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BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.

K*

USHER PARSONS' DISCOURSE,

i •

DELIVEREn BEFORE THE
*

RHODE-ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

JHonlraa, iiebrtwrjj 16, 1852.

SECOND EDITION.

BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.

DISCOURSE.

£>ELIYEBED BEFORE THE

EHODE-ISLAMD HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

ON THE EVENING OF

SHonfoctg, iicbraarg 18, 1852.

BY USHER PARSONS.
 HI

PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SOCIETY.

PROVIDENCE:
BENJAMIN T. ALBRO, PRINTER.
1854.

DISCOURSE.

The Rhode Island Historical Society having requested me to
prepare a discourse for this their anniversary public meeting, I
have chosen for my subject a history of the Battle of Lake Erie.
I have made this choice, first, because this battle is a part of
Rhode-Island History, and therefore appropriate to the occasion ;
secondly, because I could speak of it from personal knowledge ;
and thirdly, because a very inaccurate and perverted account of
it has been written and imposed upon the public by the. late J.
Fenimore Cooper, Esquire. I am aware that this gentleman's
mistakes and misrepresentations should have been noticed and
corrected before his decease, and my apology for the delay is
that I never saw the pamphlet containing them, nor knew of its
existence, until within a few days past, and after commencing
this discourse.
My aim will be to give an account of the origin of the fleet or
squadron on the lake ; of its conflict with the British squadron,
of the consequences, immediate and remote, and in conclusion
to notice some of Mr. Cooper's erroneous positions and false in
ferences. At the commencement of the war of 1812, Government un
dertook the conquest of Upper Canada. General Hull was at
the head of an army at Detroit, and General Van Rensselaer of
another on the Niagara river. The former was captured, and
the latter defeated. At this time, the British held possession of
Lake Erie, with five armed vessels, and had captured the Adams,
the only armed vessel we owned upon the Lake. Their ves
sels, carrying sailors and Indians, could at any moment strike a

fatal blow upon any defenceless settlement ore the South side of
the lake, and while the militia were gathering to oppose them,
they could pounce upon another and another. Tbe surrender of
Hull exposed the territory at the- head of the lake to incursions
by land, and am attempt to oppose them resulted in the capture
of General Winchester's army. These three fruitless and disas
trous expeditions taught the necessity of creating a fleet on Lake
Erie, that should command it, and co-operate with General
Harrison, who then commanded the North Western army. Ac
cordingly in the winter of 1812 — 13r the keels of five vessels
were laid at Erie ; at the same time four or five merchant-
schooners, being all that were then owned by us on the lake, were
purchased and armed with two or three guns each.
There are good reasons, I may here remark, for considering
the operations on Lake Erie as a part of Rhode-Island history.
At the commencement of the war, there was a flotilla of gun
boats stationed at Newport for the protection of Narragansett
Bay, which was comrnamded by Oliver H. Perry r a native of this*
State, then 27 years of age. The interruption of" ©ommerce by
the war, had thrown many captains, mates and seamen out of
employ, who entered the public service in this flotilla. The ser
vice here being inactive, Perry volunteered for She lakes,, and
was ordered to superintend the out-fitting of the fleet at Lake
Erie. He took with him many ofthe officers and seamen from
Newport, and arrived at Erie in March, 1813. This J accounts
for there being so many Rhode-Islanders in the expedition.. —
Four of the nine commanders, Perry, Turner, €hamplin, and
Almy were from this State, also a majority of tlie sailing masters'
and mates, and several other officers, with a large number of
sailors. Besides this, Commodore Perry, Lieutentant Turner,.
late a post-captain, sailing-master Taylor, now a post-captain in
Newport, superintended the rigging and equipping and arming
ofthe fleet. There has never been an expedition set on foot in
this country, where so large a portion of the officers halted from
one State, or accomplished so much work, as- was done by Rhode
Islanders on Lake Erie.
In May, 1813, Perry left Erie in a four-oared boat for Buffalo,
where he arrived in twenty-four hours, the distance being 100

miles. From thence he proceeded to Lake Ontaria, and there
rendered important services to Commodore Chauncy in the cap
ture of Fort George. On his way there, he stopped at Black
Rock, near Buffalo, to hasten the arming and outfitting of the
five merchant schooners, and on his way back to Erie he took
with him from Chauncy's fleet a few men, and borrowed two
companies of infantry from the army, with which he manned
the vessels and sailed to Erie. It was a Herculean labor to drag
these vessels by land up the rapids at Black Rock into the Lake,
and required nearly a week with two hundred men, who warped
them with ropes over their shoulders. Soon after getting safely
into the Lake off Buffalo, we sailed for Erie. On the day fol
lowing, Captain Perry was taken down with a fever. On the
next succeeding day, a small boat with two men appeared under
the lake-shore, rowing toward our vessels. They brought us
intelligence from Erie that the enemy had just appeared there,
and was probably in pursuit of us. Perry immediately took the
deck, and gave orders to the other vessels to prepare for action,
and to board the enemy should he come near us. Fortunately
we were not discovered, and on the evening of the next day our
little squadron entered Erie in safety.
No one who hears me can form any idea of the difficulties
encountered in obtaining cordage, canvas, cannon, powder and
balls, and all other outfits, which were to be brought to Erie,
mostly from the seaboard, a distance of four or five hundred
miles, over bad roads. Notwithstanding, under the direction of
the Rhode Island officers, the work progressed rapidly and suc
cessfully. A regiment of Pennsylvania militia was tented on a
ground near the shore where our fleet lay ; and whenever the
enemy looked in upon us, at the harbor of Erie, which they did
every few days, this regiment of militia paraded, and made a
formidable appearance upon the high bank of the lake, as a re
pelling force, but in reality, had the enemy approached to de
stroy our fleet they could have done little to prevent it. They
however served as a sort of scare-crow, to frighten him away.
The enemy, on learning that a fleet was preparing to gain pos
session of the lake, had early in the spring laid the keel of a
ship larger than had ever floated upon the lake, which added to

6
their other vessels, made their fleet to consist of the following
force : Detroit, (new ship) nineteen guns ; Queen Charlotte, sev
enteen guns ; Lady Prevost, thirteen guns; Hunter, ten guns ,
Little Belt, three, and the Chippewa, one ; total, sixty-three
guns. The American force consisted of the followmg : Law
rence and Niagara, precisely alike, twenty guns each ; Ariel,
four; Scorpion, two ; Porcupine, one; Tigris, one ; Caledonia,
three ; Somers, two ; Tripp, one ; total, fifty-four guns.
The Fleet was manned by sailors partly from Newport, and
partly from Lake Ontario. The two larger vessels, Lawrence
and Niagara, were built and rigged precisely alike, and carried
132 officers and men, each. By the 10th of July, the guns were
mounted on board all the vessels, and the men were exercised
at them, several times a day.
On Sunday, the 18th of July, two respectable missionaries
who were passing through Erie, were invited by the Commo
dore on board one of the large ships, where as many officers
and men as could be spared from all the vessels were assembled
to hear prayers that were offered up for the success of the expe
dition. I shall never forget their fervent pleadings in our behalf,
that we might subdue the hostile fleet, and thereby wrest from
savage hands the tomahawk and scalping-knife, that had been
so cruelly wielded against the defenceless settlers on the frontiers;
and that in the event of a victory, mercy and kindness might be
shown to the vanquished.
The bar of Erie had thus far served as a fortification to pre
vent the enemy from entering the harbor where our fleet was
preparing, but it now presented a serious obstacle to our egress.
The two large brigs drew three feet of water more than there
was on the bar. On Sunday evening, the 1st August, the work
began of clearing the Lawrence of cannon and balls, to lighten
her ; and immense scows called camels were placed under her
sides, and being sunk to the water's edge, timbers jwere passed
through from side to side of the ship, the ends of which were
blocked up, resting on these floating foundations. Plugs were
now put into the scows, and the water bailed out, and as they
rose they lifted the ship two feet, and this not being enough, the
ballast and other heavy 'articles were taken out, till she was

