Naval Battle on Lake Erie.s

IN the spring of 1813, the Caledonia brig and four small schooners were repaired at the navy yard, half a mile below Black Rock. At the same time four boats and two 20 gun brigs were building at Erie.

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The command of these little squadrons was given by Commodore Chauncey to Commodore Perry. But to meet the enemy, whose force was superior, with any prospect of success, it was necessary that a junction of the two divisions should be formed. To prevent this, the Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost were cruising between Erie and Buffalo. Fortunately, however, he eluded their vigilance and passed them with light vessels in the night, unperceived.

Arrived at Erie, Lieut. Perry used every exertion to expedite the building, equipment and sailing of the brigs; and early in August the whole squadron was ready to sail..

But it was necessary to pass the bar at the entrance of the harbor of Erie, cover which there was but six feet water and the two brigs Lawrence and Niagara drew.nine! Many entertained an opinion that it would. be impracticable for our squadron to get out, especially, as the British fleet appeared off the harbor, for the purpose of preventing ours from getting over the bar. ... The means employed to get the heavy brigs over the bar, deserve mention. Two large scows, 50 feet long,

10 feet wide, and six feet deep, built for the occasion, were filled with water and floated along side of one of the brigs in a parallel direction; they were then secured by means of large pieces of hewn timber placed athwart ship with both ends projecting from the port holes of the brig and reaching across both scows. The water was then bailed from the scows, which gave them an astonishing lifting power, and enabled them to float over the bar.

At the moment the brigs were ready to cross the bar, the British fleet made its appearance off the harbor, but a well directed fire from a commanding battery below the town caused the enemy to keep at a more respectful distance. The auspicious opportuniy was seized to pass into the open lake.

One obstacle was surmounted, but the fleet was not in a condition to seek the enemy at Malden, There were not at this time more than half sailors enough to man the fleet. However, a number of Pennsylvania militia having volunteered their services, the, commo dore made a short cruize off Long Point, more perhaps, for the purpose of exercising his men than seeking an enemy.

About the last of August commodore Perry left Erie, to cooperate with gen. Harrison in the reduction of Malden. He anchored off the mouth of Sandusky river, and had an interview with gen. Harrison, who furnished him with about seventy volunteers, principally Ken tuckians, to serve as marines on board the fleet. Capt Dobbin, in the Ohio, was ordered to return to Erie for provisions. The Amelia had been left there for want of men to man her. Exclusive of these the had nine sail, mounting in all fifty four guns.. The British fleet

at Malden, consisted of six sail, and mounted sixty six

guns.

Com. Perry appeared before Malden, offered battle, reconnoitered the enemy and retired to Put in Bay, thirty five miles distant from his antagonist. Both parties remained a few days inactive; but their repose was that of the lion.

On the morning of the 10th of September, at sunrise, the enemy were discovered bearing down from Malden for the evident purpose of attacking our squadron, then at anchor in Put in Bay. Not a moment was to be lost. Our squadron immediately got under way and stood out to meet the British fleet, which at this time had the weather gage. At 10 A. M. the wind shifted from S. W. to S. E. which brought our squadron to windward. The wind was light, the day was beautiful-not a cloud obscured the horizon. The line was formed at 11, and com. Perry caused an elegant flag, which he had privately prepared, to be hoisted at the mast head of the Lawrence; on this flag was painted in characters, legible to the whole fleet, the dying words of the immortal LAWRENCE DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP." Its effect is not to be described-every heart was electrified. The crews cheered the exhilerating can was passed. Both fleets appeared eager for the conflict, on the result of which so much depended. At 15 minutes before 12, the Detroit, the headmost ship of the enemy, opened upon the Lawrence, which for 'ten minutes was obliged to sustain a well directed and heavy fire from the enemy's two large ships, without being able to return it with caronades: at five minutes before 12, the Lawrence opened upon the enemy-the other vessels were ordered to support her, but the wind was at this time

too light to enable them to come up. Every brace and bowline of the Lawrence being soon shot away, she became unmanageable, and in this situation sustained the action upwards of two hours, within canister distance, until every gun was rendered useless, and but a small part of her crew left unhurt upon deck.

At half past two the wind increased and enabled the Niagara to come into close action-the gun boats took a nearer position. Com. Perry left the ship in command of Lieut. Yarnall, and went on board the Niagara. Just as he reached that vessel, the flag of the Lawrence came down ; the crisis had arrived. Capt. Elliot at this moment anticipated the wishes of the commodore, by volunteering his services to bring the schooners into close action.

At forty five minutes past two, the signal was made for close action. The Niagara being very little injured, and her crew fresh, the commodore determined to pass through the enemy's line; he accordingly passed ahead of the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, pouring a terrible raking fire into them from the starboard guns, and on the Chippeway and Little Belt, from the larboard side, at half pistol shot distance. The small vessels at this time having got within grape and canister distance, kept up a well directed and destructive fire. The action now raged with the greatest fury-the Queen Charlotte, having lost her commander and several of her principal officers, in a moment of confusion got foul of the Detroit-in this situation the enemy in their turn had to sustain a tremendous fire without the power of returning it with much effect; the carnage was horrible-the flags of the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost were struck in rapid suc

cession. The brig Hunter and schooner Chippeway, were soon compelled to follow the example. The Little Belt attempted to escape to Malden, but she was pursued by two of the gun boats and surrendered about three miles distant from the scene of action. :

The writer of this account, in company with five others arrived at the head of Put in Bay island on the evening of the 9th, and had a view of the action at the distance of only ten miles. The spectacle was truly grand and awful. The firing was incessant for the space of three hours, and continued at short invals for forty minutes longer. In less than an hour af ter the battle began, 'most of the vessels of both fleets were inveloped in a cloud of smoke, which rendered the issue of the action uncertain, till the next morning, when we visited the fleet in the harbor on the opposite side of the island. Tite reader will easily judge of our solicitude to learn the result. There is no sentiment more painful than suspense, when it is excited by the uncertain issue of an event which so deeply affects the national interest.

If the wind had continued at S. W. it was the intention of Admiral Barclay to have boarded our squadron ; for this purpose he had taken on board his fleet about 200 of the famous 41st regiment; they acted as marines and fought bravely, but nearly two thirds of them were either killed or wounded.

The carnage on board the prizes was prodigious they must have lost 200 in killed, besides wounded. The sides of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte were shattered from bow to stern; there was scarcely room to place one's hand on their larboard sides without touching the impression of a shot a great many balls,