came up wherever they might seem to be useful.
It was now half-past ten o'clock and there was a three-knot breeze, and the line being formed all bore away for the enemy in truly gallant style. At this juncture Perry brought forth his battle flag, and muster- ing his crew aft and unfolding the flag, mounted a gun-slide and addressed them: "My brave lads, the inscription on this flag is the last words of the gallant Captain Lawrence, after whom this ship is named, namely ; 'Don't give up the ship! Shall I hoist it?" "Aye, aye, sir," was the unanimous response of the men; and then it was hoisted to the truck, the roll was broken and the blue folds were given to the breeze, three rousing cheers were given for the fighting flag and three more for the gallant young commander. Ship after ship of the squadron took up the cue, and cheers passed all along the line in response to the motto, "Don't give up the ship." It was the expectation that by the noon hour the conflict would be on. Accordingly Perry anticipated the dinner hour by ordering the noonday grog served at once, when the bread-bags and kids were also brought forth and lunch was dispatched. The commander now visited every part of the ship, examining every gun and fixture and satisfying himself that the vessel was in a state of thorough preparedness. Vol. I-10
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Then he passed among his crew, greeting them individually in a most kindly way and encouraging them to do their best. All that a sagacious commander could do was done by Perry to have his ship and force in thorough fighting trim.
The meal over and everything pertaining cleared away there was now a period of almost absolute idleness and a death-like silence pre- vailed. The breeze had fallen away into nearly a perfect calm and over the gleaming surface of the water the ships moved, without forming a ripple, almost imperceptibly. Grim indeed was the appearance of the flagship now to those borne onward upon her, her decks sprinkled with sand in order to ensure a foothold when blood would flow as the result of the strife and friend made compact with friend to convey messages to loved ones from those who should fall in the battle.
At half-past eleven the wind had died away to almost nothing, but yet the American ships were slowly approaching their enemy who since the appearance of Perry's squadron from behind Put-in Bay Island had remained hove-to waiting for them to come up.
It is a quarter before twelve. The Americans hear the mellow tones of a bugle proceeding from the Detroit, the signal arranged for cheers from the British fleet. Following the cheers the band struck up "Rule Brittania." A puff of white smoke was seen suddenly to arise at the same instant and from the Detroit there came toward the Lawrence a solid shot, describing a parabola, but falling short. The distance, a mile and a half, was too great. But the silence was broken. The battle at last was on. The Americans continued to advance, and in a few minutes more a second shot was fired. It took effect in the Lawrence. Immediately all the long guns of the British fleet opened fire on the Lawrence, and being in close order they were in a position that gave all range of the flagship and the two schooners. Perry now gave orders for the Scorpion to commence firing with her heavy guns, which was done, the Ariel at the same time sending a shot toward the foe, both of which took effect, whereupon the Lawrence and the Caledonia began firing with their long guns as they continued to advance.
Now the condition of the wind was telling against the flagship. As things stood the advantage was all with the British, for, being arranged in compact order it was possible to direct the fire of practically all the long range guns of their squadron upon the Lawrence, which was the only American ship within reach, and she was already beginning to suffer badly from this concentrated fire. As for her ability to return the fire. this was limited. Her broadside armament was of carronades-short- range guns. Had the wind been sufficient to enable her to advance so rapidly as not to give the enemy so much time for long-range practice, she would have been able to take the position that Perry desired, and thus render her broadsides effective. When Perry found that the fire of the enemy was having such disastrous effect, hoping that his carron-
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ades might reach, brought his ship by the wind and tried a division of his broadside guns. It was of 110 avail; the shot fell short. Perry now bore up and in the face of storm of iron ran up to within half musket shot of the Detroit, when he brought his vessel by the wind on the port tack and commenced with her broadside battery in good earnest.
It had been ordered on the night before, at a conference of the officers, that when the battle flag of the commodore was displayed the ships were to close with the enemy, but for some reason, though the blue flag of Perry was flying from the peak and he was himself in the thick of the fight, the Niagara held back, content to use only her long 12-pounders, for she was entirely out of range for her carronades. Consequently, for a time the battle was maintained by the Lawrence, Caledonia, Scorpion and Ariel. the assistance of the Niagara's 12's being almost inconsequent. Presently the Queen Charlotte, finding that she was not able to engage the Niagara, and that therefore she could afford to neglect that ship, passed by the Hunter and in close order with the Detroit turned her broadsides upon the Lawrence, and in this unhappy situation the Amer- ican flagship sustained the fire of these two heavy ships, besides random shots from the others, for over two hours. By this time every gun on the Lawrence had been dismounted, two-thirds of her crew had been killed or wounded, and she was so badly cut up aloft as to be un- manageable.