raised another foot, when she was able to pass over the bar. —
The Niagara was served in like manner, but the smaller vessels
had previously passed over without the aid of camels. Before
the large vessels were fairly over, the enemy hove in sight, and
fired a few balls, which did not reach us. The Pennsylvania
regiment paraded, and the small vessels that were out returned
the enemy's fire. Had they come near enough to do execution
while we were stuggling over the bar, they might have destroyed
Qur fleet with little difficulty.
On the 6th of August we sailed, with the fleet not more than
half-officered or manned, across the lake, wishing to encounter
the enemy before the large new ship joined his squadron ; but,
they had sailed for Maiden, and we returned to Erie the next
day, where we found Captain Elliot, just arrived from Lake
Ontario, with nearly 100 officers and men. A hew arrangement
was now made of officers throughout the fleet, and we soon
sailed up the lake in pursuit of the enemy, and anchored on the
15th, in Put-in-bay, in a cluster of islands near the head of the
lake. On the 17th we sailed to the mouth of Sandusky bay,
and on anchoring fired three guns, waited ten minutes and fired
three more. This was a signal previously agreed upon by let
ters that passed between Perry and Harrison. In the evening,
Colonel Gaines, with a number of officers and Indians, arrived on
board, and reported General Harrison to be twenty-seven miles
distant, with an army of 8000 militia, regulars and Indians. —
Our boats were sent to bring the General and his suite on board,
where they arrived on the 19th, late in a rainy evening. The
General brought his two aids, Colonel McArthur, afterwards
Governor of Ohio, and Colonel Cass, now Senator in Congress,
with many of his principal officers, two hundred soldiers and
fifty Indians, including the chiefs of several nations. They re
mained on board with us two days, to settle the plans of their
future operations. The General learned that our crews were
weakened by sickness, and on returning to the army sent us
some thirty or forty volunteers to serve with our sailors. Our
crews became still more unhealthy, the Commodore and half of
the officers were on the sick list with lake-fever. The two
senior medical officers were confined to their berths, and the

junior one was so reduced by the disease, that in visiting the
sick on board the different vessels, he was unable to climb up
the ship's sides, and he was hoisted in and out like a barrel of
flour or a cask of water.
We now looked into the harbor of Maiden, by way of return
ing the civilities the enemy had shown us at Erie. This kind
of polite attention was repeated two or three times, until the
evening ofthe 9th' of September, when we anchored in Put-in-
bay. On the following morning at sunrise, there was a cry
from the mast-head, sail oh ! all hands sprang from their berths,
and ere we could dress and reach the decks the cry was repeated
again and again, until six sail were thus announced. Signal
was made to the fleet, " Enemy in sight ! get under way !" and
the hoarse voice and shrill pipe of the boatswain resounded
through all the ships, " all hands up anchor !"
The wind at this time was from the Southwest, light and baf
fling, which prevented our weathering the island in our way,
and it continued so until ten o'clock, when it veered to the
Southeast, which enabled us to clear the island, and stand out
upon the lake. We now discovered the English squadron, five
or six miles to the leeward, hove to in a line, and equidistant
about half a cable's length. The vessels were freshly painted,
and with the morning sun shining upon their broadsides, and
their red ensigns gently unfolding to the breeze, they made a
very gallant appearance. Our squadron bore down to engage
them, with the wind on our larboard quarter. They were ar
ranged with the Chippewa, of one long eighteen pounder on a
pivot ahead ; the Detroit of nineteen guns, bearing the broad
pendant of the Commodore, next ; the Hunter of ten guns, the
third ; the Queen Charlotte of seventeen guns, fourth ; the
Lady Prevost of thirteen guns, fifth, and the Little Belt of three
guns, sixth. Captain Perry immediately arranged his line of
battle, with his own ship to fight the Detroit, broad pendant
against broad pendant, Commodore against Commodore. Two
gun-boats, the Ariel and Scorpion, ranged ahead on our larboard
bow, a little out of a straight line. The Caledonia, of three
long twenty-four pounders, came next, after the Lawrence to
encounter the Hunter ; the Niagara next, to fight the Queen

Charlotte, and the Somers, Porcupine, Tigris and Tripp, to en
counter the Lady Prevost and Little Belt. Thus arranged, our
fleet moved on tov attack the enemy, distant at ten o'clock about
four or five miles. The Commodore next produced the burgee,
or fighting flag, hitherto concealed in the ship. It was inscribed
with large white letters upon a blue ground, that could be read
throughout the fleet, "Don't- give up the Ship," — the last
words of the expiring Lawrence, and now to be hoisted at the
mast-head of the flag-ship bearing his name. A spirited appeal
was made to the crew assembled upon the quarter-deck, who
returned three hearty cheers that were repeated along the whole
line of our vessels, and up went the flag to the top of the fore-
royal. The Commodore brought me a package of papers,
having a piece of lead attached to them, and gave orders in the
event of his falling, to throw the papers overboard ; they were
instructions from Government, and letters from Mrs. Perry. —
The grog ration being served out, drums and fifes struck up the
thrilling air, "all hands, all hands, all hands to quarters," calling
all to their respective stations. The Commodore was on the
quarter deck with two young officers, Thomas Breese and his
own brother, Alexander Perry, whose duty it was to run with
his orders to every part of the ship ; for in the din and uproar
of battle no officer can be heard ten feet off. The hatches were
now closed excepting a small aperture ten inches square, through
which powder-cartridges were to be passed up from the maga
zine by boys nimble of foot during the battle, and through
which light was admitted into the surgeon's room, where the
wounded were to be brought. The floor of this apartment was
on a level with the surface ofthe water outside, and consequent
ly the wounded were as much exposed to the enemy's cannon
balls as if they were on deck. Six men were directed to bring
the wounded below, and to assist the surgeon in moving them.
Every preparation being made, and every man at his post, a
profound silence reigned for more than one hour, — the most try
ing part of the whole scene. It was like the stillness of the
atmosphere that precedes the hurricane. The fleet moved on
steadily till a quarter before meridian, when the awful suspense
was relieved by a cannon-shot aimed at us from the flag-ship

10
Detroit, one mile distant. It was like an electric shock, and
was soon followed by another. The two gun-boats ahead of
us now fired one or two long guns. At this time the Ariel,
Scorpion, Lawrence, Caledonia and Niagara were all in their
respective stations in the order they are named, distant from each
other about half a cable's length. The other vessels, not sailing
quite so well, were a little out of their stations astern. At ten
minutes before twelve, fire was opened from all the long guns
of the enemy. At five minutes before the meridian, the Law
rence beginning to suffer, returned the fire from her long bow
gun, a twelve pounder, when the two gun boats ahead were or
dered by trumpet, to commence the action, and the Caledonia
and Niagara astern, opened their fire with their long guns, The
sternmost vessels soon after opened also, but at too great a dis
tance to do much injury. Perry finding himself not sufficiently
near to do execution with his carronades, made all sail again, and
ordered the word to be passed by trumpet to the vessels astern.
The order was responded to and transmitted along the line by
Captain Elliot of the Niagara, whose vessel was stationed next
but one astern of the Lawrence. But the Niagara did not make
sail with the Lawrence, and accompany her down into close ac
tion as ordered, but continued her long shot with two bow guns,
(having shifted the left one over to the starboard side.) Perry
pressed on, and supposing himself near enough, fired his forward
carronades, but finding they did not tell, he pressed on still near
er, suffering terribly, and getting near enough for execution he
opened a rapid and most destructive fire upon the Detroit. The
Scorpion and Ariel ahead were not deemed worthy of the ene
my's aim, yet those small vessels having heavy cannon fought
nobly and with great effect. The Caledonia astern followed
the Lawrence into close action against her antagonist the Hunt
er. But the Niagara, which, when ihe battle began was within
hail of the Lawrence, did not follow her down toward the ene
my's line, so as to encounter her antagonist the Queen Charlotte.
The Niagara, I say, did not make sail when the Lawrence did,
but hung back for two hours, when she should have followed
the example of the Lawrence, and grappled with the Queen
Charlotte at the same time that vessel did the Detroit. The

