CHILDHOOD HOME OF OLIVER PERRY.CHILDHOOD HOME OF OLIVER PERRY.
The gentleman, who was a friend of the family's, carried him into the house, and told the story.
When scarcely more than a baby, Oliver satupon his mother's knee, while she taught him letters and words. It was not long before he could read quite well. By the time he was five years old, there were two other babies to keep the beautiful, loving mother busy. So it was thought best to send Oliver to school.
Not far from the Perrys', there lived an old gentleman whom the people loved because of his goodness of heart. As there was no school near by, he had often been asked to teach the neighborhood children.
The good old man was notoriously lazy, and consented upon one condition—that he should be allowed to have a bed in the schoolroom.
Teachers were few in those days, and, since there was no one else, the bed was set up. How amusing it must have been to see the children standing about the master's bed and reciting their lessons!
It was to this strange school that little Oliver was first sent. Some girl cousins lived on the adjoining farm. Though they were all older than he, it was Oliver's duty, each day, to take them toand from school. No one, not even the other scholars, thought this at all strange. His dignified manners always made him seem older than he really was.
One day his mother told him that he was old enough to go to school at Tower Hill, a place four miles away. Boys and girls would now think that a long way to go to school; but Oliver and his cousins did not mind the walk through the woods and over the hills.
The master of this school was so old that he had once taught Oliver's grandfather. He was not lazy, however, and was never known to lose his temper.
It was not long until a change was made and Oliver was taken away from "old master Kelly."
For several years past, Oliver's father had been again on the sea. He had commanded vessels on successful voyages to Europe and South America, and now he had a large income. He was therefore able to pay for better teaching for Oliver and the younger children.
So the family moved from South Kingston to Newport, a larger town, with better schools.
At first Oliver did not like the change. The discipline was much more strict than it had been in the little country schools.
His teacher, Mr. Frazer, had one serious fault. He had a violent temper which was not always controlled.
One day he became angry at Oliver and broke a ruler over his head. Without a word, Oliver took his hat and went home. He told his mother that he would never go back.
The wise mother said nothing until the next morning. Then, giving him a note for Mr. Frazer, she told him to go to school as usual. The proud boy's lip quivered and tears were in his eyes, but he never thought of disobeying his mother.
The note he carried was a kind one, telling Mr. Frazer that she intrusted Oliver to his care again and hoped that she would not have cause to regret it.
After this Oliver had no better friend than Mr. Frazer. On holidays they walked together to the seashore and spent many hours wandering alongthe beach. The schoolmaster took great delight in teaching Oliver the rules of navigation, and the use of the instruments necessary for sailing a vessel.
Oliver learned these things so readily that it was not long until Mr. Frazer said he was the best navigator in Rhode Island. This, of course, was not strictly true, but it showed what an apt scholar the boy was.
Oliver made many friends in Newport. Among them was the Frenchman, Count Rochambeau. The father of this man was a great general, and had once commanded some French troops who helped the Americans in the Revolutionary War.
Count Rochambeau often invited Oliver to dine with him, and one day he gave him a beautiful little watch.
When Oliver was twelve years old, his father gave up his life on the sea. The family then moved to Westerly, a little village in the southwestern part of Rhode Island.
For five years Oliver had been a faithful pupil of Mr. Frazer's, and he was now far advanced for his years.
About this time some unexpected troubles arose in our country.
France and England had been at war for years. The French were anxious that America should join in the quarrel; and when they could not bring this about by persuasion, they tried to use force.
French cruisers were sent to the American shores to capture merchant vessels while on their way to foreign ports.
You may be sure that this roused the people from one end of the United States to the other. Preparations for war with France were begun; and the first great need was a better navy.
At the close of the Revolutionary War, all work on government vessels had been stopped. Those that were unfinished were sold to shipping merchants. Even the ships of war that had done such good service, were sold to foreign countries. In this way, the entire American navy passed out of existence.
But now the President, John Adams, went to work to establish a navy that should give protection to American commerce.
