History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

59

a certainty of defeat. During this blockade, Corn. Perry had no
alternative but to ride at anchor at Erie; but early in September
the enemy relaxed his vigilance and withdrew to the upper end of
the lake. Perry then slipped out beyond the bar and fitted his vessels for action. The British fleet opposed to Com. Perry consisted
of the ships "Detroit," carrying 19 guns; the "Queen Charlotte,"
17 guns; the schooner "Lady Prevost," 13 guns; the brig "Hunter," ten guns; the sloop "Little Belt," three guns; and the
schooner "Chippewa," one gun and two swivels; and this fleet was
commanded by a veteran officer of tried skill and valor.
At sunrise, Sept. 10, while at anchor at Put-in-Bay, the Commodore espied the enemy toward the head of the lake, and he iminediately sailed up and commenced action. His flag vessel, the
Lawrence, was engaged with the whole force of the enemy for
nearly two hours before the wind permitted the other vessels to
come in proper position to help. The crew of this vessel continued
the fight until every one of them was either killed or wounded, all
the rigging torn to pieces and every gun dismantled. Now comes
the daring feat of the engagement which makes Perry a hero. He
caused his boat to be lowered, in which he rowed to the Niagara
amid the storm of shot and shell raging around him. This vessel
he sailed through the enemy's fleet with a swelling breeze, pouring
in her broadsides upon their ships and forcing them to surrender in
rapid succession, until all were taken. The smaller vessels of his
fleet helped in this action, among which was one commanded by
the brave and faithful Capt. Elliott. This victory was one of the
most decisive in all the annals of American history. It opened
the lake to Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, who had been operating in
Indiana and Ohio, and who now crossed with his army to Canada,
where he had a short campaign, terminated by the battle of the
Moravian towns, by which the enemy were driven from the northwestern frontier. A detachment of his army occupied Detroit
Sept. 29, 1813, and Oct. 18 an armistice was concluded with the
Indians, thus restoring tranquillity to the Territory of Michigan.
Soon afterward Gen. Harrison left Gen. Cass in command at
Detroit and moved with the main body of his army down to the
Niagara frontier.
Perry's brilliant success gave to the Americans the uncontrolled
command of the lake, and Sept. 23 their fleet landed 1,200
men near Malden. Col. Proctor, however, had previously evacuated that post, after setting fire to the fort and public storehouses. Corn. Perry in the meantime passed up to Detroit with
the "Ariel" to assist in the occupation of that town, while Capt.
Elliott, with the "Lady Prevost," the "Scorpion," and the
" Tigress," advanced into Lake St. Clair to intercept the enemy's
stores. Thus Gen. Harrison, on his arrival at Detroit and Malden,
found both places abandoned by the enemy, and was met by the
Canadians asking for his protection. Tecumseh proposed to the
British commander that they should hazard an engagement at Mal