It was a dreadful scene of carnage that was presented apon the unfortunate Lawrence. Her surgeon, Usher Parsons, wrote, "For more than two hours little could be heard but the deafening thunder of our broadsides, the crash of balls dashing through our timbers, and the shrieks of the wounded. These were brought down faster than I could attend to them, further than to stay the bleeding or support a shattered limb with splints and pass them forward upon the berth deck. When the battle had raged an hour and a half. I heard a call for me at the small sky-light, and stepping toward it I saw the Commodore, whose countenance was as calm and placid as if on ordinary duty. 'Doctor.' said he, 'send me one of your men'-meaning one of the six stationed with me to assist in moving the wounded. In five minutes the call was repeated and obeyed, and at the seventh I told him he had all of my men. He asked if there were any sick or wounded that could pull a rope, when two or three crawled up on deck to lend a feeble hand in pulling at the last gun."
All hope of winning out with the Lawrence was at an end. She was a useless, helpless, shattered wreck, and there was but one of two things to be done: surrender or desert her if opportunity offered. This would seem to be the situation. It might have been with another. But Perry was different. The British might take by force, but not by surrender, and as for desertion-well, as the sequel shows, he did desert after a fashion. But his desertion was one of the most glorious exploits in
,
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the naval history of the world. Fnding that one small boat remained in seaworthy condition, with the enemy's shot still pouring an iron hail into the devoted wreck. he ordered the boat launched and manned, and then, with his fighting flag under his arm, he ordered his crew to pull for the Niagara.
His course of action was prompt. Ordering Elliott to bring up the gunboats, he addressed himself at once to the work of bringing the Niagara into the fight. Was he wise in this decision? Had there been no accidental favoring circumstance, could he have won out ? Calm judgment will decide he was wise and determine he was right, for un- questionably he knew the exact situation upon those ships of the enemy and that with a fresh crew and a new armament he could win. However, the story of what happened is to be told. For a brief time there was a cessation of hostilities, during which both squadrons drew up, the bat- tered Lawrence dropping out of the line. It was now a quarter past two o'clock, and a fresh breeze had sprung up, which enabled the Niagara to obtain a commanding position abreast of the Detroit, which she held without other maneuvering until the smaller vessels of the squadron had been brought up.
The time had now come. Running up the signal for close action, the Niagara turned and headed for the enemy's line. The intention of Perry was to break through the line, delivering a raking fire as he passed. This purpose the enemy, observing Perry's maneuver, under- stood, and to prevent being raked the Detroit drew up. At the same moment the Queen Charlotte undertook to pass the Detroit to leeward so as to offer a broadside to Perry as he passed, but the Niagara came down so rapidly, reserving her fire until the very last, that the British leaders were taken unprepared, and were both swept by the starboard broadside of the Niagara before either could send a shot in reply, while at the same time the port broadside was poured into the Lady Prevost and the Chippewa. So sudden was the act of the Niagara that the British were entirely disconcerted, and by an error in navigation which was the result of Perry's impetuous dash, the Detroit and the Queen fouled and were again raked by the vigilant Perry, followed by like treatment from the Caledonia which came in upon the heels of the new flagship. The British were now at the mercy of the American squadron. Rounding to, the Niagara poured broadside after broadside into the enemy, the smaller vessels of the squadron contributing their share to- ward the destruction. So fierce was the American onslaught that fifteen minutes after the Niagara had rounded-to, an officer appeared at the taffrail of the Queen Charlotte with a white handkerchief fastened to a boarding-pike which he waved as a symbol of surrender. The battle was over.
CHAPTER XVII .- AFTER VICTORY WAS WON.
RETURN OF THE SHIPS WITH THEIR PRIZES .- WHAT BECAME OF THEM. -THE STORY OF THE EXECUTION OF BIRD.
The victory had been won by the Americans after one of the most notable sea fights in history. The battle had raged for nearly four hours, practically all of the time at short range, the fighting on both sides of the most heroic order, and the victory tor the gallant young commander a decisive one. When the smoke of the conflict had drifted away reveal- ing the positions occupied by the ships, it was found that they were intermingled in such a manner as to indicate the nature of the final act of the contest. The Niagara lay close under the lee of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, the Caledonia, Trippe and Scorpion, which had followed the Niagara, being hard by. A little distance to the westward lay the Chippewa and Lady Prevost of the British squadron, with the Somers, Tigress and Porcupine abreast of the Hunter. All were in close prox- imity. Away to the west, where she had drifted helplessly, lay the bruised, battered and disabled Lawrence that had fought with such grim valor, the flag again floating from the splintered stump of a mast, hoisted when the shout of triumph was raised from the decks of the victorious American ships.
The first duty to demand the attention of the Commodore now was to communicate the result of the action upon which so much depended. Hav- ing been ordered to act in conjunction with Gen. Harrison, the first dis- patch was indited to him-a dispatch which has become classic. Using the back of an old letter with the top of his cap to write upon, he wrote :
U. S. S. Niagara, Sept. 10, 1813,-4 p. m. Dear General: We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.
Yours with great respect and esteem. O. H. Perry.