In the spring of 1798, a naval department was organized, with Benjamin Stoddert as the first Secretary of the Navy. The following summer was busy with active preparations. Six new frigates were built, and to these were added a number of other vessels of various kinds.
Captain Christopher Perry was given command of one of the new frigates that were being built at Warren, a small town near Bristol, Rhode Island. This vessel was to be called theGeneral Greene.
In order to superintend the building of this vessel, Captain Perry, with his wife, left his quiet home in Westerly, and went to stay in Warren.
Oliver, then not quite thirteen years old, remained at home to take charge of the family.
He saw that his sister and brothers went to school regularly. He bought all the family provisions. Each day he wrote to his father and mother, telling them about home affairs. In themeantime, he was busily planning what his work in life should be.
His mother had taught him that a man must be brave, and always ready to serve his country. She had told him many stories of battles fought long ago in her native land across the sea.
Oliver had lived most of his life in sight of the sea, and had spent many hours with seamen. It is not strange, therefore, that he should decide,—"I wish to be a captain like my father."
He had heard of the troubles with France, and he longed to help defend his country. And so at last he wrote to his father, asking permission to enter the navy. It was a manly letter, telling all his reasons for his choice.
The consent was readily given, and Oliver soon afterward received an appointment as midshipman on his father's vessel, theGeneral Greene.
In the meantime, the people grew more eager for war. An army had been raised to drive backthe French, should they attempt to invade the land. George Washington, though nearly sixty-seven years of age, had been appointed commander in chief of the American forces.
In February, 1799, one of the new frigates, theConstellation, under Captain Truxton, defeated and captured a French frigate of equal size. By spring theGeneral Greenewas completed, and Captain Perry was ordered to sail for the West Indies.
CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTON.CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTON.
America had large trading interests with those islands. Many of our merchant vessels brought from there large cargoes of fruits, coffee, and spices. TheGeneral Greenewas ordered to protect these cargoes from the French cruisers, and bring them safely into port.
For several months Captain Perry's vessel convoyed ships between Cuba and the United States. In July, some of the sailors on board were sickwith yellow fever. So Captain Perry brought the vessel back to Newport.
Oliver went at once to see his mother. The tall lad in his bright uniform was a hero to all the children in the neighborhood.
His brothers and sister considered it an honor to wait upon him. They would go out in the early morning and pick berries for his breakfast, so that he might have them with the dew upon them.
While on shipboard he had learned to play a little on the flute. The children loved to sit about him, and listen to his music.
By the autumn of 1799, the crew of theGeneral Greenewere well again, and Captain Perry sailed back to Havana.
It was during the following winter months of cruising with his father, that Oliver was taught his lessons of naval honor. He also applied the lessons in navigation which he had learned from Mr. Frazer.
He read and studied very carefully, and could not have had a better teacher than his father.
While theGeneral Greenewas cruising amongthe West Indies, Captain Truxton had won another victory with hisConstellation. This time he captured a French frigate which carried sixteen guns more than theConstellation.
The French, dismayed at these victories of the Americans, began to be more civil. They even seemed anxious for peace.
THE CONSTELLATION.THE CONSTELLATION.
War had been carried on for about a year, though it had never been formally declared.
In May, 1800, theGeneral Greenecame back to Newport, and remained in harbor until the terms of peace were concluded.
The trouble with France being settled, it wasdecided by the government to dispose of nearly all the naval vessels. As a result, many of the captains and midshipmen were dismissed, Captain Perry being one of the number.
Fortunately for the country, young Oliver was retained as midshipman.
On the northern coast of Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, are four countries known as the Barbary States. These are Tunis, Algiers, Tripoli, and Morocco.
For more than four hundred years, these countries had been making a business of sea-robbery. Their pirate vessels had seized and plundered the ships of other nations, and the captured officers and men were sold into slavery.
Instead of resisting these robbers, most of the nations had found it easier to pay vast sums of money to the Barbary rulers to obtain protection for their commerce.
