USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > Popular history of Erie county, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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ERIE COUNTY HISTORY.
From the five Northwestern counties, some 2,500 men were secured in the first month. In July 500 muskets, together with flints, lead and powder were forward- ed from Harrisburg. In August the available men were ordered to Buffalo. to prevent a threatened attack and 2,000 more from Penn'a marched forward in Sept. Regarding the progress of events, we quote the following from official memoranda.
Aug. 25 -- It is reported that a number of the enemy's vessels have been seen and believed that an attack will be made on Erie.
Sept. 4-The Governor directed that the State field-pieces be sent to Erie.
Sept. 16-Gen. Kelso was notified that a brass field-piece and four four- pounders were on their way to Erie.
Sept. 18-Wilson Smith of Waterford was appointed Quarter Master General of the State.
Oct. 21-Gen. Snyder in command of Pennsylvania militia ordered Gen. Kelso to enlist volunteers, if practicable, for the defense of Erie; "not exceeding a Major's command."
The Navy Yard. When Capt. Dobbins reached Erie, subsequent to his capture at Mackinaw, he found Gen. David Mead in command of the garrison; but the only marine defense was a howitzer upon a small iron boat, which was used in celebrating the Fourth and other jubilees. Gen. Mead, sent Dobbins to Washing- ton to give information regarding the lake situation. and to advocate the estab- lishment of a navy yard at this port, for the immediate building of a fleet, able to cope with the British. By the authorities at the Capitol. Capt. Dobbins was commissioned as sailing master and ordered to commence the construction of gun- boats, reporting to Commodore Chauncey at Sackett's Harbor, who had charge of the lake navy, for further instructions. It was late in October when Dobbins re- turned and he was unable to secure a sufficient force of carpenters that fall, so the work progressed very slowly. Com. Chauncey visited Erie. Jan. 1, 1813 and in ad- dition to the gunboats, decided to construct two sloops of war. Noah Brown a master ship builder from New York, arrived in March with 25 carpenters and the work was pushed. A secret incendiary was feared and Capt. Forster's com- pany, then the only protection to Erie was detailed to patrol the Navy Yard at night.
Commodore Perry .- Oliver Hazard Perry who was born at R. I., Aug. 23, 1785, entered the navy as a midshipsman in 1799, and in 1804-5, had been with the forces engaged against Tripoli. In command of a small flotilla of gunboats at Providence, at the outbreak of hostilities. he was desirous for distinction and requested to be sent to Erie and by Commodore Chauncey was ordered to pro- ceed. Arriving at Black Rock, Mar. 24, 1813, he spent a day in examining the navy yard and arranging for stores. Accompanied by a brother aged 13. he came to Erie, with a sleigh, on the ice, arriving here Mar. 27. The British threatened to forestall the navy preparations at Erie and capture the boats before completion. To prevent this, Gen. Meade ordered a regiment of militia to Erie. comprising an artillery company from Luzerne Co. Up to this time the field-pieces had been stored at Waterford, but were now brought to Erie. Col. Reese Hill, of Greene Co. took command of the post and the block houses were hurriedly repaired. The timbers for the new war fleet had been cut green, and all the iron available in this section having been exhausted, a new supply was brought from Pittsburg to Waterford by keel-boats. Capt. Dobbins secured some seamen from Black Rock and part of the ordnance for the fleet was brought from Buffalo by sail boats, under cover of darkness, accompanied by sailing master Taylor and 20 seamen. Perry set out for Pittsburg Mar. 31, where he purchased four additional cannon, some
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BUILDING PERRY'S FLEET
carronades and muskets. He had cannon-shot cast, arranged for sails and over supplies. " Returning to Erie Apr. 10, a new block house was erected near the site of the present Land Light house and redoubis were thrown up on Garrison Hill. The Porcupine and Tigress gunboats, built near the foot of Sassafras streets were launched Apr. 15 and at once equipped. The Lawrence and Niagara, immortal- ized in history by their hero, and the pilot-boat Ariel, were built where now stands the Pittsburg Docks. The two twelve-pounders that had been brought from Buffalo were posted on the east fort redoubt and the Pittsburg cannnon on Garrison Hill.
