BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
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.
BATTLE OF THE THAMES.
As soon as General Harrison received the news of the triumph on Lake Erie, he hastened to put his army in motion to meet Proctor. Crossing the Lake, by means of Perry’s victorious squadron, he reached Malden, which the British and Indians had abandoned the day before. On the 2d of October, Harrison moved forward in pursuit of the enemy, and on the 5th, came up with them, at a strong position on the banks of the Thames. The Indians, under Tecumseh, were placed in a dense wood, while the British regulars were drawn up in open files, their flanks protected by the river and a morass. Colonel Johnson, with the mounted volunteers, was ordered to attack the Indians, while Harrison formed another battalion of the same troops, and ordered them to charge and break the line of regulars. This novel manœuvre was executed with complete success. The British force was compelled to surrender. The Indians maintained a desperate contest until the great Tecumseh was slain, when they broke and fled. This victory was decisive. Very few were killed and wounded on both sides, but the enemy were entirely captured or dispersed.