11
Queen was expecting it, but as her antagonist did not come up,
she shot ahead to fire upon the Lawrence, and in so doing she
passed the Hunter, that had been ahead between her and the
Detroit. After a lapse of two hours Elliot filled his sails and
came up, the Caledonia moved on towards the Hunter, which
had now dropped astern and to the leeward of the Queen. —
EUiot in order to approach the Queen must pass the Caledonia,
which he did to the windward or outside of her. and was ap
proaching the Lawrence, which, however, was crippled and was
dropping astern a perfect wreck. Elliot then, instead of passing
directly down to engage the Queen, luffed to the windward to
go round and outside of the Lawrence, and while abreast of her
larboard beam, and nearly half a mile distant, Perry left the
Lawrence for the Niagara in a boat, and boarded her when she
had reached a little ahead of the Lawrence on her larboard bow.
The Lawrence now hauled down her flag and ceased firing. —
Perry sent Elliot to the small vessels astern to bring them up,
and turning his ship's head eight points towards the enemy's
line, making a right angle in her course, lie went within pistol-
shot of the Detroit's bow, and took a raking position. The De
troit in attempting to wear to bring her broadside to her, fell on
board the Queen Charlotte, and gave Perry a chance to rake
both ships, which he did so effectually that in five minutes they
hauled down their colors. Perry now shot further ahead near
the Lady Prevost, which from being crippled in her rudder, had
drifted out of her place to the leeward, and was pressing forward
toward the head of the line to support the two ships. Perry
gave her a broad-side which silenced her battery. The Hunter
next struck, and the two smaller vessels attempted to escape, but
were overhauled by the Scorpion and Tripp, and thus ended the
action at near four o'clock, P. M.
Let us now advert for a moment to the scenes exhibited in
the flag-ship Lawrence. The wounded began to come down
before the Lawrence opened her battery, and for one I felt im
patient at the delay. In proper time however as it proved, the
dogs of war were let loose from their leash, and it seemed as
though heaven and earth were at logger-heads. For more than
two long hours, little could be heard but the deafening thunders

of our own broad-sides, the crash of balls dashing through our
timbers, and the shrieks of the wounded. These were brought
down faster than I could attend to them, farther than to stay the
bleeding, or support the shattered limbs with splints, and pass
them forward upon the berth deck. Two or three were killed
near me, after being wounded. I well remember the complaints
that the Niagara did not come up. " Why does she hang back
so, out of the battle ?" Among those early brought down was
Lieutenant Brooks, son of the late Governor Brooks, of Massa
chusetts, a most accomplished gentleman and officer ; and re
nowned for personal beauty. A cannon-ball had struck him in
the hip, he knew his doom, and inquired how long he should
live ; I told him a few hours. He inquired two or three times
how the day was going, and expressed a hope that the Commo
dore would be spared. But new-comers from deck brought
more and more dismal reports, until finally it was announced
that we had struck. In the lamentations of despair among the
wounded, I lost sight of poor Brooks for a few minutes, but
when the electrifying cry was heard that the enemy's two ships
had struck, I rushed on deck to see if it were true, and then to
poor Brooks to cheer him, but he was no more, — he was too
much exhausted by his wounds to survive the confusion that
preceded this happy transition.
When the battle had raged an hour and a half, I heard a call
for me at the small sky-light, and stepping toward it I saw it
was the Commodore, whose countenance was as calm aud pla
cid as if on ordinary duty. "Doctor," said he, "send me one
of your men," meaning one of the six that were to assist me,
which was done instantly. In five minutes the call was repeat
ed and obeyed, and at the seventh call I told him he had them
all. He asked if any could pull a rope, when two or three of
the wounded crawled upon deck to lend a feeble hand in pulling
at the last guns.
When the battle was raging most severely, Midshipman Lamb
came down with his arm badly fractured ; I applied a splint and
requested him to go forward and lie down ; as he was leaving
me, and while my hand was on him, a cannon-ball struck him
in the side, and dashed him against the other side of the room

13
which instantly terminated his sufferings. Charles Pohig, a
Narragansett Indian, who was badly wounded, suffered in like
manner. There were other incidents that were less painful to witness.
The Commodore's dog had secreted himself in the bottom of
the closet containing all our crockery. A cannon-ball passed
through the closet, and smashed crockery and door, covering the
floor with fragments. The dog set up a barking protest against
the right of such an invasion of his chosen retirement.
Lieutenant Yarnel had his scalp badly torn, and came below
with the blood streaming over his face ; some lint was hastily
applied and confined with a large bandanna, with directions to
report himself for better dressing after the battle, and he insisted
on returning to the deck. The cannon-balls had knocked to
pieces the hammocks stowed away on deck, and let loose their
contents, which were reed or flag tops, that floated in the air
like feathers and gave the appearance of a snow-storm. These
lighted upon Yarnel's head covered with blood, and on coming
below with another injury, his bloody face covered with the cat
tails made his head resemble that of a huge owl. Some of the
wounded roared out with laughter that the devil had come for us.
The hard fighting terminated about three o'clock. As the
smoke cleared away the two fleets were found completely min
gled, the small vessels astern having come up to the others. —
The shattered Lawrence lying to the windward was once more
able to hoist her flag, which was cheered by a few feeble voices
on board, making a melancholy sound compared with the bois
terous cheers that preceded the battle.
The proud though painful duty of taking possession of the
conquered ships was now performed. The Detroit was nearly
dismantled, and the destruction and carnage had been dreadful.
The Queen was in a condition little better. The whole num
ber killed in the British fleet was forty-one, and of wounded
ninety-four. Every commander and second in command, says
Barclay in his official report, was either killed or wounded. In
•our fleet were twenty-seven killed, and ninety-six wounded ; of
the twenty-seven killed, twenty-two were on board the Law
rence, and of the ninety-six wounded, sixty-one were on board

It
this same ship, making eighty-three killed and wounded out of
one hundred and one reported fit for duty in the Lawrence
on the morning of the battle. On board the Niagara were two
killed and twenty-three wounded, making twenty-five ; and out
of these twenty-five, twenty-two were killed or wounded after
Perry took command of her.
About four o'clock, a boat was discovered approaching the
Lawrence. Soon the Commodore was recognized in her; who
was returning to resume the command of his tattered ship, de
termined that the remnant of her crew should have the satisfac
tion of witnessing the formal surrender of the British officers. —
It was a time of conflictng emotions when he stepped upon
deck ; the battle was won and he was safe, but the deck was
slippery with blood, and strewn with the bodies of twenty offi
cers and men, some of whom had set at table with us at our
last meal, and the ship resounded everywhere with the groans
of the wounded. Those of us who were spared and able to
walk, met him at the gangway to welcome him on board, but
the salutation was a silent one on both sides ; not a word could
find utterance.
And now the British oflicers arrived, one from each vessel, to
tender their submission, and with it their swords. "When they
had approached, picking their way among the wreck and car
nage of the deck, they held their swords with the hilts toward
Perry, and tendered them to his acceptance. With a dignified
and solemn air, the most remote possible from any betrayal of
exultation, and in a low tone of voice, he requested them to re
tain their side-arms, inquired with deep concern for Commodore
Barclay and the wounded officers,, tendering to them every com
fort his ship afforded," and expressing his regret that he had not
a spare medical officer to send them, adding that he had only
one on duty for the fleet, who had his hands full.
Among the ninety-six wounded there occurred three deaths ;
a result so favorable was attributable to the plentiful supply of
provisions brought off from the Ohio shore, to fresh air the
wounded being ranged under an awning on the deck until we
arrived at Erie ten days after the action, and also to the devoted
attention of Commodore Perry to «very want.

15
Those who were killed in the battle were committed to the
deep at night-fall, the Episcopal service being read over them.
On the following morning, the two fleets sailed into Put-in-bay,
where the slain officers were buried on shore. The scene was
a solemn one. Equal respect was paid to the slain of the two
fleets. Minute-guns were fired from the fleet, a martial band
preceded, performing a funeral dirge, and the corpses were
ranged in alternate order of American and British, and the pro
cession followed in like order to the graves, where the funeral
service was read. A striking contrast this to the scene presented
two days before, when both the living and the dead now form
ing this solemn and fraternal train were engaged in fierce and
bloody strife, hurling at each other the thunder-bolts of war. —
When will Christian nations learn to act like consistent Chris
tians ?
On the 8th day after the action, the Lawrence was despatched
to Erie with the wounded, where we received a cordial welcome
and kind hospitality. The remainder of the fleet conveyed Har
rison's army to Maiden, and some of the vessels ascended the
Detroit river. Harrison found the army of General Proctor had
gone, after burning the public stores, and had retreated toward
the Thames. Perry joined Harrison as a volunteer aid, and our
troops pursued, overtook and captured the army, the only army
that was captured during the war. Proctor escaped, his com
panion Tecumseh, there is every reason to believe was killed,
since a dozen persons claim the honor of firing the fatal ball. —
Perry then accompanied Harrison and Commodore Barclay to
Erio, where they landed amid peals of cannon and the shouts of
the multitude. Perry thence returned to Newport, receiving on
his way the acclamations of a grateful people in every city and
village through which he passed.
In reviewing the incidents of the battle, we must admit that
in several particulars the enemy had hard luck, which contributed
to their defeat and capture. The wind turned in our favor
before the action began. The Commanders of their two vessels
were killed or severely wounded early; the rudder ofthe Lady
Prevost was disabled, which caused her to drift out of the line ;
and worse than this, the running of the Queen against the De-