Ft. George Taken-May 23, Perry departed in a four-oared boat, to par- ticipate in an attack upon Ft. George, on the Canadian side at the mouth of Nia- gara river, where he took a gallant part and the British were defeated, May 27. This weakened their forces along the Niagara frontier and Perry thought it a good time to bring out of the river, the brig Caledonia. which had been captured Oct. 7, 1812, from the English, by Lieut. Elliott, from under the guns at Ft. Erie, opposite to Buffalo. There were also four small schooners anchored in a ercek near Black Rock. Under Perry's directions, by the aid of ox-teams and a com- pany of soldiers, these were assisted up the rapids at Black Rock. Five armed British vessels were patroling the lake, and the American boats, not yet manned for fight, eluded their enemy by sailing at night. and anchoring in obscure creeks during the day. They reached Erie June 27, having barely escaped from the British fieet which had been at Twenty Mile creek two days previous. The Eng- lish were much chagrined, when they learned that these boats, which they had felt sure of taking, were anchored inside of Presque Isle bay.
Perry's Fleet was now together, consisting of the Lawrence and Niagara, twin sloops 260 tons each; Schooners Ariel and Scorpion, 63 tons each; gunboats Porcu- pine and Tigress, 50 tons each: the Caledonia, 85 tons; Schooners Ohio and Somers each 65 tons and the sloop Trippe, 50 tons. The Lawrence was launched June 25 and the Niagara July 4, 1813. Up to this time, but 200 men were at Perry's com- mand of whom one-fourth were sick. On July 20, Perry wrote to Com. Chauncey as follows:
"The enemy's fleet of six sail are now off the bar of the harbor. What a gold- en opportunity if we had men! Their object is to broekade or attack us, or to carry provisions and reinforcements to Malden. Should it be to attack us, we are ready to meet them. Give me men sir, and I will acquire, both for you and myself, honor and glory on this lake, or perish in the attempt. Conceive my feelings: an enemy within striking distance, my vessels ready and not men enough to man them. I know my dear sir, full-well, you will send me the erews for the vessels as soon as possible; yet a day appears an age, with the enemy in sight. my vessels suf- ficient and ready to make sail, and yet obliged to bite my fingers with vexation for want of men. I hope some cause will delay the enemy's return to Malden until my men arrive, and I will have them."
A day later, in a calm, Capt. Perry pulled out to the bar with three gunboats and a few shots were exchanged but a breeze springing up the enemy stood off. July 24 and 30, 130 men and officers, arrived from Lake Ontario, and landsmen were enlisted to serve for four months, or until after a decisive battle, at $1+ per month.
Over the Bar-At this time there was a sand bar, nearly a mile in width. projecting southeasterly from the Light House point, to the main shore. A nar-
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ERIE COUNTY HISTORY.
row winding channel, with from 5 to 9 ft. of water, was to be traversed and to raise the brigs Lawrence and Niagara, over this bar, was an important undertak - ing. This was accomplished by plugged scows, which were placed on each side of a brig, allowed to fill with water, and securely fastened down, by means of large timbers. Then the plug was put in place and the water bailed and pumped from the lighters, raising the vessel which had been stripped of her armament, to the height required to float her. On the morning of Aug. 3, the Lawrence was taken over, and the Niagara the following day. As the latter was on the bar, the British squadron hove in sight; but the weather being hazy and both brigs headed in the same direction, the British probably supposed them over the bar and under protection of the Land Light fort. July 28 an urgent appeal had been received from Gen. Harrison, for co-operation on the west end of the lake, and Perry re- plied, "I am of opinion that in two days the nayal superiority will be decided on Lake Erie. Should I be successful, I shall sail immediately for the head of the lake. The squadron is not more than half manned, but as I see no prospect of reinforce- ment I have determined to commence operation.
The Fleet Sailed on the morning of Aug. 6, but returned on the 7, not hav- sighted the enemy, which was probably fortunate, as the officers and men were well worn from much vigilance while getting over the bar. Additional reinforce- ments arrived from Lake Ontario Aug. 8, and four days later Commodore Perry's squadron again set sail. The entire force was about 460. The fleet reconnoitered at Put-in-Bay and Aug. 17, sailed into Sandusky Bay, where a signal was fired and Col. Gaines of Harrison's command came on board. The General who was 28 miles distant with an army of 8.000, troops, was at once sent for and arrived the follow- ing day. With his officers, and 26 Indian chiefs, he boarded and inspected the fleet. Here Perry received 36 volunteers, which increased his total muster-roll to 490. He was taken with malarial fever with which many of his men were down. The only physician able to be on duty, was Dr. U. Parsons who continued to pre- scribe although himself quite ill. By Sept. 1, Perry was again able to be on deck. In the mean time the British had rigged and equipped a new vessel, the Detroit. which gave them a superior fleet to the Americans. Capt. Dobbins in charge of the schooner Ohio had been dispatched to Erie for ammunition and supplies. Sept. 6, the fleet sailed up near Malden at the west end of the lake, but finding th British at their moorings returned to Put-in-Bay. He now held a council with his sub-commanders and gave minute instructions, as he saw the desperate con- flict was near at hand.
