On the Lakes 319 



per Canada; in all these respects its importance has 

 not been overrated. But the "glory" acquired by it 

 most certainly has been estimated at more than its 

 worth. Most Americans, even the well educated, if 

 asked which was the most glorious victory of the 

 war, would point to this battle. Captain Perry's 

 name is more widely known than that of any other 

 commander. Every schoolboy reads about him, if 

 of no other sea-captain ; yet he certainly stands on 

 a lower grade than either Hull or Macdonough, 

 and not a bit higher than a dozen others. On Lake 

 Erie our seamen displayed great courage and skill ; 

 but so did their antagonists. The simple truth is, 

 that, where on both sides the officers and men were 

 equally brave and skilful, the side which possessed 

 the superiority in force, in the proportion of three to 

 two, could not well help winning. The courage 

 with which the Lawrence was defended has hardly 

 ever been surpassed, and may fairly be called heroic; 

 but equal praise belongs to the men on board the 

 Detroit, who had to discharge the great guns by 

 flashing pistols at the touchholes, and yet made such 

 a terribly effective defence. Courage is only one 

 of the many elements which go to make up the char- 

 acter of a first-class commander; something more 

 than bravery is needed before a leader can be really 

 called great. 



There happened to be circumstances which ren- 

 dered the bragging of our writers over the victory 

 somewhat plausible. Thus they could say with an 

 appearance of truth that the enemy had 63 guns 



