University of Virginia Library

Edwin C. Holland, Esq.

“The last eastern mail has brought us the welcome
news of Another Naval Victory, the particulars
of which I will relate as far as they have
been made public, before I descend to local and
domestic subjects.

“On the fifth instant, the United States brig
Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth under the command
of lieutenant Burrows, a young officer who
served in the Mediterranean with honor and success,
during our contention with the Barbary
powers. On the next day, which was Sunday,
she fell in with an English brig of equal force,
called the Boxer, commanded by captain Blythe,
who immediately ordered his colors nailed to the
mast, fired a shot as a challenge, and bore down
upon the Enterprise. The action commenced
within half-pistol-shot, and was obstinately maintained
for about three quarters of an hour, when
the enemy cried for quarter, declaring that their
colors were nailed, and could not be struck.

“The gallant Burrows had been mortally
wounded, by a musket ball, at the commencement
of the battle, but refused to be taken from
the deck, where he continued during the whole of
the action, exhorting his officers to do their duty,
and never suffer the flag to be struck. When the
sword of his brave enemy was presented to him,
he clasped his hands together and exclaimed—
“I am satisfied—I die contented.” He was then
carried below, and shortly after expired. Captain
Blythe, of the Boxer, was also killed, being
struck with a cannon ball. This gallant officer
was one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of the
unfortunate Lawrence, in Halifax.

“After the fall of Burrows, the command of
the Enterprise devolved on lieutenant M`Call,
whose cool and determined courage throughout
the action, has received the warmest approbation
of every officer on board. He conducted the prize
into Portland on Monday last, and on the following
day, the bodies of Burrows and Blythe were
intombed with military honors. Burrows was in
the twenty-eighth year of his age, and has left
two amiable sisters to lament his loss.

“The bodies of captain Lawrence, and lieutenant
Ludlow, arrived at the navy-yard, (in
Charleston, near Boston) on the third instant,
having been brought from Halifax by captain
Crowninshield, of Salem, at his own expense, for
the purpose of bestowing on them funeral honors
in their native country. On captain Crowninshield's
return to Salem with the bodies of these
heroes, they were publicly interred with every
honor that a grateful town could bestow. In the
mean time, Edward N. Coxe, esq. brother-in-law
of Lawrence, proceeded to Salem for the purpose
of receiving and conveying to New-York, the remains
of that beloved and universally lamented
hero.

“On arriving at the Navy-Yard, the bodies
were placed in covered waggons, and proceeded
by land to New-York. This mode of conveyance
became necessary, in consequence of the refusal
of captain Oliver, who now commands the British
squadron off New-London, (commodore Hardy
having sailed for Halifax) to comply with the request
made by commodore Decatur, that the
bodies might be permitted to proceed round to
New-York from Salem, in the cartel which brought
them from Halifax. Such refusal was unworthy

a brave enemy, and forms a striking contrast to
the generous magnanimity which has characterized
our naval commanders during the present
war.

“I arrived in this town on the thirtieth ultimo,
after a very pleasant journey. On parting with
you at Niagara, I proceeded to Batavia, where I
tarried that night, and on the night following slept
at Bloomfield, about thirty-six miles further. The
next day at sunset, I crossed Cayuga Ferry, and
took lodgings in the village, which is beautifully
situated on the eastern margin of Cayuga lake.
On taking a survey, the next morning, of the delightful
scenery which surrounds this lake, I felt
a strong desire to enjoy a sail on its pure and
limpid bosom. This inclination for an aquatic
excursion, was not, I assure you, much diminished
by recollecting that the village of Ithaca was
situated at the southern extremity of this inviting
sheet of water, which is about forty miles in
length, varying from one to four in breadth.

“I soon struck a bargain with the owner of a
handsome little pleasure-boat, who agreed to take
me and my baggage to the head of the lake, while
my young Jehu was directed to proceed to Ithaca
with the waggon, along the Aurora turnpike, on
the eastern shore. The wind was fair, and the
day fine. We set sail about eight o'clock, and a
more charming excursion I think I never enjoyed.
The shore of this lake is considerably indented,
and pleasingly irregular; in some places terminating
in pecipices, but in general about ten or
twelve feet high, with unbroken acclivities that
rise from one to two hundred feet in about half a
mile from the lake. The scenery, on each side,
is beautifully picturesque, and is interspersed with

little thriving villages that give it a very pleasing
effect. I noticed Romulus and Ovid on the west,
and Scipio, Aurora, Levana, and Genoa, on the
east. In the town of Scipio, on the lake shore,
stands the old Cayuga castle, the residence of the
Cayuga Indians. Each of these villages, I was
informed by the boatmen, contain a respectable
academy, and a well selected library, and either
of them must be an eligible situation for the education
of youth, being far retired from the fascinations
and luxuries of a city life, and blest with
every charm within the gift of nature.