The Americans had begun in this way, and hadmade presents of money and goods to Algiers and Tunis.
Then the ruler of Tripoli, called the Bashaw, informed our government that he would wait six months for a handsome present from us. If it did not come then, he would declare war against the United States.
COMMODORE CHARLES MORRIS.COMMODORE CHARLES MORRIS.
This did not frighten the Americans at all. Their only reply was to send a fleet of four ships to the Mediterranean. The intention was to force the Bashaw to make a treaty which should insure safety for our ships.
This squadron did not do much but blockade the ports of Tripoli.
A year later, in 1802, a larger squadron was fitted out to bring the Bashaw to terms. Commodore Morris was the commander. On one of the vessels, theAdams, was Oliver Perry as midshipman.
Soon after the arrival of his ship in the Mediterranean, Oliver celebrated his seventeenth birthday.
The captain of theAdamswas very fond of him, and succeeded in having him appointed lieutenant on that day.
For a year and a half, the squadron of Commodore Morris cruised about the Mediterranean. No great battles were fought and no great victories were won.
TheAdamsstopped at the coast towns of Spain, France, and Italy. Through the kindness of the captain, Oliver was often allowed to go on shore and visit the places of interest.
Commodore Morris, being recalled to America, sailed thither in theAdams; and so it happened that in November, 1803, Oliver Perry arrived again in America.
His father was then living in Newport, and Oliver remained at home until July of the next year.
He spent much of his time in studying mathematics and astronomy. He liked to go out among the young people, and his pleasing mannersand good looks made him a general favorite.
He was fond of music and could play the flute very skillfully. When not studying, he liked most of all to ride horses, and fence with a sword.
While Lieutenant Perry was spending this time at home, the war in the Mediterranean was still being carried on. Commodore Preble, who had succeeded Commodore Morris, had won many brilliant victories.
The most daring feat of all this war was accomplished by Stephen Decatur, a young lieutenant only twenty-three years old.
One of the largest of the American vessels, thePhiladelphia, had, by accident, been grounded on a reef. Taking advantage of her helpless condition, the whole Tripolitan fleet opened fire upon her.
Captain Bainbridge, the commander of thePhiladelphia, was obliged to surrender. The Tripolitans managed to float the vessel off the reef, and towed her into the harbor.
Captain Bainbridge, although a prisoner, found means to send word of his misfortune to CommodorePreble, who was then at Malta, and the American fleet at once sailed for Tripoli.
At the suggestion of Captain Bainbridge, the Americans determined to burn thePhiladelphia, rather than allow the Tripolitans to keep her.
This was a very dangerous undertaking, as the vessel was anchored in the midst of the Tripolitan fleet. It was also within easy range of the guns of the fort, commanding the harbor.
The task was given to Stephen Decatur. In order to deceive the enemy, he took a small boat which had been captured from them a short time before. Its crew was made up of volunteers, for the chances of escape were very few.
STEPHEN DECATUR.STEPHEN DECATUR.
Under cover of night, the little vessel sailed into the harbor, and, as if by accident, ran into thePhiladelphia. Before the Tripolitans realized what had happened, Decatur and his men wereclimbing over the sides of the vessel and through the port holes.
BURNING OF THE PHILADELPHIA.BURNING OF THE PHILADELPHIA.
Decatur had ordered his men to use no firearms. He did not wish to attract the attention of the Tripolitans who were in the fort and on the other vessels in the harbor.
A desperate hand to hand fight ensued. In a few minutes the Americans were in possession of the vessel. Some of the Tripolitan crew had been killed; others had jumped into the sea.
The Americans then set thePhiladelphiaonfire and jumped into their boat to escape. Lieutenant Decatur was the last one to leave the burning ship.
The situation of the little band was now desperate. ThePhiladelphiawas a mass of flames, lighting up the harbor for miles around.
Decatur's little boat could be plainly seen, and all the vessels and forts opened fire on it. But the Tripolitans were too much excited to do serious damage.