The squadron was officered as follows: Brig Lawrence, 20 guns, in charge of the Commodore; Niagara same equipment, Capt. Elliott; Caledonia 3 guns Lieut. Turner; Ariel, 4 guns, Lieut. Packet; Scorpion, 2 guns, Sailing-master Champlin; Somers, 2 guns, Sailing-master Almy: Trippe, 1 gun, Lieut. Holdup: Tigress, 1 gun Lieut. Conklin; Porcupine, 1 gun, Midshipman Senat. Total 54 guns and 490 men of whom over 100 were on the sick list. The Ohio had gone the second time to Erie, for supplies and did not return until after the fight.
The British Fleet consisted of the Detroit, 298 tons, 19 guns; Queen Char- lotte, 260 tons, 17 guns; Lady Prevost, 96 tons, 13 guns; Hunter, 71 tons, 10 guns; Little Belt, 60 tons, 3 guns; Chippewa 35 tons, 1 gun, making an aggregate of 63 guns of which 35 were long range. The squadron was commanded by Commodore Robt. Barclay, an experienced seaman, who had served with Nelson at Trafalgar.
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PERRY'S VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE
The second in command was Capt. Finnis, who had also seen prior service. The British force numbered over 500, all acclimated and in good fighting trim.
Perry's Victory-At sunrise Sept. 10, the British fleet hove in sight and the American squadron was signaled "enemy in sight, get underway." The wind was unsteady, but shifting to southeast it enabled the Americans to engage the enemy to windward as they much preferred. The British vessels came in the fol- lowing order: Chippewa. Detroit, Hunter, Queen Charlotte, Lady Prevost, and Little Belt. To oppose these, Perry arranged the Lawrence, to encounter the Detroit, Scorpion in front and Ariel on his weather bow; Caledonia against the Hunter and Niagara opposite the Queen, with the four smaller boats to attack the Lady Prevost and Little Belt. At ten o'clock when but five miles intervened be- tween the opposing fleets, Perry summoned his crew and said: "My brave lads, this *flag contains the last words of Capt. Lawrence: Shall I hoist it?" Aye, aye sir! was the unanimous response. As it was run to the masthead it was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, from the other American vessels.
A luncheon was then served and Perry passed round, examining his guns and sails to see that all things were in readiness, and exchanging words of encourage- ment and exhortation to his men, to do their whole duties. About noon, as they had floated near the enemy, a bugle on the Detroit, gave the signal for action.
Battle Commenced by a discharge from a long range British cannon. The first shot was fired at the Lawrence without effect. Perry forced his vessel to close range and opened a destructive fire on the Detroit. The Niagara, failing to engage the Queen, the latter pushed ahead to assist the Detroit, pouring her broad- sides into the Lawrence with terrible effect and soon made her a wreck.
As most of the men on the Lawrence. had been killed or wounded, and the boat wrecked, Perry perceived that victory must be achieved some other way, and hauling down his battle flag, with his remaining uninjured men he crossed in a small boat. under a perfect hail of musketry, to the Niagara, and again raised the battle flag. Capt. Elliott was sent back to urge the small boats to the rescue. The Niagara crossed the bow of the Lawrence and bore down head first into the enemy's line. taking a raking position. The gearing of the Detroit had been crippled and in attempting to turn she bc une entangled with her consort Queen, leaving no alternative to the British: but to strike their colors. Perry next en- gaged the Lady Prevost and with one broadside silenced her battery; the Hunter soon struck and the two smaller vessels, which attempted to escape, were over- hauled by the Scorpion and Trippe, thereby ending the fight at about 3 p. m. As the smoke eleared away, the Lawrence again hoisted a flag which was feebly cheered, as those who had cheered before were mostly silenced in death or in the hold, wounded. Destruction and carnage had been severe on the Lawrence, where 22 were killed and 61 wounded. On the Detroit and Queen equal havoc had been made. The British had 41 killed and 94 wounded; while the American loss was 27 killed and 96 wounded. three of whom died a few days later. Perry returned to the disabled Lawrence, where he received the formal surrender of the British and from the deck of which. at 4 p. m. on a scrap of paper, he wrote to Gen. Harrison. the oft quoted dispatch: "We have met the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop." The dead sailors and
*The citizens of Erie, when the Lawrence was named, presented Capt. Perry, with a handsome battle flag, upon which was made, on a blue back ground, in large white letters, the memorable words of Capt. Lawrence, who had perished in the Atlantic navy a few months before: "Don't give up the Ship."