“I discharged my boat, and entered Ithaca
about four o'clock in the afternoon, waited on
Mrs. Woodcock immediately, and found Catharine
much improved in health. The roses were
again beginning to bloom on her cheek, but are, I
presume, frequently watered from her eyes. Her
whole countenance was lighted with pleasure on
seeing me, and she confessed that she had not,
since the death of her mother, felt so happy as she
did for the two days I tarried in Ithaca.

“On taking leave of the hospitable family under
whose protection Catharine remains, I proceeded
to Homer, in the county of Cortland;
thence to Sherburne, in Chenango county, and
from thence to Cherry-Valley, in Otsego county.
This village is beautifully situated in the principal
vale of a large township bearing the same name,
and is most romantically environed by high hills.
Almost all the principal roads in the state of New-York
intersect each other at this village, which
gives it a great amount of trade and opulence.
On leaving Cherry-Valley, I passed through Sharon,
Cobelskill, Duanesburg, and Albany. Then
took the great eastern road through Greenbush,

New-Lebanon Springs, and entered my native
state in the town of Hancock. I then proceeded
through Pittsfield, Northampton, Worcester and
Cambridge, to Boston, where I arrived in safety,
and found all our friends in good health.

“While I was at Ithaca, Mr. Woodcock related
to me a circumstance that deserves recording in
your journal, if you have not already noticed it.
You have doubtless heard Fleming mention a relative
of his family named O'Fling, who assisted
in establishing our independence, by serving
through the revolutionary war as a private soldier,
from motives of patriotism alone. Some time last
January, he repaired to a rendezvous at Batavia,
with four of his sons, who all enlisted (together
with their father) as privates in the United States
army, for five years.

“This instance of disinterested patriotism, is
not, however, without a parallel. About a month
after the foregoing event, one of the venerable
heroes of Saratoga and his four sons presented
themselves at the rendezvous of lieutenant Loring,
in Burlington, (Vt.) for the purpose of enlisting
under the banners of their country. `I
thought,' says the aged veteran, `that we had
taught Britain a lesson that she would not have
forgotten in my day, but we will show her that a
nation of freemen is irresistible. I was then what
my boys are now, yet am still able to push a
bayonet in defence of my injured country!'
Heath is the name of these worthies. They all
resided in Johnston—the eldest son is thirty-one,
the youngest nineteen years of age.

“Spare no pains to obtain some intelligence of
Fleming. Write often, and believe me to be, as
heretofore, your affectionate father.

“You was right, my dear Willoughby—“Revenge
will not remedy the evil.” British blood
has flowed in torrents, and still I am the last remaining
twig on our family tree; nor can all the
blood that flows in English veins, resuscitate the
other branches, or restore my lost happiness.
We have had a battle, and hundreds of Englishmen
are laid low—many of them beneath the waters
of Erie. The survivors are our prisoners,
and I have conversed with many of them who
would willingly die for their country, but who
loudly condemn the conduct of those ministers
whose ambition has plunged them into a war
with their brethren. It is the blood of such men,
the blood of our brethren, that has so lavishly
crimsoned the waves of this lake, and their
blood will cry for vengeance on those ambitious
wretches who guide the counsels of England.
You was right—these men, whom I have been so
eager to destroy, do `commiserate my sufferings,
and denounce the authors of them.' Every

English groan that has saluted my ears since the
battle, has caused me to confess—`that was not
the voice which decreed my brother's death; that
man had no hand in dragging me on board a
British ship; he never employed an Indian to
murder my sister; why then should I rejoice at
his sufferings?' I do not; I am a convert to your
doctrine, and my present tenderness to those poor
wounded men who are placed under my care,
shall in some measure atone for my former error.

“On the tenth instant, early in the morning,
while we were lying in Put-in-Bay, a man from
the mast-head cried out “a fleet!” The signal
was immediately made for getting under weigh,
and our squadron then beat out of the bay, to
meet the enemy's, which we perceived consisted
of two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one
sloop, with their larboard tacks on board, standing
to the south, under easy sail. The wind was,
at this time, about south-west, and we manœuvred
in such a manner as to preserve the weathergage
of the enemy. At ten o'clock the signal was
made for forming in line of battle, when the Lawrence
led the van, with the schooners Ariel and
Scorpion, on our weather bow. We were followed
in succession by the Caledonia, Niagara,
Porcupine, Somers, Tigress, and Tripp. The
ship Detroit led the enemy's van, followed by
the Hunter, Queen Charlotte, Lady Prevost,
Chippeway, and Little Belt.