In a short time the fire reached the magazine of thePhiladelphiaand she blew up with a tremendous crash, leaving the harbor in darkness. Decatur and his men escaped with but one man wounded.
This is only one of many deeds of bravery done in this war, but we can not tell of them in this story. Lieutenant Perry, in his home in America, heard of them, and longed to be on the scene of action.
He was very glad when, in the following September, he was ordered to return in theConstellationto the Mediterranean.
The American fleet in the Mediterranean was by this time so large that the Bashaw was convinced that the Americans were in earnest.
He was glad to make a treaty of peace and release the prisoners on payment of a small ransom.
In October, 1806, Oliver Perry returned to America. He was greatly disappointed that he had not been able to take a more active part in the war.
He spent most of the next two years in Newport, dividing his time between study and his many friends.
While America was having these troubles with the Barbary States, France and England were still at war. Commerce all over the world was affected, and in some cases almost destroyed by this long war.
The French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, had forbidden all vessels of other nations to enterBritish ports. The English, in turn, said that no vessel should enter a port of France, or of any country belonging to France.
But the Americans had to endure still further injuries from the English. British war vessels claimed the right to stop American ships on the sea, search them, and carry off American sailors, claiming them as deserters from the English navy.
The French could not do this; for no American sailor could be accused of being a runaway Frenchman.
In 1807, an event took place which nearly led to war.
The British frigateLeopard, cruising along the coast, hailed the American frigateChesapeake, and demanded permission to search the ship.
The captain of theChesapeakerefused. Without a word of warning, theLeopardfired into theChesapeake, killing and wounding more than twenty men.
The American captain had not dreamed of such an outrage. His vessel had just put to sea and everything was in confusion. He did not evenhave a gun in condition to return the fire. So he lowered his flag and surrendered.
The officers of theLeopardthen came on board and carried off four men from the crew.
The United States would have declared war at once if England had not apologized.
The President, at this time, was Thomas Jefferson. He was a man of peace. He called a session of Congress to see if the trouble could not be settled without war.
As a result of this session, a law was passed known as the Embargo Act. By this law, no vessel was allowed to sail from the United States to any foreign country.
In order to enforce the law, Congress ordered a number of gunboats to be built. These were to sail up and down the coast, and prevent any vessel from entering or leaving the ports.
Lieutenant Perry was ordered to superintend the building of a fleet of these gunboats at Newport. After they were built, he was put in command of them, and ordered to patrol Long Island Sound.
At this time, the government wanted a map of the harbors in the neighborhood of Newport. On account of his standing as a seaman, and of his education, Lieutenant Perry was selected to visit the harbors and make such a map.
He was given a fast sailing schooner called theRevenge. While carrying on this work, he was one day returning from Newport to New London, when a dense fog came on. TheRevengestruck upon a reef of rocks, and went to pieces.
By great efforts Lieutenant Perry was able to save, not only all the crew, but the sails, rigging, and cannon.
He then went to Washington to explain the loss of theRevengeto the navy department. It was made clear that it was the fault of the local pilot who had charge of the vessel at the time.
Lieutenant Perry was commended for his gallant conduct in this disaster, and was also granted a year's leave of absence. He went to Newport, and on May 5, 1811, he was married to Elizabeth Champlin Mason.
The young couple took a wedding journeythrough New England. They spent one day in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Lieutenant Perry was much interested in visiting the place where his Quaker ancestor had lived so many years before.
During this time, the people of the United States had learned that the Embargo Act was a very unwise law. The men of Congress had thought to injure France and England by thus refusing to trade with them altogether. They soon discovered, however, that the damage to American commerce was far greater.
Trading vessels in the ports were left standing idle at the wharves, while the sailors were forced to find other employment.
JAMES MADISON.JAMES MADISON.
All over the country, there arose a bitter feeling against this law. In the New England states, where there were the largest shipping interests, there was even talk of secession from the Union.
