164 HEREDITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF NAVAL OFFICERS. 



"Man, you wud'nt wide over me, wud youh." The horseman, who was a friend 

 of the family, dismounted and carried Oliver into the house, where he related the 

 occurrence with great interest and with as much pride as if it had been his own 

 child. He thought the boy's conduct gave token of some very worthy qualities. 



At 5 years of age Oliver went to school and, as the school was some distance 

 from his home, he used to take his cousins, who lived on an adjoining farm, to and 

 from their lessons. They had no brother and, although they were older than 

 Oliver, were glad to accept his boyish protection in adventures on the road. No 

 one thought it strange, as he was large for his years and inspired a confidence in 

 his manliness which was amply justified. From his earliest boyhood he seemed to 

 exercise an influence over those who approached him, which was soon converted 

 into affectionate regard by his graceful manners and by a display of quiet firmness 

 and calm self-composure. The distinction that he afterwards acquired excited 

 no astonishment among the friends of his youth; it seemed but the realization of 

 the promise which his early years had inspired." 1 



Oliver was a fearless and well-poised rider of horses, of which he was very 

 fond. At the age of 16 years he commanded the naval schooner Revenge. Having 

 succeeded in capturing the American ship Diana, whose captain was fraudulently 

 retaining her and had put her under the protection of two British gunboats, Oliver 

 fell in with a large and powerful British ship which demanded the nature of his 

 convoy. This Oliver refused to give and put himself and crew into position to 

 board suddenly the powerful and menacing ship if she attempted force. The diffi- 

 culty was amicably adjusted. When, in January 1811 (through the fault of the 

 pilot), his schooner went on the rocks west of Point Judith, he stayed on the schooner, 

 over which the wintry waves dashed, until as the sun set she began to go to pieces; 

 and he was thus able to save most of her valuables. When the War of 1812 broke 

 out Oliver preferred the post of adventure on the Great Lakes to the Newport 

 Station. On Lake Erie he fought one of the bloodiest naval battles in history, 

 considering the number of persons engaged. After all of his guns had been rendered 

 unworkable and four-fifths of his men were dead or severely wounded, he rowed 

 to a fresh vessel. "Unconscious or unmindful of danger, Perry continued to stand 

 erect in the boat, with his brave oarsmen imploring him not to expose himself 

 thus needlessly. For . . . the enemy . . . had at once directed a heavy fire 

 of great guns and musketry at the 'small boat." "Yet the unconquerable Perry 

 stood unmoved and defiant." In the fresh vessel he won a decisive victory and 

 complete capture of the British fleet. A few weeks later Perry, on horseback, 

 acting as General Harrison's aide, participated in the defeat of the British land 

 forces. It is said that a British broadside threw the American cavalry into con- 

 fusion, from which they were rallied by a call from Perry, who dashed in among 

 them. Oliver was at that time 28 years of age. 



Matthew Perry showed the same traits of love of adventure and fearlessness. 

 At 13 years of age, on hearing of the fight between the Leopard and the Chesapeake, 

 he desired to go into the navy. Of him at 25 years of age it is said: "A thirst 

 for enterprise and adventure" led Perry to apply for an appointment on the Cyane, 

 going to Guinea, Africa." The dangers of the coast lured him." (Griffis, 1890, 

 p. 51.) After his death, Admiral Sands wrote of him: "He was a man of great 

 personal bravery, as well as all the Perrys, of undaunted courage and gallantry." 

 (Griffis, p. 400.) 



1 Mills, J. C., 1913., p. 5. 



