WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 231 



While Perry's fleet lay off the mouth of Sandusky bay, Har- 

 rison had furnished one hundred and fifty marines to Perry. 

 The British fleet, under Commodore Barclay, consisted of six 

 ships, carrying sixty-three guns. 



perry's victory on lake ERIE. 



After various manoeuvres, these fleets, met and fought a bat- 

 tle, on lake Erie, within the territorial limits of Ohio, on the 

 10th day of September, 1813, at the head of the lake. The line 

 of battle was formed, about eleven o'clock, in the forenoon, and 

 fifteen minutes before twelve, the Queen Charlotte, the British 

 Commodore's flag ship, opened a most tremendous fire, with 

 grape and cannister shot, upon the Lawrence, the flag ship of 

 commodore Perry. It was fifteen minutes, almost, before Per- 

 ry could bring his guns to bear on the enemy. 



At length. Perry got his guns to bear upon the Queen Char- 

 lotte, and making signals for the rest of his squadron to engage, 

 he continued for two hours, to contend with two of the enemy's 

 vessels; each of them, was equal to his own. During all this 

 time, such was the wind that his other vessels could afford 

 him no aid, so he fought, single handed and alone, against 

 these two vessels of Barclay. By this time, the Lawrence, 

 had become a perfect wreck, and all the men, on board this 

 vessel, had been either killed, or wounded, except three or 

 four individuals. Surrounded by ruin, by the dying and the 

 dead, Perry, accompanied by his brother, and two or three 

 others, left the Lawrence, in an open boat, and got on board 

 the Niagara, his next best vessel. He brought her into action, 

 running into the midst of the enemy's line, and very politely, 

 poured a broadside, into each of the enemy's vessels, as ho 

 passed it; the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Provost, 

 on the one side, and the Chippeway, and Little Belt, on the 

 other. He finally paid his addresses to the Lady Provost so 

 warmly, that her Ladyship's men, deserted her deck, and ran 

 below. The remainder of Perry's squadron, next followed 

 the example of their brave commander, and one and all got into 