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marines, with cannon shot tied to their hammocks were cast into the lake. On the following morning the crippled fleets, sailed into Put-in-Bay, where the dead officers, Lieut. Brooks and Midshipmen Laub and Clark of the American fleet, were buried with the honors of war; and also the British officers, Capt. Finnis, Lieuts. Stokes and Garland. The Lawrence was repaired and Sept. 21, with the wounded on board, was dispatched to Erie, where every care was given to the suffering. The British prisoners that were well, had been given in charge of Gen. Harrison, but were brought soon afterward in the Detroit and Queen Charlotte to Erie, and transferred to Pittsburg for safe keeping.
Another Victory-The other boats carried a detachment of Gen. Harrison's troops to Detroit, where they were reinforced by cavalry on land, and Gen. Proc- tor made a hasty retreat from Ft. Malden; but was pursued and most of his eom- mand overtaken and captured on the Thames river, Oct. 5. As the enemy had now been routed, on and around Lake Erie, Gen. Harrison was ordered to garri- son Ft. George, and with Com. Perry, embarked on the Ariel. Com. Barclay, on parole, also accompanied his captor. The party met with an enthusiastic recep- tion at Erie, Oct. 22, and next day, on board the Ariel continued their journey to Buffalo. Perry was everywhere received with enthusiasm and not only himself but Com. Chauncey and Capt. Eilliot received large prizes and the entire Ameri- can command were remembered in the distribution. The British vessels captured were appraised at $255.000.
In 1815 Perry was with Decatur in the Mediterranean squadron. June 1819, he was sent to the Spanish Main and in July ascended the Orinoco to Angostura. He was taken with yellow fever at Port Spain, on the island of Trinidad and died on his 34th, birthday anniversary, Aug. 23, 1819.
Subsequent Events-In the winter of 1813-14, a new block-house was built on Garrison hill and another on the point of the Peninsula. The one on Garri- son hill was burned in 1853 and the present one was erected in 1877 not for defense. but as a monument to Gen Wayne. The navy of Lake Erie wintered in the harbor and a large body of militia was stationed here. Perry's victory and subsequent distribution of the prize money, with leisure hours and lax discipline, did not pro- mote the morals of the place. Midshipman Senat and Acting-master McDonald of the Porcupine, fought a duel in which the former was killed.
On Dec. 30, 1813, Black Rock and Buffalo, numbering about 2,200 inhabitants, were taken by the English and the villages burned. The Indian's braves, who accompanied the British were allowed to plunder and murder to their hearts desire. Great excitement prevailed atErie. Jan. 10, '14, Capt. Elliott informed Gen. Mead, that but 2,000 men were available, whereas some 3,000 of the enemy were in camp 8 miles this side of Buffalo, waiting for the iee to get safe, to march upon it to Erie. Gen. Mead, at once ordered 2,000 additional troops to this place. Winter quarters were erected below Fifth street and west of Peach. The officers barrack was used for several years subsequent as a "meeting house."
April 1814 Capt. Elliott was transferred to Lake Ontario and his place here was taken by Com. Sinclair. An expedition was now planned against Mackinaw. The Lawrence and Niagara, Detroit and Queen Charlotte were repaired, and June 25, the fleet sailed up the lake. At Detroit 600 troops were taken on board and 500 more at Fort Gratiot. The British were well fortified and the attack was repulsed. The schooners Scorpion and Tigress were captured in Lake Huron. by British and Indians who boarded them at night, but the balance of the fleet re- turned. The Ariel and Chippewa were driven to shore and went to pieces near
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THE NAVAL STATION
Buffalo; the Somers and Ohio while at anchor at Ft. Erie were captured by the British, while the Trippe aud Little Belt quartered at Black Rock were also de- stroyed by the English, when that village fell into their hands. The rest of the squadron including the Lawrence, Niagara and smaller vessels were anchored in Misery bay. Bird and Rankin, mariners, were shot for desertion the succeeding fall and Davis, a seaman, was hung to the yard-arm of the Niagara.
James Bird for whom a sentimental song was composed, belonged to a yol- unteer company from Bellefonte, which occupied a small block-house at the Cas- cade, when Perry's boats were building. Having been unaccustomed to military restraint the company refused to obey orders and were all put under arrest. Lieut. Brooks, being badly in need of a force to man his boat, all who would volunteer as marines, were forgiven their former insubordination. On the return Bird was made Sergeant and given charge of a storehouse which stood at the mouth of Millcreek, from which he deserted. As this was on the frontier and in time of active hostilities it was thought necessary to make an example of these men and they paid the penalty according to rules of war. A treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States, was concluded at Ghent, Belgium, Dec. 14, 1814, but as there were no telegraphs at that time, the news did not reach New Orleans, until after Gen. Jackson's defeat of Packenham's British troops on Jan. 8, 1815, near that place. This was the last battle of the War of 1812 and peace was again restored.
