488 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, 
were so much shattered that they fell overboard soon after 
they got into the bay. 
" The loss of the Americans was severe, particularly on 
board the Lawrence. When, her flag was struck she had but 
nine men fit for duty remaining on deck. Her sides were 
completely riddled by the shot from the long guns of the Bri- 
tish ships. Her deck, the morning after the conflict, when I 
first went on board, exhibited a scene that defies description ; 
for it was literally covered with blood, which still adhered to 
the plank in clots ; brains, hair, and fragments of bones were 
still sticking to the rigging and sides. The surgeons were 
still busy with the wounded. Enough ! horror appalled my 
senses. 
" Among the wounded were several brave fellows, each of 
whom had lost a leg or an arm ; they appeared cheerful, and 
expressed a hope that they had done their duty. Rome and 
Sparta would have been proud of these heroes. 
" It would be invidious to particularize instances of indivi- 
dual merit, where every one so nobly performed his part. Of 
the nine seamen remaining unhurt at the time the Lawrence 
struck her flag, five were immediately promoted for their un- 
shaken firmness in such a trying situation. The most of these 
had been in the actions with the Guerriere and Java. 
" Every officer of the Lawrence, except the Commodore 
and his little brother, a promising youth 13 years old, were 
either killed or wounded. 
" The efficacy of the gun-boats was, fully proved in this ac- 
tion, and the sterns of all the prizes bear ample testimony of 
the fact. They took raking positions, and galled the enemy 
severely. The Lady Prevost lost twelve men before either of 
the brigs fired on her. Their fire was quick and precise. Let 
us hear the enemy. The general order of Adjutant-General 
Baynes, contains the following words : "His (Perry's) nu- 
merous gun boats, (four,) which had proved the greatest an- 
noyance during the action, were all uninjured." 
" The undaunted bravery of Admiral Barclay entitled him 
to a better fate ; to the loss of the day was superadded griev- 
ous and dangerous wounds : he had before lost an arm ; ii 
Avas now his hard fortune to lose the use of the other, by a 
shot which carried away the blade of the right shoulder ; a 
canister shot made a violent contusion in his hip : his wounds 
were for some days considered mortal. Every possible atteH- 
tion was paid to his situation. When Commodore Perry sail- 
ad for Buflfaloe, he was so far recovered that he took passage on 