About this time a new President, James Madison, was elected. Soon afterward the Embargo Act was repealed, and in its place was passed a lawwhich satisfied the people for a time. By this law, trade was allowed with every country but England and France.
American vessels now put to sea on voyages to foreign lands. But their old enemies, the English, soon began to annoy them as before.
In May, 1811, the British sloopLittle Beltwas hailed by the American frigatePresident, under the command of Commodore Rodgers. The reply was a cannon shot. ThePresidentthen poured broadsides into theLittle Belt. After the English had lost thirty-two men in killed and wounded, they came to terms.
COMMODORE JOHN RODGERS.COMMODORE JOHN RODGERS.
The American people now saw that war could no longer be avoided. On June 18, 1812, the formal declaration was made.
Up to this time the English navy had been called the "Mistress of the Seas." England's vessels could be numbered by the hundred, and the crews by the ten thousand.
When this war of 1812 was declared, the entire United States navy comprised about half a dozen frigates, and six or eight sloops and brigs. Along the American coast alone the English had seven times this number of war vessels.
The first few months of the war were full of naval surprises. In that brief time the Americans captured more British ships than the French had taken in twenty years.
On August 19th, the American frigateConstitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, in one half hour captured the English frigateGuerrière. The English lost one hundred men, and the vessel was so disabled that she was left to sink. The Americans lost but fourteen men, and in a few hours the ship was ready for another battle.
Several other victories followed in quick succession.In all this time the Americans did not lose a ship.
In December, Commodore Bainbridge, the same officer who had been taken prisoner years before by the Tripolitans and had afterwards been promoted, was cruising with the frigateConstitutionoff the coast of Brazil. He there encountered and captured the British frigateJava.
But though so successful on the sea, the Americans were defeated many times on land.
The possession of the Great Lakes was of the utmost importance to both the English and the Americans.
Ever since the Revolution the English had kept a naval force on these lakes. They had hoped that some time they might be able to extend the Canadian territory along the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi to New Orleans. This would give them the possession of the great west.
Many prosperous towns and trading posts were scattered along the Canadian shores. To capture some of these was the task given to the American army.
The campaign was opened by General William Hull. With two thousand men he crossed the Detroit River, and marched into Canada.
After a few skirmishes with the Indians, he fell back to the fort at Detroit. Then, without firing a single gun, he gave up this fort to the English. This surrender was a great loss to the Americans for many reasons.
There was, in the west, a bold Indian warrior whose name was Tecumseh. He had a brother whom the Indians called the Prophet, because he was a medicine man and could do wonderful things.
TECUMSEH.TECUMSEH.
These two Indians wished to form a union of all the tribes from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. They hoped that in this way they might prevent the white settlers from taking their hunting grounds.
"The white men are continually driving the redpeople toward the west; by and by we shall be driven into the Great Water," they said.
The governor-general of Canada made the Indians many promises, and tried to incite them against the United States. In this way he persuaded many warlike tribes to give aid to the English. Tecumseh himself crossed into Canada and joined the British army under General Proctor.
After Hull's surrender of Detroit, the British and Indians took possession not only of that fort, but also of Fort Dearborn, where Chicago now stands. The territory of Michigan was completely in their hands, and the settlers along the lakes and all through the northwest were at the mercy of the Indians.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
General William Henry Harrison tried to regain Detroit. His advance guard was met and defeated at the River Raisin, a few miles south of Detroit. Every American prisoner was murdered by the Indians; and for years afterward the River Raisin was a name of horror.
The Americans felt that something desperate must be done. The first great thing to be gained was the control of the lakes.
At this time nearly the whole of the western country was a wilderness. The only way of moving men and supplies from place to place, was by the use of boats on the lakes and water courses.
On Lake Ontario a small fleet had been built, and a skirmish or two had been fought. But the thing of most importance was the control of Lake Erie. This would not only give back Detroit to the Americans, but would also be the means of recovering the whole of the Michigan territory.