IG
troit, which prevented her wearing, and exposed both ships to a
raking fire from the thrity-two pound carronades ofthe Niagara,
a fresh ship, and in prime order, — all helped to turn the day in
our favor. To this it should be added that the enemy were
just out of port, and had not been training their guns daily for
weeks, as our men had done, which enabled them to load and
fire with astonishing frequency.
Immediately after the battle, the Commodore despatched to
General Harrison the following note : " Dear General, We have
met the enemy and they are ours, two ships, two brigs, one sloop
and one schooner," adding in a postscript, "send ns some soldiers
to help take care of the prisoners, who are more numerous than
ourselves." At the same time he announced the victory to the
Secretary of the Navy in the following words. " It has pleased
the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal
victory over their enemies on this lake. The British squadron,
consisting of two ships, two brigs, one sloop and one schooner,
have this moment surrendered to the force under my command
after a sharp conflict."
And now followed the more difficult task of making out a de
tailed report, in which Perry must speak of the conduct of the
principal deck-officers ofthe fleet ; a task that was quite as per
plexing to him as the fighting of the battle had been.
The officers of the small vessels came on board the Lawrence
on the second evening from the battle, and all of them, without
exception, expressed but one opinion of the conduct of Elliot, in
keeping out of the battle, that he held back more than two
hours from engaging his antagonist the Queen, that when the
Lawrence was much crippled and began to drop astern, the Ni
agara then came up abreast of her, not between her and the ene
my, but far away outside, much farther from the Lawrence than
the Lawrence was from the enemy, that Perry at this moment
having fought his own ship to the last, entered a boat with five
men, and rowed to the Niagara, and by the time he reached her
she was on the larboard bow of the Lawrence, from a third to
half a mile distant. That he immediately despatched Captain
Elliot to the stern vessels, and turned the Niagara's head to
ward the enemy, so as to make nearly a right angle with the

17
course she had been steering, and crossing the line the Lawrence
was steering, about sixty yards ahead of her, came within pistol-
shot of the enemy's flag-ship Detroit. These facts every officer
agreed to, and the log-book of the Lawrence, written up on the
evening of the battle, and which is the best official document
that could be furnished, states them in about so many words.
Nor did any one suppose that Elliot or any of his officers
would take any ground contrary to these facts. But Elliot per
ceiving their bearing, and to save himself, began to pay court to
Perry. He took to his bed and sent for Dr. Parsons to visit
him ou the second day after the battle, who could discover no
positive disease upon him. He spoke disparagingly of his Sur
geon, remarking that he was sick, and if well was good for noth
ing, and requested Dr. Parsons to attend his wounded, who re
plied that Dr. Barton was a good Surgeon, and in a few days
would be able to return to duty. The wounded were however
all removed on board the Lawrence, now made a general hospi
tal ship, to be sent to Erie. Elliot also sent for Perry while
thus confined to his bed, when he expressed to him his regret
that he had not entered earlier into the action, extolled Perry's
conduct and offered some lame excuse for his own ; and this in
sinuating course induced Commodore Perry, under the gener
ous impulses of his nature, to try to save him. Perry knew
that the officers of all the vessels of the fleet, except the Niaga
ra, had expressed their opinion against Elliot ; and fearing that
their letters to their friends might ruin him, he sent two confi
dential persons, Messrs. Hambleton and Turner, to all the fleet,
to say that he, Perry, though not satisfied with Elliot's con
duct, wished to save him, and requested that they would be si
lent, respecting the fact of his keeping out of battle for more
than two hours, adding, that there was honor enough gained for
the fleet to enable it to save Elliot. They all but one com
plied with this request ; but some of the volunteers from the ar
my were not applied to, and some of their letters, with one from
Yarnel escaped, in which Elliot's conduct was condemned.
Of course when Perry's official report appeared in print, the
officers of the Lawrence were dissatisfied at his saying so much
in favor of Elliot. They had expected that he would not

18
speak of him at all. But Perry had resolved to save him from
public censure, and therefore says in his report, " at half-past
two, the wind springing up, Captain Elliot was enabled to bring
his vessel gallantly into close action. I immediately went on
board of her, when he anticipated my wishes by volunteering
to bring up the schooners into close action." (See Avpendix.)
Beside this desire to save Elliot, Perry was unwilling that the
enemy should know, that the second in command in our squad
ron had failed in his duty. In expressing his doubts to Mr.
Hambleton, his confidential friend, at the time of drawing up
the report, he quoted with approbation the declaration of an
English admiral. " It is better to screen a coward, than to let
the enemy know there is one inthe fleet."
Perry before signing his official report, allowed Elliot to see
what he had written, with which he expressed himself as satis
fied. But the stubborn fact there stated that " at half-past two,
the wind springing up, enabled him to bring his ship gallantly
into action,'! coupled with the inquiry which he foresaw the
public would naturally make, why he did not advance to his
station when the Lawrence pushed forward into hers, both ships
being in all respects alike, and having the same wind, — this
stared him in the face. He applied to Perry to vary that state
ment in some way, so as to screen him. He also immediately
and secretly drew certificates from his own officers, showing that
he had done his duty, which as they belonged to the ship whose
reputation seemed to involve their own, under the moulding in
fluence which a commander always has over his officers, they
were prevailed upon to sign. This was an advantage which
Perry did not avail himself of; for very soon after the battle he
left the fleet for home, unconscious that Elliot was busily at
work in obtaining certificates from his officers. When the cer
tificates ofthe Lawrence's officers were obtained some years
after, not one of them was under Perry's command.
At the same time that Elliot was obtaining these certificates
he was making artful appeals to Perry for stronger expressions
of praise upon his conduct. On the 18th of September, he said
in a note to Perry, that his reputation was suffering in the n eigh-
foorhood of his famiy, and requested a written statement from

19
him as to his conduct in the battle. Perry, not knowing the
insidious course that Elliot was pursuing toward him, wrote a
very favorable letter, supposing he wished to send it to his fam
ily ; doubtless he was irritated by the thought that his wish to
save Elliot had been frustrated. He expressed himself as being
dissatisfied and vexed at being thwarted in his determined pur
pose, and in this state of mind, and moved by the pathetic ap
peal of Elliot, he wrote him the following letter. "Sept. 19, 1813.
"Dear Sir, I received your note last evening after I had turned in, or I should
have answered it immediately. I am indignant that any report should be in cir
culation prejudicial to your character, as respects the action of the 10th instant.
It affords me pleasure that I have it in my power to assure you, that the con
duct of yourself, oflicers, and crew was such as to meet my warmest approbation.
And I consider the circumstance of your volunteering and bringing the smaller
vessels into closer action, as contributing largely to our victory. I shall ever be
Ueve it a premeditated plan of the enemy to disable our commanding vessel, by
bringing all their force to bear upon her ; and I am satisfied, had they not pur
sued their course, the engagement would not have lasted thirty minutes. I have
no doubt, if the Charlotte had not made sail and engaged the Xawrence, the Ni
agara would have taken her in twenty minutes. Respectfully, &c. O. IT. PERRY."
This may be regarded as a rope thrown to a drowning man,
but whi;h instead of saving Elliot, enabled him to pull Perry
overboard. In a letter to his friend Hambleton, a few months after, when
he heard of Elliot's intrigues, Perry says, " I was sensible on
reflection, I had already said too much in my official report." —
" Subsequently I became involved in his snares ; and on his
writing me a note of which he has published only a part, I was
silly enough to write him in reply the foolish letter of the 19th
of September, because I thought it necessary to persevere in
endeavoring to save him." " This undoubtedly reflects on my
head, but not on my heart. I was willing enough to share with
him and others the fame I had acquired." Again he says, " It
was a matter of great doubt when I reflected upon Elliot's con
duct, to what to attribute his keeping so long out of action." —
" I did not then know enough of human nature to believe that
any one could be so base as to be guilty of the motive which
some ascribed to him, namely, a determination to sacrifice me
hy keeping his vessel out of the conflict."