The Navy Vessels-The cannon of Perry's fleet and the British vessels, were kept in the navy yard at Erie until the fall of 1825, when they were distri- buted, at intervals of 10 miles, along the line of the Erie Canal, between Buffalo and Albany. That waterway was finished through to Buffalo Oct. 24, 1825 and the following day Gov. Clinton and his escort arrived at Buffalo, having made the trip by canal-boat in a little less than five days. It was arranged that on start- ing for the return the gun at Buffalo should be fired, and upon hearing this the cannon at Tonawanda was touched off, then its next neighbor to the east and so on to Albany. In this manner the news of the Governor's start for the return, was conveyed by sound, 280 miles, in 100 minutes, before the days of telephone or tel- egraphy. After this the cannon were transferred to the Brooklyn navy yard.
In 1815 orders were issued to dispose of the Lake Erie fleet to the best advan- tage possible. The Lawrence, Detroit and Queen Charlotte were sunk in Misery bay; the Caledonia and Lady Prevost were sold and converted into merchant ves- sels; the Porcupine was made into a revenue cutter and the Niagara used as a Government receiving ship for some years, when she was beached on the north- east side of Misery bay. Subsequent to Capt. Sinclair the naval station here was in command of Capts. D. S. Dexter, David Deacon, George Budd and Lieut. George Pierce.
The Naval Station at Erie was discontinued in 1825, and the property sold at auction, a Mr. Brown of Rochester purchasing the sunken vessels. He resold them in 1836 to George Miles and others. The Detroit and Queen Charlotte were raised and repaired doing duty on the lakes for some years. The former was finally dismanteled and sent over the Falls as an advertising feature of a gala day. Leander Dobbins purchased the interests of the Lawrence and Niagara, in 1857, and 1875, sold the Lawrence to John Dunlap and T. J. Viers. It was raised in the spring of 1876, eat in two, and transported to the Centennial; but its insignifi- cant size made the public incredulous and the side-show proved a financial fail-
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ERIE COUNTY HISTORY.
ure. The oak plank which were removed from her deck, before the divided hulk was taken to Philadelphia, were in a complete state of preservation and by 50 years of water-soak had reached a condition, which sustained a high finish, making a grain almost equal to mahogany. Many canes and other novelties were made 'from this wood and are highly treasured by their owners. The Niagara still re- mains in Misery hay, but there is a movement on foot to raise the hulk and con- vert the timbers into mementoes.
County Formation -We now turn back. to bring up the connecting link of political and civil events, in order that the reader may intelligibly understand his surroundings. Until Sept. 24, 1788, all of this State west of the Allegheny, and north of the Ohio river, was embraced in Westmoreland Co .; at which time the western end of the State was made Allegheny county, with Pittsburg as county seat. After the Mead purchase. the area of Crawford and Erie counties became known as Mead tp., which continued until 1798, when a re-districting was made and Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, and Warren, became townships, two years later having been created counties. Some of the pioneers of Erie tp. 1797-8, came as far as 35 miles to Erie, the only voting place, in order to exercise the rights of suffrage. Apr. 8, 1799, six election districts were made, located at North East, Edinboro, Conneaut, Waterford, Concord and Erie. By the act of Mar. 12, 1800, Erie township was made a county, covering nearly its present area of 745 square miles, (476,800 acres.) The average length is 36 miles and breadth 20 miles. The new county was divided into 16 townships, and three have since been formed from parts of others. (See table-Population of Twps., etc.)
The exact boundary line, between Erie and Crawford counties was not decided until 1850, when H. A. Hills of Albion, Andrew Ryan of Crawford and H. P. Kin- near of Warren, under special act of 1849, superintended a new survey. This was made a direct line adding a long narrow strip to Erie Co., and a small addi- tion to Crawford county thereby making a change of county for some of the pio- neer residents along the line.
In the first presidential elections, 1788 and 1792 there were no voters in the present area of Erie County, but Allegheny county of which this was a part, gave its vote unanimously, for Washington, presidential electors. In 1796, the Jeffer- son electors received 392 votes and those for Adams 77 votes making a total of 469 in all Western Penn. The State vote for presidential electors, also the Congress- men, Senators and: Representatives from this district, has been given in prior pages.
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