The task of building a fleet and driving the English from the lakes was given to Lieutenant Perry.
At the beginning of the war he had left his quiet home in Newport, and had hurried to Washington to ask for active service.
He was promised the first vacancy, but in the meantime he was ordered to protect the harbors of Long Island Sound with a flotilla of gunboats.
During the year 1812 he performed this dutyfaithfully, all the while drilling his men, in hopes of being intrusted with a larger responsibility.
In February, 1813, Lieutenant Perry was ordered to go to Lake Erie. He was to take with him, from his gunboats, the men whom he thought best fitted for the service and report to Commodore Chauncey, who was in command of the squadron on Lake Ontario. The American headquarters, on that lake, were at Sacketts Harbor.
It was almost impossible to reach the place. From the Hudson River to the shores of Lake Ontario, was a vast wilderness. No road had been cut through it; none but Indians could follow the difficult trails.
The only route known to the white men was along the Mohawk River to Lake Oneida, then by the Oswego River to the little village of Oswego on Lake Ontario. To transport men and arms along this route was a great task, requiring much time, skill, and patience.
Oliver Perry was a man of action. On the very day that he received his orders, he started fifty men to Lake Ontario, and the next day fifty more.
On February 22d, in the coldest part of winter, he left his home and his young wife in Newport, and with his brother Alexander, began the difficult journey towards the north.
Sometimes they traveled in rude sleighs over the roughest of roads. Sometimes, when the river was not too full of ice, they embarked in canoes. At other times, they could only go on foot through the thick underbrush. On all sides was a vastwilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and unfriendly Indians.
At Oswego, they embarked in boats and followed the shore of Lake Ontario to Sacketts Harbor. On one side of them was the dreary inland sea full of tossing white caps and overhung by the leaden sky of winter. On the other side lay the trackless forest.
To relieve their loneliness, they occasionally fired a musket. The echoes would roll along the shore, growing fainter and fainter. This only made the silence which followed seem greater than before.
A cold rain began to fall, and by the time they reached Sacketts Harbor they were drenched to the skin.
On March 16th, Lieutenant Perry set out for Lake Erie. Upon reaching the harbor at Erie he found that twenty-five ship carpenters had already begun work on three gunboats and two brigs. Fifty more carpenters had started four weeks before from Philadelphia, but had not yet arrived.
The task which lay before Oliver Perry seemed almost an impossible one. Mechanics, seamen,guns, sailcloth,—everything needed for the ships must be brought hundreds of miles through a wild and half-settled country.
But by the end of the summer, a fleet, which seemed to have been built by magic, was ready to meet the English. Six months before, the timbers used in building the vessels had been growing trees; the iron that held these timbers together was either in the mines or in warehouses or farmers' barns, in the shape of plowshares, axes, or horseshoes.
The shipbuilders had come through the wilderness from Philadelphia. The guns, ammunition, and rigging had been brought in ox-wagons, hundreds of miles over almost impassable roads.
While Perry was building this fleet, a sad event had taken place on the sea. The British frigateShannonmet and captured the American frigateChesapeake, June 1, 1813, near Boston harbor.
CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.
Captain Lawrence of theChesapeakefought bravely, but, in the battle, was mortally wounded. As he was beingcarried below, his last words were: "Don't give up the ship!"
The Secretary of the Navy sent word to Lieutenant Perry to name one of the vessels of his new fleet theLawrence, after this gallant captain. Lieutenant Perry therefore gave this name to his flagship.
By the 10th of July the fleet was ready for sea, but there were only officers and men enough to man one ship. Several of these were ill with fever.
Lieutenant Perry wrote many letters to General Harrison, Commodore Chauncey, and the Secretary of the Navy.
"Give me men, and I will acquire both for you and for myself honor and glory on this lake, or die in the attempt," he said.
By the end of July he had over four hundred men for his nine vessels. But, as he said, they were a "motley crew" of regular soldiers, negroes, and raw recruits. During the battle which followed, over a hundred of these men were too sick to be of any use.