20
Learning that Elliot persisted in his intrigues, aiming to ele*
vate himself at the expense of his Commander who had endeav
ored to save him, Perry spoke of him as one who would find it
for his interest to say less about Lake Erie, as he would injure
himself by bringing before the public eye a different and truer
representation of his conduct than had hitherto been given.—
Some of his remarks of this nature reached Elliot's ear, upon
which he sent Perry a challenge with an insulting note, who
responded, that he would be entitled to a meeting when he had
cleared himself from the charges about to be forwarded to the
Secretary of the Navy. Accompanying the charges was a letter
from Perry, explanatory of his whole course of action towards
Captain Elliot from and after the battle, a few extracts from which
are inserted. He says, " At the moment of writing my Official
Report I did in my own mind avoid coming to any conclusion
to what cause the conduct of Captain Elliot was to be imputed :
Nor was I then fully acquainted with all the circumstances re
lating to it." * * "I was, after the engagement commenced,
necessarily too much engaged in the actual scene before me, to
reflect deliberately upon the cause which could induce Captain
Elliot to keep his vessel so distant both from me and the enemy.
And, after the battle was won, I felt no disposition rigidly to
examine into the conduct of any of the officers of the fleet ;
and, strange as the behaviour of Captain Elliot had been, yet I
could not allow myself to come to a decided opinion."
" The subsequent conduct also of Captain Elliot ; the readi
ness with which he undertook the most minute services ; the
unfortunate situation in which he now stood, which he lamented
to me, and his marked endeavors to conciliate protection, were
calculated to have their effect. But, still more than all, I was
actuated by a strong desire that, in the fleet I then had the hon
or to command, there should be nothing but' harmony after the
victory had been gained, and that nothing should transpire which
would bring reproach upon any part of it, or convert into crimi
nation the praises to which it was entitled, and which I wished
all to share and enjoy. The difficulties produced in my mind
by- these considerations were, at the time, fully expressed to an
officer of the fleet, in whom 1 had great confidence. If I omit-

21
edto name Captain Elliot, or named him without credit, I might
not only ruin that officer, but at the same time give occasion to
animadversions which, at that 'period, I thought would be little
to the honor or advantage of the service. If my Official Report
of that transaction is reverted to, these embarrassments with re
spect to Captain Elliot, under which I labored in drawing it,
will, I believe, be apparent. That report was very different
from what had been expected by the officers of the fleet ; but,
having adopted the course which I thought most prudent to pur
sue with regard to Captain Elliot, . I entreated them to acquiesce
in it, and made every exertion in my power to prevent any far
ther remarks on his conduet, and even furnished him with a fa
vorable letter or certificate for the same purpose, of which he has
since made a very unjustifiable use." These extracts are inser
ted out of their place, in order to show what Perry's opinion of
him was during the five years after he left Lake Erie.
Perry's life was saved amid the carnage of his own ship, and
he was enabled to come off victorious in the fresh ship whieh
Elliot had reserved from danger, in order that he might pluck
the laurels with his own hand. The conduct of Elliot, although
it doomed the Lawrence to a dreadful slaughter and prolonged
the conflict, was not after all an unmixed evil in its consequen
ces. The Niagara was in perfect order for Perry when he
boarded her, and in much better condition than she could have
been had she engaged her antagonist early in the fight.
There is probably not to be found inthe history of naval war
fare an instance where the heroism of one man has shone with
such transcendant lustre over all others, as that of Perry in the
battle of Lake Erie. After fighting his own ship till eighty-
three were killed or wounded out of one hundred and one, he
goes to a fresh ship of the' same size having only three men in
jured, and takes her into the thickest of the fight, and in seven
minutes adds twenty-two to the list, making one hundred and
five killed and wounded on the decks on which he stood, while
the whole number injured on the deck where Elliot stood was
but three. Then as one hundred and five is to three, so was
the danger to which Perry was exposed, compared with Elliot's
exposure.

22
On the other hand,, there is no other instance on record where
the second in command has done so little to secure a victory. —
Elliot arrived on the lake after the labor of building, arming,
rigging, and equipping the fleet, a most difficult and perplexing
task, had been performed by Perry, Turner and Taylor of Rhode
Island. He sails at once in a ship of the same size and model
and armament, as the flag-ship. Instead of engaging his antag
onist as ordered, he hangs back, firing one or two king bow
guns, which were the only ones that could reach his antagonist;
he hugs the wind, going far away outside of the line, — he then
leaves her with only three men injured, to bring up the dull-
sailing vessels in the rear, which, with the aid of sweeps, they
had nearly done of themselves before he readied them ; — he
was probably about as long a time in rowing to these several-
vessels as Perry was in reaching the Detroit within pistol dis
tance ; — the victory was gained in a few minutes after, and
there was no one injured in the small vessels while he, Elliot,.
was on board of them.
Prejudiced if not hireling writers, among whom was the late
J. Fenimore Cooper, whose Naval History contains mistakes
and mis-statements, have endeavored to retrieve Elliot's reputa
tion by asserting that the friends of Perry were not reliable
witnesses in the case. He intimates that Dr. Parsons' testimony
shows a strong bias against Elliot, because he testifies some
years after the battle, that when called on board the Niagara to
attend their wounded two days after the action, (theii- surgeon
being sick,) he inquired at what time in the action they were
wounded. Cooper wished to convey the idea that the Doctor
was actuated in this inquiry of the wounded by a desire to draw
from them evidence against Elliot. Now it happens that the
Doctor's motive for making the inquiry was altogether foreign
from what Cooper has falsely imputed. He had not the most
distant idea of ever being called upon for a written or even a
verbal statement relating to the matter. His motive was this
and only this. The wounded of the Niagara had lain more
than forty hours with their wounds undressed, and each one
was impatient and clamorous for first attendance. But as ho
could not dress all at once, it was necessary to adopt some rule

that should be equitable, and stop their clamor for some hours ;
and this rule was, to take them in the order of succession in
which they fell ; and in making the inquiry who were first
wounded, two reported themselves as wounded before Perry
came on board. Others would have reported in like manner if
they could have done it, but it was conceded by all that these
two were entitled to first attendance, because they were wound
ed before Elliot left the ship, and no others made any such pre
tension. It was necessary to adopt the same rule of succession
in the Lawrence the day previous, and he so stated the fact in
a surgical account of the battle published soon after it took place,
and before the controversy between Perry and Elliot appeared
before the public. Was it fair and honorable in Cooper to as
sign false motives for his conduct in this matter, merely for the
purpose of bolstering the reputation of Elliot ?
Again, Cooper intimates that the testimony of several officers
in favor of Perry should be received with much caution; that
Messrs. Parsons, Breese, Taylor, Champlin and Brownell appear
to have been natives of Rhode-Island, and to have accompanied
Perry when he left the State ; that they were consequently par
tisan witnesses, and not entitled to confidence. Now it happens
that Dr. Parsons never saw Rhode-Island, nor a Rhode-Island
citizen, until he met these gallant fellows on the Lake, although
Cooper reiterates the charge not less than five times in the
pamphlet. Not one of these officers was ever requested by
Perry or any other person to express an opinion respecting the
battle, during the five years next after it occurred, and not even
then, while under his eommandand influence.; whilst the certifi
cates ofthe officers of the Niagara, Elliot hastened to obtain
immediately after the action, and when the certifiers were under
his command, and. subject to his capricious discipline. Their
ship being in bad odor with the public, (although their own
good conduct had never been questioned,) it was natural that
they should endeavor to place her commander's conduct before
Perry boarded her, in as favorable a light as possible. Elliot
began his intrigues with them by representing to Purser Ma-
grath and Sailing-master Webster, that but for his own exertions
and intercessions they would not have been mentioned in Per-

ry's official report ofthe action. Magrath too had about this
time sent an insulting message to Perry, who had given him an
order to execute as Purser, to which he replied that he was not
Commodore Perry's lackey For this disrespect to his command
er he was arrested, but after making a suitable apology, he was
restored to duty.
You will perceive then the origin of Magrath's vindictive course
toward Perry. While smarting under the thought of his arrest,.
and the irritation which Elliot's remarks occasioned, this file-
leader of his certifiers, wrote the letter extolling Elliot, to the
Secretary of the Navy, — a distorted version of the battle pub
lished in the Erie Gazette, — his own certificate, and last but not
least, the congratulatory address of the Niagara's officers to
Elliot. But after a few months' calm reflection, Mr. Magrath
said, in my hearing, that he wished his fingers had been cut off
before he signed those papers ; and Mr. Brownell testifies under
oath that he wished his hand had been cut off first. A few
months later Magrath disobeyed an order from Commodore Sin
clair, for which he was required to deliver up his commission as
purser and to leave the service ; which foe did, and a few weeks
after he blew his brains out. Such was the end of the princi
pal witness and prime actor in favor of Elliot ; yet Mr. Cooper
extols him without stint, as the most reliable witness in the whole
controversy. In like manner, Lieutenant Conklin, the only commander of
the small vessels from whom Elliot's importunity drew a certifi
cate in his favor, expressed regret months afterward in my hear
ing, that he had ever given it, stating that it was obtained under
the plea that it was to be shown to Mrs. Elliot and other rela
tives only, who had heard unfavorable reports of his conduct. 
This gentleman was afterwards dismissed from the service on
the charge of intemperance. The other Commanders of the
small vessels expressed opinions against Elliot, most of them un
der oath. Thus you will perceive that the testimony of the
Commanders ofthe small vessels was in favor of Perry and
against Elliot.
Cooper represents Dr. Parsons several times as a partisan Wit
ness. " Two accounts » he says "ofthe loss of the Niagara

