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Battle of Lake Erie...



Item # 572972

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September 25, 1813

THE WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, September 25, 1813
 
* Battle of Lake Erie
* Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry

An inside page has content From Lake Erie which includes a dispatch from Commodore Perry to the Secretary of the Navy (dated September 10, 1813, 4 P.M.) mentioning a signal victory against the British on Lake Erie, stating that the enemy squadron ..."have at this moment surrendered to the force under my command...," signed in type: O.H. Perry.

Below this is another dispatch (same date as the previous one) from Perry to the Secretary containing one of the most famous comments in the history of military communications: "We have met the enemy ; and they are ours...", signed in type: O. H. Perry.

There is yet another dispatch from Perry, plus a detailed letter from Perry to Gen. Harrison describing his thrilling and historical naval engagement against the British on Lake Erie during the War of 1812, also signed in type: O. H. Perry. Other war-related content as well.

Octavo-size and complete in 16 pages. This issue is in great condition.

wikipedia:
The two squadrons met near Put-in-Bay, Ohio, on September 10. The wind was light. Barclay initially held the weather gauge, but the wind shifted and allowed Perry to close and attack. Perry hoped to get his two big brigs, his flagship USS Lawrence and USS Niagara into carronade range quickly. However, the Niagaraunder Elliotwas slow to come into action (it may have been obstructed by the unhandy Caledonia) and aboard the Lawrence, Perry had to face three British ships alone. This would prove a matter of dispute between the men for many years.

Although the American gunboats steadily pounded the British ships from a distance, Lawrence was eventually reduced to a wreck. Four-fifths of its crew were killed or wounded. Both of the fleets surgeons were sick with lake fever, so the wounded were taken care of by the assistant, Usher Parsons. Perry decided to transfer his flag. He was rowed a half mile (1 km) through heavy gunfire to the Niagara while the Lawrence was surrendered.

Once aboard Niagara, Perry dispatched Elliot to bring the gunboats into closer action, while he led Niagara at Barclays damaged ships. Niagaras broadsides severely wounded Barclay. Detroit collided with another British ship, HMS Queen Charlotte, and both ships surrendered, being unmanageable and their commanders having been killed or wounded. The smaller British gunboats tried to flee but were overtaken and also surrendered.

Although Perry won the battle on the Niagara, he received the British surrender on the deck of the recaptured Lawrence so as to allow the British to see the terrible price his men had suffered.

Category: Pre-Civil War