PERRY AND LAKE ERIE.
Returning now, we take up the story of a young officer who, although he
had passed fifteen years in the service, had never been so fortunate as
to take part in any of its more striking operations, but who was now to
leap at one bound to a height of glory and renown unsurpassed by any of
his comrades in the navy. This was Oliver Hazard Perry. He had entered
the service in 1798, during the hostilities with France, when he joined
his father's ship as a midshipman at the age of thirteen. He had served
in the Tripolitan war in the squadron of Commodore Morris, and later
with Commodore Rodgers; but during Preble's command, when all the great
achievements of the war had been performed, it was his ill luck to be at
home, and he was thus almost the only one of the victorious commanders
of the War of 1812 that had not received his training in the squadron of
the great commodore.
Perry was now twenty-seven years old, and a master-commandant,--that is,
he was higher than a lieutenant, but lower than a captain. When the war
was expected, he went to Washington and begged that he might be ordered
into active service against the enemy and given a post suitable to his
rank. His request could not at once be granted, and meantime he was
placed in command of a gunboat flotilla at Newport. For nine months he
carried on his duties here with energy and zeal, but all the time
chafing and fretting that he should be concerned with such trivialities
while others were winning distinction in great enterprises and fighting
battles with the enemy's ships-of-war.
[Illustration: OLIVER HAZARD PERRY]
During this year the northern lakes, and especially Erie and Ontario,
were the scene of great preparations for combat, as might be expected
upon waters which washed the frontier of two hostile countries. Upon
their shores on either side were opposing armies, and the movements of
the troops depended upon which side gained control upon the lakes.
During the winter of 1812-13 the work of building and equipping ships
was going briskly forward on Lake Ontario, where Commodore Isaac
Chauncey was in command. But little had as yet been done upon Lake Erie,
where the enemy had a considerable force of vessels, which gave him
almost undisputed mastery on the water.
At this stage of affairs it occurred to Perry to write to Commodore
Chauncey and offer him his services, at the same time renewing his
entreaties to the Department by letters and through friends. The
commodore was just now looking for an officer who could take charge of
matters on the western lake, of which he still desired to retain
command, and knowing Perry well, and knowing too his worth, he gladly
consented to his coming for this service. Accordingly on the 18th of
February, 1813, Perry received his orders to proceed to Sackett's Harbor
with the best men of his flotilla. So eager was he to be off, and so
quick to carry out the order, that on that very day, before nightfall,
he had started his first detachment of fifty seamen under one of his
lieutenants. Five days later one hundred more had been despatched, and
Perry had set out for his new command.
It was a severe journey at that inclement season, bitterly cold, and the
way from Albany over the frozen roads led through a thinly settled
country still covered by its virgin forests. Perry had with him his
little brother Alexander,--a boy twelve years old, whom he was taking to
be a midshipman on board his ship. After eleven days of travelling the
two brothers reached their destination, and reported on board the
flagship "Madison," which was lying at Sackett's Harbor. Here they were
delayed a week; but at last they set out for Lake Erie, where they
arrived about the middle of March.
For the next six months Perry was busily occupied in preparing his
squadron,--indeed, one might say in building it, for the principal
vessels were only just begun. These were two good-sized brigs, each
designed to carry twenty guns, but at this time their keels only had
been laid. The station of the proposed squadron was at the town of Erie,
where there were also building three schooners, now about half finished.
So far the work had gone on but slowly; but the young commander by his
zeal infused new zeal into those around him, and by his energy and
wisdom overcame all obstacles and difficulties.
It was a strange and difficult position in which Perry now found
himself. The enemy with his squadron of five vessels controlled the
lake. The building-yard at Erie was without protection. There were no
guns, not even muskets or cartridges, and if there had been, there were
no men to use them. Of the ship-carpenters who were sent on with their
tools from Philadelphia only a few had come. All the supplies,--guns,
sail-cloth, cordage, ammunition,--everything, in short, but timber, was
to be brought a distance of five hundred miles over bad roads, through a
country that was almost a wilderness. Finally, the little brig
"Caledonia" and the four gunboats which together made up the whole of
the squadron afloat were at Black Rock in the Niagara River, and were
unable to make their way past the enemy's river batteries into the lake.
Perry began his work at once. He sent to Buffalo for seamen, and at his
request some companies of militia were posted at Erie. He went himself
to Pittsburg, where he procured small cannon and muskets to assist in
the defence. Iron was bought at Buffalo, and when this supply was
exhausted, every scrap that could be got in the neighborhood was worked
up for use in the construction of the fleet. Blacksmiths were found
among the militia. To obtain the timber for the vessels, trees were
felled and sawn up, and all was so quickly done that it often happened
that wood which at daybreak had been growing in the forest was before
nightfall nailed in place upon the ship. With such extraordinary
despatch did the young commodore push forward his work, that by the
third week in May all the vessels had been launched from the ways and
were afloat in the harbor of Erie.