have been given ; thai of the official report, and, that of her own
Surgeon. The former was based on returns made to Elliot by
Dr. Parsons, and that he endeavors to lessen the loss of this brig,
under the influence he so early manifested," (meaning, in ques
tioning the wounded as to the time they wore struck.)*
Mr. Cooper's calumny, of making out a fraudulent return of
the number of killed and wounded in the Niagara for the pur
pose of disparaging Captain Elliot is easily disposed of by sim
ply stating the fact that those returns were made out, not by Dr.
Parsons, but by Purser Magrath of the Niagara, one of Elliot's
officers and leading certifiers, and is still preserved in his hand
writing. Mr. Cooper is not satisfied with imputing to Dr. Parsons the
base design of trying to injure Captain Elliot, when he inquired
of the wounded of the Niagara, the time they were struck in
the action, (merely for the purpose of settling their priority of
claims for surgical aid) which he reiterates over and over ; nor
with asserting, in five different places in his abusive pamphlet,
that the Doctor was a native of Rhode-Island and therefore
prejudiced in favor of Perry and not reliable, (when he had
never seen Rhode Island ;) nor with charging him with making
out a false return ofthe number of wounded, (which Magrath
made out,) but he moreover adds, "nor is Dr. Parsons' affidavit
uncontradicted by even Perry himself. He says that the wound
ed from the first of their coming down, complained that the
Niagara, commanded by Captain Elliot, did not up come to her
station, and close with the Charlotte although he had been or
dered by signal ; and this complaint was frequently repeated by
them until the Lawrence struck, and repeated by Lieutenants
Brooks. Yarnell, and Claxton." Perry in his official letter says,
" Lieutenant Yarnell, first of the Lawrence, though several
times wounded, refused to quit the deck." Here he flatly con
tradicts Dr. Parson's affidavit." Now the reader will remember
the anecdote, how Yarnell came below with bleeding head,

*Dr. P. states in his affidavit : " The second day after the action I attended
the wounded of the Niagara, the surgeon of that vessel being sick ; and out of
twenty cases, not more than one or two said they were wounded while Captain
Elliot was on board the ship. On board all the small vessels which Captain El
liot brought up, the -wounded did not exceed two or three."

26
which, after -'returning to the deck, was covered with cat-tails
and made him resemble an owl. Obviously, Gaptain Perry's
meaning was that he did not leave the deck permanently, al
though repeatedly wounded. Can a more contemptible quibble
be conceived of than Cooper has here resorted to for the purpose
of invalidating testimony given under oath ? Was it incumbent
on Captain Perry in order to satisfy Mr. Cooper's taste, to specify
that Yarnell was absent a few moments, two or three times from
the deck for surgical aid during a bloody action which lasted
nearly three hours ? Was Dr. Parsons bound to omit the anec
dote, merely to please Mr. Cooper, because Captain Perry had
thus expressed in general terms the heroic conduct of Yarnell,
whom he left upon deck in command of his tattered ship when
he boarded the Niagara ?
Cooper ranges the witnesses of the Lawrence and Niagara in
two columns, and exultingly calls the attention of the reader to
the greater length ofthe latter list, although he knew, and must
have felt when he wrote it, that this difference in the length of
the two columns was owing to the fact that many officers of the
Lawrence were killed, and none in the Niagara ; that Elliot ob
tained their certificates immediately whilst under his command
and influence, and that Perry's officers were never applied to for
years after, when some were dead and others scattered, and none
of them under his command. Was it honorable and ingenuous
in Cooper to wink out of sight these palpable reasons for the
different length of the two columns of officers, and exult over
the Niagara's list as decisive of the controversy in Elliot's favor
when the disparity in numbers of survivors resulted from Elliot's
failing to bear his part in the action ?
But granting for the sake of the argument, that the officers
of the Lawrence were partisan witnesses ; — that her doctor
went on board the Niagara and put leading questions to the
wounded, for the purpose of disparaging Captain Elliot :  that
he was a native of Rhode-Island, and accompanied Perry to the
lakes ; — that he made out a false return of the wounded  all
which is untrue,— but granting it, and that he is unworthy of
belief, and that the other officers of the Lawrence are equally
so, and admitting on the other hand that the testimony of the

27
Niagara's officers is equally unreliable from partisan feeling, and
thus balancing one against the other so as to neutralize both,
and how then stands the evidence ? The commanders of the
other vessels of the squadron testify that Elliot did not sustain
his part in the action, that he held back from engaging his an
tagonist two hours. If said in reply, and Cooper has said it,
that these officers were partial to Perry, then refer the question
to other arbitrators, who were entire strangers to both Perry and
Elliot, who were eye-witnesses of the battle, and Cooper was
not one, — to the British officers, who could have felt no interest
on either side, for no controversy had yet commenced, — con
sider too that Barclay had the strongest possible motives to des
cribe the battle accurately, since the least deviation from truth
from whatever influence, must place his honor and reputation
ever after at the mercy of his officers, and then ask what was
their decided opinion on this important subject. Commodore
Barclay says iu his official report. —
"About 10 o'clock the enemy had cleared the Islands, — and immediately bore
up, under easy sail, in a line abreast, each brig being also supported by the small
vessels. At a quarter before 12, I commenced the action by a few long guns ;
about a quarter past 12, the American Commodore, also supported by two
schooners, came close to action with the Detroit ; the other brig of the enemy,"
(tho Niagara,) "apparently destined to engage the Queen Charlotte, kept so far
to windward as to render the Queen Charlotte's carronades useless, while she
was with the Lady Prevost, exposed to the destructive fire of the Caledonia and
four ucher schooners armed with heavy long guns." * * *
" The action continued v. i;h great fury until half past two, when I perceived
my opponent drop astern, and a boat passing from him to the Niagara, (which
vessel was at this time perfectly fresh ;) the American Commodore seeing that as
yet the day was against him, (his vessel having struck soon after he left her) and
also the very defenceless state of the Detroit, which ship was now a perfect
wreck, principally from the raking fire of the gun-boats, and also that the Queen
Charlotte was in such a situation, that I could receive very little assistance from
her, and the Lady Prevost being at this time too far to leeward, from her rudder
being injured, he" (that is Perry,) "made a noble, and alas ! too successful effort
to regain tho day, for he bore up, and supx:>orted by his small vessels, passed
within pistol-shot, and took a raking position on our bow; nor could I prevent i t,
as the unfortunate situation of tlie Queen prevented our wearing ; in attempting
it we fell on board her. Hy gallant first Lieutenant, Garland, wati now mortal
ly wounded, and myself so severely that I was obliged to quit the deck. * *
Every officer, commanding vessels, and their seconds, was either killed or wound
ed." * * In conclusion, he adds : "Captain Perry has behaved in a
humane and most attentive manner, not only to myself and oflicers, but to all
the wounded."
Barclay, you perceive, tells the whole story, in all that is ma
terial to the controversy, just as Perry told it in his official re
port, with the exception of that part wherein Perry tries to save

2H
Elliot's reputation ; for which friendly act Elliot never forgave
him, and Perry had reason never to forgive himself.
In addition to all this, the officers of the Queen Charlotte did,
in my hearing, and as Chaplain Breese testifies, did in the hear-
of himself and others, when they were asked why their ship
did not engage their antagonist the Niagara, instead of firing up
on the Lawrence, state again and again that the Niagara kept so
far astern and off to the windward that their guns could not
reach her.
Let us glance then at the prominent points in the case. 1st,
Elliot had his station and duty assigned him, to fight the Queen
Charlotte. Did he perform that duty faithfully? Commodore
Perry says no : — Commodore Barclay says no : — The officers of
the Queen say no : — The commanders of the small vessels say
no: — The wounded of the Lawrence, while weltering in their
blood said no: — But J. Fenimore Cooper, who was not in the
action, says yes, and from Ihe obliquity that marks what he has
written on the subject, his mistakes, misstatements, and false as
sumptions, such a decision is perfectly in keeping with his char
acter. 2nd: If Elliot was in his place, and performed his duty,
and shared in the danger, how are we to account for the fact
that he had only three men killed and wounded, when the Law
rence had eighty-three, each ship having one hundred and one
men when the battle began ? and how was it that the Niagara
was a perfectly fresh ship (as the British Commodore states) af
ter the Lawrence was a complete wreck ?
Commodore Barclay on his return to England, after officially
reporting his defeat and capture, was subjected to the customary
ordeal of a Court of Inquiry, and was honorably acquitted. 
The published report of proceedings stated that when Perry ap
proached the Niagara in a boat, " she was making away" from
the fight, and this was copied into some American papers. A
Court of Inquiry was in session at the time in New York on
some captains who had lost American ships of war, and Elliot
unable to withstand this English version of the action, applied
to the Secretary of the Navy to permit this Court to examine
the evidence of his conduct, in order to decide, not whether
he held back from his station in the action, as several affidavits

