| Summary: | EARLY HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 123 Brig "Lawrence" (flagship)—Lieut. John J. Yarnall. Brig "Niagara"-—Master-Commandant Jesse D. Elliott. Brig "Caledonia"—Lieut. Daniel Turner. Schooner "Ariel"—Lieut. John H. Packett. Schooner "Tigress"—Lieut. Augustus H. N. Conckling. Sloop "Trippe"—Lieut. Thomas Holdup. Schooner "Porcupine"—Midshipman George Senate. Schooner "Scorpion"—Sailing-Master Stephen Champlin, who fired the first American shoti Schooner "Somers"—Sailing-Master Thomas C. Almy. The "Ohio," Capt. Daniel Dobbins, was not in the battle, having been sent to Erie for provisions and supplies, and was at Erie during the action. Capt. Robert Heriot Barclay, thirty-six years of age, commanding the British squadron, had fought with Nelson at Trafalgar, had lost one arm fighting the French, and was destined to lose the other in this battle. THE ACTION (From the American Point of View) The date of the battle is September lo, 1813. Perry, in his report, calls it a three hours' engagement. It was a cloudless autumn day with a light breeze blowing and a smooth sea. The ships of the British squadron had been freshly painted in the harbor of Maiden, and presented a gallant appearance as they swung into action, flying the red cross of St. George at the masthead. At 1 1 :45 A. M. the squadrons were a mile apart. The "Detroit" fired a 24-pounder, the shot passing beyond the "Lawrence." At 12:15 Perry made sail with the "Lawrence," the "Ariel" and the "Scorpion," to get at close quarters and to engage the "Detroit," the "Hunter," the "Queen Charlotte" and the "Lady Prevost." There were but seven guns of long range on the American vessels to thirty-one on the British vessels. Perry's guns were of heavy calibre, Barclay's were of longer range. The roar of the guns was heard at Erie. The total number of men and boys engaged on the American side, according to the roll that drew prize money, was 532 of these 432 were on deck, one-fourth being regular naval seamen. The official report of the British shows that they had 450 men on deck, 150 of whom were picked men from the British navy, and 240 soldiers from the Forty-first Regiment of the Line and the Newfoundland Rangers. At 2 130 the "Lawrence,'' the "Ariel" and the "Scorpion" had been in action two hours and forty-five minutes. A broadside from the enemy carried away the bowsprit and masts of the "Lawrence," riddled her hull and silenced her guns. Perry transferred his colors to the "Niagara," crossing the half-mile of intervening space, in a small boat under a heavy fire, continued his firing from her decks, and signaling his fleet for close action, opened a cross fire upon the British flagship, which example was followed by the rest of the American squadron. At 2 45 the British squadron's line was broken. According to John Chapman, a gunner on the "Queen Charlotte," by the carrying away of one of her sails she was at the mercy of the wind, and ran afoul of the "Detroit," becoming entangled Internet Archive
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