About this time Perry learned that Commodore Chauncey was preparing to
attack Fort George, and he resolved to join him, for he knew that his
services would be needed. The message was brought to him one day at
sunset, and though the night was stormy, in an hour he had started in
his four-oared boat for the Niagara River. It took him twenty-four hours
to reach Buffalo, where he rested; then starting again he entered the
river, and landing just before he reached the rapids, he resumed his
journey alone and on foot, the rain pouring in torrents, directing his
course to the camp at the mouth of the river, off which the squadron
lay. Here he found the officers assembled, and as he walked into the
cabin of the flagship, wet, bedraggled, and spattered from head to foot
with mud, the commodore grasped him by the hand and told him that "no
person on earth could be more welcome." And it was fortunate that he
came, for the fleet was sadly in want of just such a man as he; and the
attack on the next day, in which he served in some sort as the
commodore's chief of staff, was successful largely through his coolness
and skill, his ready and unerring eye, and his untiring energy. For on
this day he was everywhere,--pulling in his boat under a shower of
musketry from one vessel to another, encouraging the men here,
re-forming the line and altering a boat's position there, sometimes even
going on board and pointing the guns himself so that their fire might
tell with more effect, and finally landing to join in the assault on
shore, which ended in the capture of the fort.
After the fall of Fort George, the English abandoned the whole Niagara
frontier, and there was therefore at last some slight chance that the
vessels at Black Rock might be enabled to make their way into Lake Erie.
Leaving the Ontario fleet, Perry repaired to Black Rock, and with the
help of oxen and two hundred soldiers the five boats were tracked up
against the rapid current of the Niagara. A fortnight was consumed
before they reached the head of the river, after laborious exertions,
and "a fatigue," said Perry, "almost incredible." At last they were out
upon Lake Erie, but before them there was still the difficult task of
eluding the British squadron, whose flagship, the "Queen Charlotte," was
alone a match for all of them, and which had besides four smaller
vessels. The enemy was in the neighborhood, and the winds were contrary;
but Perry with great skill managed to pass them unopposed, and at last
brought his vessels into the harbor of Erie, thus joining in one
squadron all his forces.
It was now the end of June, and for a month Perry was engaged in fitting
out the vessels that had been launched in May, and in preparing their
crews. One of the brigs was named the "Lawrence," in honor of the
captain of the "Chesapeake," who had just before died of his wounds in
the action with the "Shannon;" the other was called the "Niagara." The
seamen, who were mostly drawn from the Lake Ontario squadron, came in
slowly. As soon as one detachment arrived, the men were placed on board
and stationed, and every day when it was possible to do it they were
exercised at the guns. But the hardest task was yet to come. Upon the
bar at the mouth of the harbor the water was only six feet deep, and
outside lay the British squadron on the watch. To get the two brigs over
the bar under the enemy's fire seemed hopeless, and Commodore Barclay,
the British commander, well knew his advantage. But one day early in
August, either because he thought the ships were not ready, or because
he fancied that he could overcome the Americans in any case, he left his
post of observation and took his squadron over to the Canadian shore.
The American commodore, as he was now called, saw his opportunity and
made the most of it. Five of the small vessels were sent across the bar,
where they were cleared for action. The "Niagara," anchoring close
inside, pointed her guns down the channel; and the "Lawrence" was towed
down to be taken across. Every means was used to lighten her; her guns
were hoisted out, and when all was ready, two great scows were fitted
alongside, and filled with water so that they sunk to the edge. Huge
cross-timbers were then run through the ports of the brig, their ends
resting upon blocks of wood placed in the sunken scows. The scows were
now pumped out, and as they came up they lifted the brig with them. It
was anxious work, for the enemy might return at any moment, and finding
the "Lawrence" defenceless and immovable, might riddle her until she
could not float. The first trial failed, for there was little water on
the bar and the brig could not be lifted high enough to get her over.
But the men worked with might and main, the militia helping the
blue-jackets; and the scows were readjusted, so that at last the ship
had forced her way over the sands and passed into the deep water beyond.
Here she was joined by the "Niagara."
The fleet of Commodore Barclay now came in sight, and although it was a
little late, a smart attack might yet have saved it the supremacy which
it had held thus far. The guns were still to be put on board the
"Lawrence;" and to gain time Perry ordered two schooners, the "Ariel"
and "Scorpion," to stand out toward Barclay's vessels and annoy them
with their guns. The schooners advanced so boldly that the enemy were
fully occupied. In a short time the "Lawrence" had received her battery
and placed it in position, and she was ready for action. The enemy's
opportunity was lost, and Barclay sailed away to the northern shore.
