BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
On the morning of the 10th of September, while Perry’s squadron was lying in Put-in-bay, in Bass Island, the enemy’s fleet was discovered standing out from the port of Malden, with the wind in their favor. The American fleet immediately weighed anchor, cleared the islands at the head of the lake, and was formed in line of battle. A little before twelve o’clock, the action commenced, the British having the weathergage. For some time, the fire of the enemy was concentrated upon the St. Lawrence, Perry’s flag-ship, and she was much cut up, most of her crew killed or wounded, and her guns disabled. In the midst of the lire, Captain Perry passed in an open boat from the Lawrence to the Niagara, and succeeded in bringing the rest of his fleet into action. A well directed fire was then opened upon the enemy, and the battle then became close and warm. At length the British vessels having suffered severely from the superior gunnery of the Americans, struck their colors. The Lawrence, whose flag had been hauled down soon after Perry had left her, had been enabled to hoist it before the end of the contest, the enemy not being able to take possession of her. The American loss was twenty-five killed, and ninety-six wounded; that of the enemy, forty-one killed, and ninety-five wounded.
HARRISON CROSSING LAKE ERIE.