The English fleet of six vessels was commandedby Captain Barclay. In his crews were over five hundred men and boys.
Early in August the American squadron left the harbor of Erie, and sailed to Put-in-Bay, an island not far from the west end of the lake.
The British squadron was in the harbor of Fort Malden, nearly opposite on the Canadian shore.
On the morning of September 10, 1813, from the masthead of theLawrence, the English fleet was seen approaching.
As the Americans were sailing out to battle, Lieutenant Perry gathered his men together and talked to them about the courage they would need.
He showed them a large blue flag, bearing in white letters a foot high the words: "Don't give up the ship!"
"My brave lads," he said, "this flag bears the last words of Captain Lawrence. Shall I hoist it?"
With one voice, the men shouted: "Aye, aye, sir!"
As the bunting was run up on theLawrence, cheer upon cheer came from every vessel of the American squadron. The men were then sent to their quarters, and every one quietly waited for the beginning of battle.
It was a beautiful morning. The sky was cloudless, and there was hardly a ripple to disturb the lake. The English vessels were newly painted, and gayly adorned with flags. Every sail shone in dazzling whiteness in the sunlight.
At half-past ten a bugle was heard from the English flagship, which was followed by cheers from the other vessels. Across the water the Americans could hear the strains of the English national air played by a band.
On theLawrenceall was still. With determined faces the men stood by the guns.
Lieutenant Perry knew that a great responsibility was upon him. He knew that, should he lose the battle, General Proctor and Tecumseh, with five thousand soldiers and Indians, were ready tocross the lake, and take possession of the southern shore. All through that part of the country, anxious men, women, and children were waiting to flee from their homes, if the dreaded Indians came upon them.
These things Lieutenant Perry knew. He passed along the deck, carefully examining every gun. He had a word of encouragement for each gun crew.
Seeing some of the men who had fought on theConstitution, he said, "I need not say anything to you. You know how to beat those fellows."
As he passed another gun, commanded by a crew that had served in his gunboat flotilla, he said: "Here are the Newport boys! They will do their duty, I warrant."
In this way he filled all his men with a great earnestness, and a determination to conquer or die.
While the two squadrons were yet a mile apart, the English sent a cannon ball skimming over the water. For some time there followed a vigorous firing from both sides.
As the English guns could carry farther thanthose of the Americans, Lieutenant Perry brought his flagship into close quarters. The other American vessels were some distance behind.
The whole British squadron then opened fire upon theLawrence.
At the end of an hour of this unequal battle, the condition of theLawrencewas pitiable. One by one the guns had been disabled. Finally only one on the side toward the enemy could be used. The rigging was damaged, the spars were shattered, and the sails were torn into shreds. Eighty-three men had been killed or wounded.
Two musket balls passed through Lieutenant Perry's hat, and his clothing was torn by flying splinters.
One heavy shot crushed into the large china closet, and smashed every dish with a great clatter. A dog, that had been locked up there, startled by the noise, added to the tumult by howling dismally.
Several times theLawrencebarely escaped being blown up. Two cannon balls passed entirely through the powder magazine.
Even the wounded men crawled upon the deck to lend a feeble hand in firing the guns. It was Oliver Perry himself, however, that loaded and fired the last gun of theLawrence.
Lieutenant Perry at last determined to change his flag from theLawrenceto theNiagara. A breeze had sprung up, which enabled this vessel to come near to the helplessLawrence.
The first lieutenant was left in command of theLawrence, with orders to hold out to the last. Then with his brother Alexander and four seamen, Lieutenant Perry got into a rowboat. Just as they were shoving off, a seaman on theLawrencehauled down the blue flag, bearing the motto, "Don't give up the ship!" He rolled it up and tossed it to Perry.
The smoke of the battle was so dense that the rowboat had nearly reached theNiagarabefore it was seen by the English. Then a shot was sent which went straight through the boat's side.
