On the morning of the 10th of September, while Perry’s squadron was
lying in Put-in-bay, in Bass Island, the enemy’s fleet was discovered
standing out from the port of Malden, with the wind in their favor.
The American fleet immediately weighed anchor, cleared the islands
at the head of the lake, and was formed in line of battle. A little
before twelve o’clock, the action commenced, the British having the
weathergage. For some time, the fire of the enemy was concentrated upon
the St. Lawrence, Perry’s flag-ship, and she was much cut up, most
of her crew killed or wounded, and her guns disabled. In the midst
of the lire, Captain Perry passed in an open boat from the Lawrence
to the Niagara, and succeeded in bringing the rest of his fleet into
action. A well directed fire was then opened upon the enemy, and the
battle then became close and warm. At length the British vessels having
suffered severely from the superior gunnery of the Americans, struck
their colors. The Lawrence, whose flag had been hauled down soon after
Perry had left her, had been enabled to hoist it before the end of
the contest, the enemy not being able to take possession of her. The
American loss was twenty-five killed, and ninety-six wounded; that of
the enemy, forty-one killed, and ninety-five wounded.
[Illustration: HARRISON CROSSING LAKE ERIE.]