burgh to the harbor of Erie. Under all these embarrassments, by the first of August, 1813, Commodore Perry had provided a flotilla, consisting of the ships Lawrence and Niagara of 20 guns each, and seven smaller vessels, to wit, one of four guns, one of three, two of two, and three of one; in the whole, fifty-four guns. While the ships were building, the enemy frequently appeared off the harbor and threatened their destruction, but the shallowness of the water on the bar, there being but five feet, prevented their approach. The same cause, which ensured the safety of the ships while building, seemed to prevent their being of any service. The two largest drew several feet more water than there was on the bar. The inventive genius of Commodore Perry, however, soon surmounted this difficulty; he placed large scows on each side of the two largest ships, filled them so as to sink to the water edge, then attached them to the ships by strong pieces of timber, and pumped out the water. The scows then buoyed up the ships so as to pass the bar in safety. This operation was performed on both the large ships, in the presence of a superior enemy. Having gotten his fleet in readiness, Commodore Perry proceeded to the head of the lake and anchored in Put-in-Bay, opposite to, and distant 30 miles from Malden, where the British fleet lay under the guns of the fort. He lay at anchor here several days, watching the motions of the enemy, determined to give him battle the first favorable opportunity. On the 10th of September at sunrise, the British fleet, consisting of one ship of nineteen guns, one of seventeen, one of thirteen, one of ten, one of three, and one of one, amounting to sixty-four, and exceeding the Americans by ten guns, under the command of Com

modore Barclay, appeared off Put-in-bay, distant about ten miles. Commodore Perry immediately got under weigh with a light breeze at southwest. At 10 o'clock, the wind hauled to the south-east, which brought the American squadron to the windward, and gave them the weathergage. Commodore Perry, on board the Lawrence, then hoisted his union jack, having for a motto the dying words of Captain Lawrence, "Don't give up the ship!" which was received with repeated cheers by the crew.

He then formed the line of battle, and bore up for the enemy, who at the same time hauled his courses and prepared for action. The lightness of the wind occasioned the hostile squadrons to approach each other but slowly, and prolonged for two hours, the solemn interval of suspense and anxiety which precedes a battle. At fifteen minutes after eleven, a bugle was sounded on board the enemy's head-most ship, Detroit, loud cheers

burst from all their crews, and a tremendous fire opened upon the Lawrence, from the British long guns, which, from the shortness of the Lawrence's, she was obliged to sustain for 40 minutes without being able to return a shot.

Commodore Perry, without waiting for the other ships, kept on his course in such gallant and determined style, that the enemy supposed he meant immediately to board. At five minutes before twelve, having gained a nearer position, the Lawrence opened her fire, but the long guns of the British still gave them greatly the advantage, and the Lawrence was exceedingly cut up without being able to do much damage in return. Their shot pierced her side in all directions, killing the men in the berthdeck and steerage, where they had been carried to be dressed. One shot had nearly produced a fatal explosion; passing through the light room, it knocked the snuff of the candle into the magazine: fortunately the gunner saw it, and had the presence of mind immediately to extinguish it. It appeared to be the enemy's plan at all events to destroy the commodore's ship; their heaviest fire was directed against the Lawrence, and blazed incessantly from all their largest vessels. Commodore Perry, finding the hazard of his situation, made all sail and directed the other vessels to follow for the purpose of closing with the enemy. The tremendous fire, however, to which he was exposed, soon cut away every brace and bowline of the Lawrence, and she became unmanageable. The other vessels were unable to get up; and in this disastrous situation she sustained the main force of the enemy's fire for upwards of two hours, within cannister distance, though a considerable part of the time not more than two or three of her guns could be brought to bear upon her antagonist. The utmost order and regularity prevailed during this scene of horror; as fast as the men at the guns were wounded, they were carried below, and others stepped into their places; the dead remained where they fell until after the action; at this juncture the enemy believed the battle to be won. The Lawrence was reduced to a mere wreck, her deck was streaming with blood, and covered with the mangled limbs and bodies of the slain; nearly the whole of her crew were either killed or wounded; her guns were dismounted, and the commodore and his officers. helped to work the last that was capable of service. At two, Captain Elliott was enabled by the aid of a fresh breeze to bring his ship into close action in gallant style: and the commodore immediately determined to shift his flag on board that ship; and giving his own in charge to Lieutenant Yarnell, he hauled down his union jack and taking it under his arm, ordered a boat to put him on board the Niagara. Broadsides were levelled at his boat, and a shower of musketry from three of the

enemy's ships. He arrived safe and hoisted his union jack, with the animating motto, on board the Niagara. Captain Elliott, by direction of the commodore, immediately put off in a boat to bring up the schooners. which had been kept back by the lightness of the wind. At this moment the flag of the Lawrence was hauled down; she had sustained the principal force of the enemy's fire for two hours, and was rendered incapable of defence. Any further show of resistance would have been a useless sacrifice of the remains of her brave and mangled crew. The enemy were at the same time so crippled, that they were unable to take possession of her, and circumstances soon enabled her crew again to hoist her flag. Commodore Perry now gave the signal to all the vessels for close action. The small vessels, under the direction of Captain Elliott, got out their sweeps, and made all sail. Finding the Niagara but little injured, the commander determined upon the bold expedient of breaking the enemy's line; he accordingly bore up and passed the head of the two ships and brig, giving them a raking fire from his starboard guns, and also a raking fire upon a large schooner and sloop, from his larboard quarter, at half-pistol shot. Having gotten the whole squadron into action, he luffed up and laid his ship alongside of the British commodore. The small vessels having now got up within good grape and cannister distance on the other quarter, enclosed their enemy between them and the Niagara, and in this position kept up a most destructive fire on both quarters of the British, until every ship struck her colors.

The engagement lasted about three hours, and never was victory more decisive and complete. More prisoners were taken than there were men on board the American squadron at the close of the action. The principal loss in killed and wounded was on board the Lawrence, before the other vessels were brought into action. Of her crew 22 were killed, and 60 wounded. When her flag was struck, but 20 men remained on deck fit for duty. The loss on board of all the other vessels was only five killed, and 36 wounded. The British loss must have been much more considerable. Commodore Barclay was dangerously wounded. He had lost one arm in the battle of Trafalgar. The other was now rendered useless, by the loss of a part of his shoulder-blade; he received also a severe wound in the hip.

General Harrison, with the main body of the American army, which had been strongly reinforced by volunteers from Ohio and Kentucky under command of Governor Shelby, and amounted to about 6000 men, lay around Sandusky Bay and at Fort Meigs. As soon as he heard of Perry's victory upon the lake, he prepared to cross to Canada and attack Proctor. On the 27th of September, the army was embarked at Portage, and landed