From this moment Perry had the advantage on Lake Erie.
The American fleet was now only waiting to complete its crews before
seeking its adversary. Soon a final detachment of one hundred men came
from Lake Ontario, brought by Lieutenant Elliott, who was placed in
command of the "Niagara." The "Lawrence" was selected by Commodore Perry
as his flagship. He had now through his energetic efforts a force
superior to the enemy both in guns and men, and the next few days were
spent in training the mixed crews, and in reconnoitring and manoeuvering
on the lake.
At sunrise on the morning of the 10th of September, as the American
ships were lying at anchor at Put-in Bay, the British squadron was
sighted from the mast-head of the "Lawrence," standing in for the bay.
Lieutenant Forrest, the officer of the deck, reported the news to
Commodore Perry, and immediately the signal was hoisted on the flagship.
"Under way to get!" For a few moments all was hurry and bustle, and in a
little while the American squadron was under sail, beating out of the
harbor.
The breeze was light, and as the enemy had the weather-gage, several
hours were now passed in manoeuvering. But in the course of the forenoon
the wind shifted, bringing the English fleet to leeward, upon which
Perry determined to advance without further preliminaries. The enemy
were now in line of battle, hove to, the schooner "Chippeway" leading.
Next came the "Detroit," Commodore Barclay's flagship, with the brig
"Hunter" astern. Next to the "Hunter" lay the "Queen Charlotte," the
second of the enemy's large ships; and the schooners "Lady Prevost" and
"Little Belt" brought up the rear.
The American squadron was so arranged as to bring its largest vessels
opposite to the largest of the enemy. The commodore led in his flagship
the "Lawrence," supported by the "Ariel" and "Scorpion" upon his
weather-bow. He chose Barclay's flagship as his own antagonist.
Following him was the brig "Caledonia," which was to engage the
"Hunter." Next came the "Niagara," Elliott's vessel, to oppose the
"Queen Charlotte;" and the line was completed by the schooners "Somers,"
"Porcupine," and "Tigress," and the sloop "Trippe," which would take
care of the enemy's rear.
The English lay in compact order, broadside on, their red ensigns
opening to the light breeze. No picture could be drawn more peaceful or
more beautiful than that upon which the sun shone on this September
morning as it lit up with sparkling brilliancy the rippling waters of
the lake. The long column of the Americans came slowly down with all
sails set, led by the "Lawrence," at whose mast-head was unfolded the
lettered flag bearing the words, "Don't give up the ship,"--the last
order of the ill-fated commander of the "Chesapeake." It was Perry's
battle-flag; and as it was displayed and the words were read by the
different crews, cheer upon cheer rang out, caught up from ship to ship
down the long line of the advancing column. The last preparations had
now been made; the shot were in the racks, the pistols and cutlasses
arranged at hand, and the decks sanded to give a foothold, when in a few
moments they would become slippery with blood. All was in readiness, and
the men only waited to join battle.
[Illustration: "A SINGLE GUN BOOMED FROM BARCLAY'S SHIP."]
For more than an hour the squadron advanced slowly and in silence under
the light wind. At length the notes of a bugle sounding on the "Detroit"
broke the still air, followed by cheers from the enemy's ships, and soon
a single gun boomed from Barclay's ship as the signal for opening
battle. His second shot passed through both bulwarks of the "Lawrence,"
and Perry made reply. But his battery of carronades was useless at this
distance, and for fifteen minutes more he continued to advance,
receiving a terrific fire without being able to answer it. At length,
arriving within three hundred and fifty yards, he hauled up and began
the action.
The other American vessels, delayed by the lightness of the wind, had
been slow in getting into position for battle. The "Ariel" and
"Scorpion" supported the "Lawrence" efficiently. The "Caledonia" too,
the next astern, closed with the "Hunter." But the "Niagara," upon which
Perry mainly relied as one of his largest vessels, engaging only at long
range, failed to close, and finally, moving ahead, passed to windward of
the "Caledonia" and "Lawrence," thus placing them between herself and
the enemy and throwing herself out of the battle. It was represented
afterward that this was due to the lightness of the wind; but however
this may be,--and there is no event in naval history which has been the
subject of more wrangling and disputation,--certain it is that never was
a ship made to do so little to help her consorts as the "Niagara"
during the time when Elliott was directing her movements. The "Queen
Charlotte," finding that her opponent had thus placed himself out of
harm's way, filled her main-topsail and passed ahead of the "Hunter,"
thereby doubling the odds against the already injured "Lawrence."