A few minutes later a more formal note was composed to be sent to Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, and although it was in keeping with official traditions, it can hardly be considered as happy as the note to Harrison, which was an inspiration. To the Secretary, using the fly leaf of the letter that served for the other dispatch, he wrote:
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U. S. Brig Niagara, off the West Sister Head of Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813,-4 p. m.
Sir : It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies of this lake. The British squadron, consisting of two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the force under my command, after a sharp conflict.
I have the honor to be, sir
Very respectfully your obedient servant, O. H. Perry.
These hastily prepared dispatches were at once sent by schooner to the headquarters of Gen. Harrison at the mouth of Portage river, about twelve miles distant.
And now there fell to young Perry a much less pleasant duty : to take possession of the ships his valor and that of his men had won. As yet he did not know what the effect of his firing had been, nor could he have judged to what a state of extremity he had reduced his brave enemy. On board the Detroit he found Commodore Barclay grievously wounded. This gallant officer had suffered the loss of an arm in an engagement under Lord Nelson. His remaining arm had been taken while command- ing in the fight he had just lost. On the same ship First-Lieut. Garland was mortally wounded and Purser Hoffmeister was severely wounded. On the Queen Charlotte Capt. Finnis and Lieut. Gordon of the marines were killed and First-Lieut. Stokes and Midshipman Foster wounded. On the Lady Prevost Lieut. Com. Bignall and Masters-Mate Gateshill were wounded; on the Chippewa Masters-Mate Campbell was wounded. The British casualties were forty-one killed and ninety-four wounded.
The casualties on the American vessels were:
Lawrence .- Killed : John Brooks, lieutenant of marines, Midshipman Henry Laub, Quartermaster Christian Mayhen; Wounded: First-Lieut. John Yarnall, Second-Lieut. Dulaney Forrest, Purser Samuel Hamilton, Midshipmen Thomas Claxton and A. Swartwout. The total of the losses on the Lawrence were twenty-two killed and sixty-one wounded ; besides which there were thirty-one sick and unfit for duty.
Niagara .- There were no officers killed, but First-Lieut John J. Edwards, Acting Master Webster and Midshipman John C. Cummings were wounded. The total of the losses on the Niagara were, two killed and twenty-three wounded, while twenty-eight were on the sick list.
Midshipman John Clark of the Scorpion was killed. The casualties of the other vessels of the American squadron were: Caledonia, three wounded ; Somers, two wounded; Ariel, one killed and three wounded; Trippe, one wounded; Scorpion, two killed. The total losses of the squadron were, twenty-seven killed and ninety-three wounded.
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Perry's duties in connection with taking formal possession of the ships of the enemy being over, he now repaired to the shattered hulk that had been his battleship, on the deck of the Lawrence, that had been beaten but had not surrendered, to receive the British officers when they should come to formally surrender. The details of this incident are best told by Surgeon Usher Parsons :
"About four o'clock a boat was discovered approaching the Law- rence. Soon the Commodore was recognized in her. He was returning to resume command of his tattered ship, determined that the rent- nant of her crew should have the privilege of witnessing the formal surrender of the British officers. It was a time of conflicting emotions when he stepped upon her deck. The battle was won and he was safe, but the deck was slippery with blood and strewed with the bodies of twenty officers and men, some of whom sat at table with us at our last meal, and the ship resounded with the groans of the wounded. Those of us who were spared and able to walk met him at the gangway to welcome him on board, but the salutation was a silent one on both sides- not a word could find utterance."
Dr. Parsons at a later date (during his address in Cleveland on Sept. 10, 1860, when the Perry monument there was unveiled) gave addi- tional particulars of what occurred after the Commodore boarded his brave but battered ship. "Perry walked aft, when his first remark was addressed to his intimate friend Hambleton, then lying wounded on the deck. 'The prayers of my wife,' said he, 'have prevailed in saving me.' Then, casting his eyes about, he inquired, 'where is my brother?' This brother of the Commodore was a young lad of thirteen years, a mid- shipman. He had been a close companion of Perry's and was well known and much beloved, both on shipboard and on shore at Erie. He was an active lad, of a sunny face, alert, and possessed of the heroic spirit. When the Commodore left the Lawrence to bring up the Niagara the boy had been left behind-it may be that in the great haste of the departure, not being present, he was at the moment out of the mind of the heroic commander, intent upon the critical undertaking he was entering upon. At any rate having returned to his ship the thought of the brother was one of the first to come into his mind. The lad, during the action had played a very strenuous part. He had acted as aid in running with orders to different parts of the ship-for you must know that in the din and uproar of battle orders can hardly be heard three feet distant. A general stir was made to look him up, not without fears that he had been knocked overboard. But he was soon found in his berth asleep, exhausted by the exercise and excitement of the day." He was uninjured though exposed a hundred times in places where nothing short of a miracle saved him from harm.
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