On the Lakes 305 



ron sailed on the i8th in pursuit of the enemy, whose 

 ship was now ready. After cruising about some 

 time the Ohio was sent down the lake, and the 

 other ships went into Put-in-Bay. On the Qth of 

 September Captain Barclay put out from Amherst- 

 burg, being so short of provisions that he felt com- 

 pelled to risk an action with the superior force 

 opposed. On the loth of September his squadron 

 was discovered from the masthead of the Laurence 

 in the northwest. Before going into details of the 

 action we will examine the force of the two squad- 

 rons, as the accounts vary considerably. 



The tonnage of the British ships, as already stated, 

 we know exactly, they having been all carefully 

 appraised and measured by the builder, Mr. Henry 

 Eckford, and two sea-captains. We also know the 

 dimensions of the American ships. The Lawrence 

 and Niagara measured 480 tons apiece. The Cale- 

 donia, brig, was about the size of the Hunter, or 

 1 80 tons. The Tigress, Somers, and Scorpion were 

 subsequently captured by the foe and were then 

 said to measure, respectively, 96, 94, and 86 tons; 

 in which case they were larger than similar boats 

 on Lake Ontario. The Ariel was about the size of 

 the Hamilton; the Porcupine and Trippe about the 

 size of the Asp and Pert. As for the guns, Captain 

 Barclay in his letter gives a complete account of 

 those on board his squadron. He has also given a 

 complete account of the American guns, which is 

 most accurate, and, if anything, underestimates 

 them. At least Emmons in his "History" gives the 



