486 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 
a few days inactive ; but their repose was that of the lion. 
"On the morning of the 18th of September, at sunrise, the 
enemy were discovered bearing down from Maiden, for the 
evident purpose of attacking our squadron, then at anchor at 
Put-inBay. Not a moment was to be lost. Perry's squad- 
ron immediately got under way, and stood out to meet the 
British fleet, which at this time had the weather gage. At 10 
A. M. the wind shifted from S. W. to S. E. which brought 
our squadron to windward. The wind was light, the day 
beautiful: not a cloud obscured the horizon. The line was 
formed at 11, and Commodore Perry caused an elegant flag, 
which he had privately prepared, to be hoisted at the mast- 
head of the Lawrence ; on this flag was painted, in charac- 
ters legible to the whole fleet, the dying words of the immor- 
tal Lawrence: — "Don't give up the ship." Its efl^ect is 
not to be described — every heart was electrified. The crews 
cheered — the exhilerating can was passed. Both fleets ap- 
peared eager for the conflict, on the result of which so much 
depended. At 25 minutes before twelve the Detroit, the 
headmost ship of the enemy, opened upon the Lawrence, 
which for ten minutes was obliged to sustain a well-directed 
and heavy fire from the enemy's two large ships, without being 
able to return it with carronades ; at five minutes before twelve 
the Lawrence opened upon the enemy : the other vessels 
were ordered to support her, but the wind was at this time too 
light to enable them to come up. Every brace and bowline 
of the Lawrence being soon shot away, she became unman- 
ageable, and in this situation sustained the action upward of 
two hours, within canister distance, until every gun was ren- 
dered useless, and biit a small part of her crew^ left unhurt upon 
deck. 
"At half past two the wind increased and enabled the Nia- 
gara to come into close action — the gun-boats took a nearer po- 
sition. Commodore Perry left his ship in charge of Lieut. 
Yarnel, and went on board the Niagara. Just as he reached 
that vessel the flag of the Lawrence came down ; the crisis 
had arrived. Captain Elliot at this moment anticipated the 
wishes of the Commodore, by volunteering his services to 
bring the schooner into close action. 
"At forty-five minutes past two the signal was made for 
close action. The Niagara being very little injured, and hef 
crew fresh, the Commodore determined to pass through the 
enemy's line; he accordingly bore up and passed ahead of 