29
state, but whether he attempted to run away. Five witnesses
were summoned from the Niagara, and two from the Lawrence.
They all testified that he was not running away. But the at
tempt he then made to draw proofs from them that he did his
duty in the action, was less successful. The two from the
Lawrence testified adversely.
In the finding of the Court, it Avas regretted th.it contradicto
ry testimony was given, but finally concluded that " the Niaga
ra was not running away from her antagonist the Queen, but
that she ran away from the Niagara," (why didn't he run after
her ?) '• and that Commodore Perry's official report was correct."
It is to be borne in mind that none of the commanders of the
small vessels, nor the Commodore Avere summoned before the
Court. The testimony of the two officers adverse to Elliot is
disposed of by Cooper in a summary manner. "Mr. Forest,"
he says, " was a man of very feeble capacity, as Avas Mr. Yar
nell, the other Lieutenant." Now, both Avere brave and intel
ligent officers, and had behaved gallantly in other actions ; but
being dead when Cooper wrote his pamphlet, he felt it safe to
stultify them in crder to prop the reputation of Elliot.
There is a singular perverseness in the course pursued by Mr.
Cooper, in his assaults upon the memory and hard earned fame
•of the lamented Perry. The few pages of his naval history ap
propriated to this victory, contain many palpable errors. They
however exhibit two prominent traits. 1st : the mistakes are
all made to tell against Perry and in favor of Elliot : secondly,
that their general aim is to diminish the glory reflected by the
victory on American valor and naval skill, by making our fleet
a vastly superior force to the enemy's. I have not time to ex
hibit the numerous instances showing this tendency, but you
will find some of them stated in McKenzie's Life of Perry, one
of the best pieces of biography ever written in this country. —
But after a lapse of years, when McKenzie had exposed the un
fairness -of his naval history, Cooper writes in Graham's Maga
zine what he calls a Life of Perry, in Avhich he aims his mis
siles at the character of that hero, not only in respect to Lake
Erie matters, butto the subsequent events of his life, particular
ly in the Mediterranean, where Perry in a moment of excite-

m
ment, occasioned by Avhat he deemed an insult offered by his
Marine Officer, Captain Heath, gave him a blow with his fist,
in atonement for which, and because he had violated the rules
of the service, he exposed his life to a shot from Heath Avithout
raising his own pistol iu return. Cooper insinuates that in, this
instance of giving a blow, Perry Avas intoxicated. The insinua
tion is groundless. I Avas in the ship at the time, and knew
all the particulars. The act proceeded from a sudden burst of
passion under what seemed to him a great provocation. Perry
although he habitually strove to control his temper, was not al
ways successful, and it was tlie only fault I ever found in him.
But what shall be said of Mr. Cooper, who, because McKenzie
criticised his naval history and exposed its unfairness, sought
revenge by aspersing the fame of a deceased hero, Avho had nev
er injured him, and whose fame Avas among the precious jew
els, not only of Rhode Island but of the nation, and to throw
his barbed arroAvs into the hearts of a bereaved family.
If you ask for further probable motives that actuated Mr.
Cooper in making his attack upon the character of Perry, a pas
sage taken from his strange pamphlet, printed not long before
his decease, and distributed by Captain Elliot among the mem
bers of Congress, may assist in the disentanglement of his mo
tives. " He has seen his oavii work," he says, (refering to his
Naval History) " condemned, and, so far as the public authori
ties were concerned, excluded from the district school libraries
and all on account of its supposed frauds in relation to the bat
tle on Lake Erie ; Avhile on the other hand he has heard Captain
McKenzie's Biography of Perry, lauded from one end of the
Union to the other, and preferred to that place in the libraries
mentioned, from which his own work has been excluded." 
This fact Avas too much for his arrogant spirit to bear ; it rankled
in his bosom until his spleen found vent in this pamphlet.
lean conceive of no other motive for his conduct unless it
Avere the promise of a silver medal from Elliot, Avhich he is
known to have received, and which bore on one side the head
of Cooper surrounded by these words, " The personification of
Honor, Truth and Justice."
Elliot had the impudence to send one of these medals to this

31
Historical Society, Avhich AA>as rejected, and returned with a
preamble and resolutions expressed in the folloAving Avords :
"Whereas, we honor the character and cherish the memory of Commodore
Oliver H. Perry, and hold in high admiration, the professional skill, heroic, val
or and noble conduct, shown by him in the battle of Lake Erie, on the 10th of
September, 1813, by which he achieved a victory glorious to the American arms,
and gained a name which to us, as citizens of his native State, is a source of
honest pride ; and whereas, in the published writings of J. Fenimore Cooper,
Esquire, relative to that event, he has labored to establish opinions which we
¦can neither adopt nor sanction : and whereas justice requires that this body
shall not do or participate in any act which may imply its acquiescence in the
^efforts which have been made in behalf of Commodore Elliot, to establish for him
a reputation derogatory to the just fame of his de-eased Commander :
It is therefore Resolved, that the Society declines accepting the medal which
has been presented in the name of Commodore Elliot ;" and they ordered it to
he returned through the channel by which it was received.
Fiction had employed so much of Mr. Cooper's time and at
tention, that he Avas unable to state matters of fact without draw
ing on his imagination in such a way as to distort them into a
conformity to his prejudices. He early in life exhibited a dogg
ed obstinacy of opinion, that made him appear absurd and para
doxical. Condradiction of his opinions, however Avild, Avas not
to be endured. Captain McKenzie exposed his errors aud mis
statements. He Avas responded to in the viturperative language
contained in the abusive pamphlet before noticed. The pam
phlet however fell still-born from the press. I never knew that
such a piece of absurdity was in being until I commenced this
discourse. In the first three pages I find six mistatements. —
Yet it was for this pamphlet that EUiot presented the medal "to
the personifier of honor, truth and justice?'' and which this so
ciety rejected. In return, Cooper seeks revenge by a missile
thrown at this society, inserted in the preface to one of the early
volumes of his last edition, and published a few months before
his death.
It is a curious fact that Avith all his assaults upon Perry, not a
Avord is said to the disadvantage of Elliot, not an allusion is
made to his misconduct in the' Mediterranean and elseAvhere. —
On the contrary he is everywhere lauded as a paragon of noble
qualities, as an immaculate hero, although at the very time Coo
per was concocting this strange pamphlet, Elliot Avas undergo
ing a punishment of four years suspension without pay, under
sentence of a Court Martial, on charges proved against him, of

32
a disgraceful character. Yet. neitlser these, nor any other scan
dalous acts of Elliot are even hinted at hy " the personifier of
honor, truth and justice."
Mr. Cooper remarks that a striking characteristic of the battle-
of the lake, is the bitter controversy that ensued in respect to
the conduct of the tAVO senior commanders. And Avho, let me
ask, but himself is chargeable Avith bianie for it ? He Avas not a
party interested. His meddling Avilh it Avas gratuitous and un
called-for. With Elliot the case Avas different. The public be
lieved him tohaA'e failed in his duty, and to have tarnished his
character, and it Avas natural for him to plead not guilty before
the bar of public opinion, to flounce and flounder, and strive to
clear himself. But with Cooper the case Avas different. He
seems to have entered the controversy purely from love of it. —
He strives to save Elliot, by disparaging Perry, and from his peu
has flown more ink and bile than has been shed by all others.
Much as Elliot's conduct deserves censure, Cooper's is more rep
rehensible. He enters the lists unnecessarily, and purely from
love of paradox and thirst for notoriety, unless it Avere a pros
pect of gaining a medal.
I am well aware that there is little honor gained by striking
at a dead man, and therefore wish that Mr. Cooper were living
to hear me. But if he while living labored assiduously to cre
ate inthe public miud false and injurious impressions against the
illustrious dead, who had never given him provocation • if he
strove to tarnish the pure character and fame of Commodore
Perry, the rich but only legacy left to a bereaved family, and to
rob this State and the nation of the glory gained for them on
Lake Erie, then it is not only excusable but the bounden duty
of one Avho was an eye-witness of the doings on the lake to
correct public opinion, by expunging from their minds the' as
persions of a calumniator, whether he be dead or alive.
Am I accused of severity upon Mr. Cooper,, in the foregoing
strictures? Read his pamphlet,— his abuse of all who testify
under oath concerning the relative conduct of the Iavo comman
ders, favorably to Perry ;— his vituperative attacks upon Capt.
McKenzie and others Avho had reviewed the evidence, and plac
ed the whole controve.sy in a fair light, and his impotent trrowls