For two long hours the "Lawrence" now sustains an unequal contest,
receiving the concentrated fire of nearly the whole of the enemy's
squadron. The rigging is cut, the sails are torn to shreds, one by one
the spars are shattered or fall upon the deck. Gun after gun is
dismounted, and fearful is the slaughter of officers and men. The
wounded are taken below so fast that the surgeon can barely serve them,
hurriedly amputating a leg or an arm, one after another, and binding up
as best he may the bleeding wounds. Cannon-shot enter the quarters for
the wounded, striking men whose limbs have just been taken off by the
surgeon's knife. The first lieutenant, Yarnall, wounded in the forehead
and the neck, his face streaming with blood, continues to fight his guns
until his men are killed, and sending to the commodore for more, is
answered that there are no more to give him. The second lieutenant,
Dulany Forrest, standing beside Perry, receives a spent grape-shot in
the breast which throws him to the deck. A gun captain whom Perry has
addressed to give a word of caution is just about to fire, when a
cannon-ball passes through his body and he falls without a groan at the
commodore's feet. Brooks the marine officer, a dashing young lieutenant,
is making a smiling response to Perry's cheerful words, when a heavy
shot crushes his thigh and throws him across the deck. In an agony of
pain he implores the commodore to shoot him dead and put him out of
misery.
All the guns but one are now dismounted, but this one still keeps up its
fire; for the commodore, with the brave purser Hambleton, and Chaplain
Breese, aided by two or three men, are working it themselves. At last
the purser falls, his shoulder shattered by a grape-shot. Presently this
gun, too,--the last one,--is disabled, and the "Lawrence" cannot fire a
shot. There are less than a score of sound men left on board.
At this terrible moment, when, though untouched himself, nearly all his
companions had fallen, when his ship was beaten, and himself exhausted
with the stress of two hours of battle, there came to Perry one of those
resolutions which can only be called inspiration. He saw that if the
flagship surrendered, the whole fleet would follow. He saw that the two
leading ships of the enemy had suffered much in his attack, though their
force was not so nearly spent as his own. He saw too that the "Niagara"
and the schooners in the rear were almost fresh, if they could only be
brought into action. Upon this he formed his resolution. Calling away
his boat, and taking with him his little brother, who like himself had
passed through the fearful ordeal unscathed, except for the bullets in
his cap, he rowed under the enemy's fire to the "Niagara." It was a
daring act, for the enemy's shot broke the oars, and the spray was
dashed in the faces of the rowers. But it was more wonderful in the
coolness and bravery which enabled the young commander at such a time
and after such a trial to carry out with promptness and judgment the
only plan to retrieve disaster.
Arriving on board the "Niagara" Perry at once assumed command, hoisting
his flag, and a moment later he sent Lieutenant Elliott, who volunteered
for the duty, to bring up the tardy schooners. Then, setting the
signal for close action, he formed his ships in line abreast and dashed
at the enemy. The "Lawrence" had now struck, but the enemy had no chance
to take possession. The onset of the fresh fleet was irresistible. The
"Detroit" and the "Queen Charlotte," seeing the blow coming, attempted
to wear, so that fresh broadsides might be brought to bear. In doing
this they fell foul, and as they lay entangled, the breeze freshening,
the "Niagara" plunged through their line, firing both broadsides as she
passed through the narrow gap. At the same moment the "Caledonia" with
the "Scorpion" and "Trippe" broke through the line at other points, and
turning with the "Niagara" brought the enemy between two deadly fires.
The shrieks of the wounded mingled with the roar of the American cannon;
the British commodore could not resist this new attack, and in seven
minutes from the "Niagara's" passage of the line, four of the enemy had
surrendered in their places in the column. The two remaining vessels
sought to escape under cover of the smoke, but they were pursued and
brought back by the "Trippe" and "Scorpion."
[Illustration: "CALLING AWAY HIS BOAT, HE ROWED UNDER THE ENEMY'S
FIRE."]
As soon as the prisoners had been secured, the prizes manned, and orders
given for the necessary repairs, Perry sat down in his cabin and wrote
to General Harrison, commanding the Army of the West, who had been
waiting anxiously for the issue of the battle. Here is his letter:--
DEAR GENERAL,--We have met the enemy and they are ours,--two
ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop.
Yours with very great respect and esteem,
O.H. PERRY.
Well might the general be elated when he got the news. The victory had
saved the whole Northwest, which until then had been desolated by the
most savage and barbarous of enemies. No time was lost in following it
up, and in carrying the war into the enemy's country. The army was
quickly embarked on board the ships and landed in Canada.
After marching inland it attacked the enemy, and in the great victory of
Moravian Town the English troops were annihilated, and Tecumseh, the
relentless enemy of the United States, was killed. From that time forth
until the close of the war the British were compelled to abandon all
operations on Lake Erie.