Tristam Burges

Battle of Lake Erie: with Notices of Commodore Elliot's Conduct in That Engagement Tristam Burges

Publisher Marketing: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839 Excerpt: ...at the time on board the ship; it was the public record of the ship, open to the view of all, and undisputed by any one. The log-book disappeared soon after Perry left the fleet and the command of it was assumed by Elliot, and has not since been recovered. The following transcript of it was made by an officer of the Lawrence into his own private diary, on the day after the battle, and it is from that source that we have derived it. "Put-in-Bay, at 5 o'clock, A. M. discovered the enemy's squadron bearing N. W., wind S. W.; at 7 could see all the vessels, two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. At 10, called all hands to quarters. At a quarter before meridian the enemy commenced the action at one mile distant. In half an hour we came within musket shot of the enemy's new ship Detroit. At this time they opened a most destructive fire on the Lawrence from the whole squadron. At half past one, so entirely disabled we could work the brig no longer. At two P. M. most of the guns were dismounted, breechings gone, and carriages knocked to pieces. Capt. Perry hauled down the fighting flag, which bore this motto," Do n't give up the ship," and repaired on board of the Niagara, and then raised it again. In ten minutes after, we struck to the enemy. Capt. Perry made all sail with the Niagara, which hitherto had kept out of the action, and in fifteen minutes passed in among the British squadron, having the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost on the starboard One of the brigs was an hermaphrodite, and sometimes was called a schooner. side, and the Hunter on the larboard side, and silenced them all; and ten minutes before three, they hauled down their colors. Two small vessels attempted to escape but being overhauled, struck a few minutes aft...