S3
at this society, for rejecting the proffered medal of himself, and
you will decide differently ; for not a tithe of his offensive mis
statements and perversions could receive notice in the brief hour
alloted me on this occasion.
I Ioioav of nothing that should incline me to favor one Com
mander more than the other. Certainly there had been no rea
son to complain of ill-treatment from either, personally. Nor
was there any professional jealousy existing among the medical
officers of the squadron. The other tAvo were ill, aud under
treatment, and I have never heard that either of tham pretended
to have rendered any assistance to the wounded after the battle
closed. It was immaterial to me, therefore, who fought vali
antly or Avho failed in his duty, as I was a non-combatant. —
The care of ninety-six wounded devolved on me, and the hon
or or dishonor of performing my duty faithfully or otherwise,
was the same, whether they were Avounded in the Lawrence or
Niagara, — under Perry or under Elliot.
A few remarks on the character of Commodore Perry must
conclude this discourse, already too long. I have alluded to his
being passionate under provocation, aside from which he was
the most exemplary officer I ever knew. Possessed of high-
toned moral feeling, he was above the Ioav dissipation and sen
suality that many officers of his day were prone to indulge in.
His conversation was remarkably free from profanity and indeli
cacy, and in his domestic character he Avas a model of every
domestic virtue and grace. His acquirements were respectable.
On the subjects of history and the drama he was well read, and
had formed opinions that evinced patient thought. He wrote
with remarkable facility and in good taste. Trained under the
experienced teachings of his father and Commodore Rodgers, he
could not fail of perfection in seamanship and naval discipline.
"Every germ of merit in his officers Avas sure to be discovered
and encouraged by him, and no opportunity was ever lost of
advancing those Avho performed their duty with cheerfulness and
fidelity." He was the most remarkable man I ever saw for
success in inspiring his officers Avith a reverential awe in his
presence, and with a dread of giving him offence. Generous to
the full extent of his means, his elegant hospitality especially on

34
ship-board in foreign ports, reflected great honor on our navy.
Distinguished visitors ever found his ship in most perfect order,
and left her Avith exalted opinions of his graceful and dignified
manners, and of the strict discipline prevailing among his offi
cers and men.
I feel grateful to my audience for their patient attention. —
Nearly forty years have rolled away, since Perry gained the me
morable victory, — the first one ever gained over a squadron by
this country, and, with the lapse of time, have passed away most
of those who were with him. Of the nine commanders of ves
sels, only one survives ; and of the fifteen officers of the Law
rence, only Capt. Taylor and myself remain. The thought re
minds me, as it should do, that my own summons cannot be far
distant. Entertaining the opinions I honestly do of the inci
dents and events of the battle, and of the chief actors in it, —
opinions which were formed on the spot at the time ; and also
of the controversy that long after ensued, I have for years felt
it an imperative duty to present those opinions to the citizens of
this State on some appropriate occasion. That duty, by your
appointment is noAv performed, so far as the brief time allotted
Avould permit, and with it has been offered a tribute of respect
due to the character of the illustrious son of Rhode Island. —
Ever may his memory remain enshrined in the hearts of the
people of his native State, and of a grateful nation !

APPENDIX.

AMERICAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.

Copy qf a Utter from Commodore Perry to the Secretary of the Navy
V. S. Schooner Ariel, Put-in-Bay,
13th September, 1813.
Sm — In my last I informed you that we had captured the enemy's fleet on
this lake. I have now the honor to give you the most important particulars of
the action. On the morning of the 10th inst., at sun rise, they were discovered
from Put-in-Bay, where I lay at anchor with the squadron under my command.
We got under way, the wind light at S. W. and stood for them. At 10 A. M.
the wind hauled to S. E. and brought us to windward ; formed the line and
brought up. At 15 minutes before 12 the enemy commenced firing ; at 5 min
utes before 12, the action commenced on our part. Finding their fire very de
structive, owing to their long guns, and its being mostly directed to the Law
rence, I made sail, and directed the other vessels to follow, for the purpose of
closing with the enemy. Every brace and bow line being shot away, she became
unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the Sailing Master. In
this situation she sustained the action upwards of two hours, within canister
shot distance, until every gun was rendered useless, and a greater part of the
crew either killed or wounded. Finding she could no longer annoy the enemy,
I left her in charge of Lt. Yarnell, who, I was convinced, from the bravery al
ready displayed by him, would do what would comport with the honor of the
flag. At half past 2, the wind springing up Captain Elliot was enabled to bring
his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close action ; I immediately went on board
of her, when he anticipated my wish by volunteering to bring the schooners,
which had been kept astern by the lightness of the wind, into close action. It
was with unspeakable pain that I saw, soon after I got on board the Niagara,
the flag of the Lawrence come down, although I was perfectly sensible that she
had been defended to the last, and that to have continued to make a show of
resistance would have been a wanton sacrifice to the remains of her brave crew.
But the enemy was not able to take possession of her, and circumstances soon
permitted her flag again to be hoisted. At 45 minutes past two, the signal was
made for " close action." The Niagara being very Uttle injured, I determined to
pass through the enemy's line, bear up and pass ahead of their two ships and a
brig, giving a raking fire to them from the starboard guns, and to a large schoon
er and sloop, from the larboard side, at half pistol shot distance. The smaller
vessels at this time having got within grape and canister distance, under the di
rection of Capt. Elliot, and keeping up a well directed fire, the two ships, a brig,
and a schooner surrendered, a schooner and sloop making a vain attempt to
GSCEtDG Those oflicers and men who were immediately under my observation, evinced
the greatest gallantry, and I have no doubt that all others conducted themselves
as became American oflicers and seamen. Lieutenant Yarnel, first of the Law-

36
X
I ence although several times wounded, refused to quit the deck. Midshipman
Forest, (doing duty as Lieutenant) and Sailing master Taylor, Avere of great as
sistance to me. I have great pain in stating to you the death of Lieutenant
Brooks, of the Marines, and Midshipman Laub, both of the Lawrence, and Mid
shipman John Clark, of the Scorpion ; they were valuable officers. Mr. Ham-
bleton, Purser, who volunteered his services on deck,, was severely wounded late
in the action. Midshipmen Claxton and Swartwout, of the Lawrence, were se
verely wounded. On board the Niagara, Lieutenants Smith and Edwards, and
Midshipman Webster, (doing duty as Sailing Master) behaved in a very hand
some manner. Captain Brevoort, of the army, who acted as a volunteer in the
capacity of a marine officer on board that vessel, is an excellent and brave officer,
and with his musquetry, did great execution. Lieut. Turner, commanding the
Caledonia, brought that vessel into action in the most able manner, and is an offi
cer, that in all situations may be relied upon. The Ariel, Lieut. Packet, and
Scorpion, Sailing-Master Champlin, were enabled to get early into the action,
and were of great service. Capt. Elliot speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Ma
grath, Purser, who had been despatched in a boat on service, previous to my get
ting on board the Niagara ; and being a seaman, since the action has rendered
essential service in taking charge of one of the prizes. Of Capt. Elliot, already
so well known to the government, it would be almost superfluous to speak. In
this action he evinced his characteristic bravery and judgement, and since the
close of the action, has given me the most able and essential assistance.
I have the honor to enclose you a return of the killed and wounded, together
with a statement of the relative force of the squadrons. The Captain and first
Lieut, of the Queen Charlotte, and First Lieut, of the Detroit, were killed. Capt.
Barclay, senior officer, and the commander of the Lady Prevost, severely wound
ed. Their loss in killed and wounded, I have not yet been able to ascertain ; it
must, however, have been very great.
Very respectfully, I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant, 0. H. PERRY.
The Hon. Wm. Jones,
Secretary of the Navy.

Additions made by the publishers.
In a subsequent letter to the Secretary of the Navy, in January following, the
Commodore speaks of other officers :— of the gallantry of Lieut. Holdup of the
Tripp, who, with Mr. Champlin, in the Scorpion, captured the two vessels that
attempted to escape : — of the acting Surgeon of the Lawrence he writes as fol
lows—" Of Dr. Usher Parsons, Surgeon's mate, I cannot say too much. In con
sequence of the disability of both the other Surgeons, Drs. Barton and Horsely,
the whole duty of operating, dressing, and attending nearly one hundred wound
ed, and as many sick devolved entirely on him, and it must be pleasino- to you,
sir, to reflect that of the whole number wounded, only three have died."  [See
American Annals.] Of Chaplain Thomas Breese, who acted as aid, he also
makes honorable mention.