Taking off his coat and rolling it up, Perry quickly thrust it into the hole which the ball had made. This kept the boat from sinking.
As he stepped upon the deck of theNiagara, Perry ordered the blue flag to be hoisted. Just at this moment theLawrencesurrendered.
THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
The English gave a cheer, thinking they had won the battle. They were not able, however, to board and take theLawrenceat once, and so she drifted away. When safely out of range her colors were rehoisted.
Bringing theNiagarainto position, Lieutenant Perry fired a terrific broadside into one of the English vessels. Then he sailed quickly to another and did the same thing.
The other American vessels followed this example, and a terrific battle followed.
In just fifteen minutes the English surrendered. Two vessels of their squadron attempted to escape, but were soon overtaken and captured.
Lieutenant Perry was determined that the formal surrender should take place on theLawrence. So once more he lowered his flag, and jumping into a boat, made for his first flagship.
When he stepped on board theLawrencenot a cheer was heard. The handful of men that were left silently greeted their commander.
Few of them were uninjured. Some had splintered arms and legs. Others had bandages about their heads. Their faces were black with powder.
The English officers came on board to present their swords to Perry. With quiet dignity he returned each one.
He then took from his pocket an old letter. Using his cap for a desk, he wrote with a pencil his famous dispatch to General Harrison:
"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."
The battle on Lake Erie was the beginning of the end of the war. The news of the victory caused great rejoicings all over the country. In all the principal towns there were meetings, bonfires, and torchlight processions.
General Harrison could now take his army into Canada. No time was lost. He hurried over four thousand men to the lake, where Perry's fleet waited to take them across.
The main body of the British army, under General Proctor and Tecumseh, was at Fort Malden. Upon landing there the Americans found that the enemy had fled, having burned the forts, barracks, and stores.
General Harrison followed the English up the left bank of the Detroit River. The fort at Detroit was surrendered without any resistance, and the English retreated along the St. Clair Lake and up the Thames River.
The Americans steadily pursued them. Perry,with his fleet, followed the army, carrying the baggage and provisions.
He became so excited over the chase that he could not remain quietly on his ships. So, leaving them in charge of one of his officers, he went ashore and offered his services to General Harrison as aid-de-camp.
As he joined the army he was met with cheers of welcome from the soldiers. General Harrison afterward said: "The appearance of the gallant Perry cheered and animated every soldier."
Following the English some distance up the Thames, the Americans finally overtook them. They were drawn up in line of battle on a narrow strip of land which lay between the river and a large swamp.
The American cavalry made a bold dash through these lines, and the enemy was soon routed. Over sixty British and Indians were killed, and six hundred troops were made prisoners. General Proctor made his escape, but Tecumseh was killed.
The death of this great chief severed forever thetie which bound the Indians to the English. Soon afterwards all the tribes of the northwest declared submission to the United States. The white settlers in the region about the Great Lakes were thus freed from their fear of the savages.
During the battle of the Thames, the soldiers greatly admired the fine horsemanship of Oliver Perry. He rode a powerful black horse, with a white face, that could be seen from all parts of the field.
Once, when riding swiftly to carry out some orders of the general's, the horse plunged into the deep mire to his breast. Perry pressed his hands on the pommel of the saddle, and sprang over the horse's head to dry ground.
Relieved from the weight of his rider, the horse freed himself and bounded forward. Perry clutched the mane as he passed and vaulted into the saddle, without stopping the animal's speed for a moment. As he passed the soldiers, many cheers arose.
On October 7, 1813, Perry returned to Detroit, and from there started back to his home in Newport.The people hailed him with joy, and enough could not be said in his praises. Even Captain Barclay of the English fleet called him "The gallant and generous enemy."
His journey to Newport was indeed a triumphal one. In every town that he passed through, business was stopped and the schools were closed so that all could have a glimpse of the hero of Lake Erie. Processions accompanied him from town to town.
On November 18th, he reached his home in Newport. Bells were rung, all the ships were adorned with flags, and salutes were fired in his honor.