“All was now profound silence on board both
squadrons; the wind was light, and we slowly
approached each other in awful majesty. Suddenly,
(and unexpectedly to every man in the
squadron except a few officers on board our brig)
a large Union Jack was run up to our mast head,

on which could be distinctly read throughout the
fleet, the dying words of that hero whose name
this vessel bears—“Don't give up the ship.”
At sight of it, such a burst of feeling arose from
every bosom, as might almost have been heard
from Erie to Malden.

“At about eleven o'clock the exhilirating
notes of a bugle sounded from the enemy's van
ship, which was followed by reiterated huzzas
from the crews of the different vessels in their
squadron.

“About noon we had approached within a
mile and a half of each other, when the Detroit,
which mounted long guns, opened a heavy fire
upon the Lawrence, which we were unable to
return, owing to the shortness of ours. Without
waiting for the schooners, which now fell astern,
our commodore kept on his course in such a gallant
and determined style, that the enemy supposed
it was our intention to board. Having gained
a nearer position, Perry directed us to return the
enemy's fire; but the length of their guns gave
them greatly the advantage, enabling them to
place a shot just where they pleased, while ours
fell short of them; thus the poor Lawrence was
pierced through and through, with a third of her
crew disabled, before we could make the enemy
feel a single shot.

“It now evidently appeared, that the plan of
the British commodore was to destroy this ship,
and thus throw the squadron into confusion. For
that purpose the fire of all his heaviest guns
was directed at the Lawrence alone, leaving our
other vessels unmolested. Signal was now made
for closing with the enemy, but this ship soon became
so crippled that she was perfectly unmanageable,

every brace and bowline being cut
away, and in this situation we sustained the fight
for above two hours, and for a great part of that
time, could only get three or four guns to bear
upon the foe. In the mean time, our men were
rapidly cut down at their quarters, while others
stept into their places, to share the same fate.
The wounded were carried below, but the dead
remained where they fell. Our ship was reduced
to a mere wreck; the decks were streaming with
blood, and covered with mangled limbs and dead
bodies. One gun after another was dismounted,
and the commodore himself assisted to work the
last that could be fired.

“Finding, at length, that we could no longer
annoy the enemy from this ship, the gallant commodore
directed a boat to be lowered from the
stern, and manned; he then ordered his union
jack to be hauled down, which he deliberately
placed under his arm, gave the command of the
Lawrence to lieutenant Yarnell, and sprang into
the boat, directing his men to pull for the Niagara,
which was then hotly engaged. He first, however,
called to the pilot, and told him that he
might either accompany him or remain on board
the Lawrence. “I will stick by you to the last!”
exclaimed the brave fellow, and leaped into the
boat after his commander. “Pull away, my brave
boys!” exclaimed the hero, gallantly waving his
sword, standing erect in the stern of the boat,
while the balls whistled around him like a shower
of hail. An old sailor, who had been in both
battles of the Constitution, entreated him to be
seated, and finally forcibly pulled him down from
his elevated situation. For a moment the enemy's
fire was diverted from this devoted ship, and

directed against the little bark which we now
watched in breathless anxiety. But in vain were
whole broadsides levelled at it—in vain the whole
musketry of two vessels were poured around it—
that little bark contained a greater than Cæsar,
and passed through a shower of shot without receiving
one on board. In a few minutes we hailed
with transport his inspiring flag hoisted at the
mast-head of the Niagara, and beheld that noble
brig, dash, like a demon of vengeance, through
the enemy's line, raking right and left as she past,
pouring destruction on every side. In the next
moment she was lying yard-arm and yard-arm
with the British commodore. The smaller vessels
followed in order, under the direction of Elliot,
and the contest began to assume a more promising
aspect.

“In the mean time, the Lawrence (having sustained
the whole fury of the enemy) was wholly
incapable of any further defence, and a show of
resistance was only drawing destruction on the
relics of our mangled crew, many of whom were
killed in the steerage while under the surgeon's
hands. The brave Yarnell, therefore, ordered
our flag to be struck, and our brig hauled out of
the line; but the enemy being now too closely
engaged to take possession of us, our flag was
again hoisted, while the red-cross of England
descended, in succession, on board of every vessel
in the enemy's squadron, except two small ones
who attempted to escape, but were chased and
brought back by two of our small craft.

“Thus, by the unparalleled skill and bravery
of Perry, (whom every officer and seaman acknowledges
to be the saviour, under Heaven, of
the American squadron) we find ourselves in possession

of the ship Detroit, of twenty guns, large
twenty-four pounders; ship Queen Charlotte, of
nineteen guns; brig Hunter, of ten guns; schooner
Lady Prevost, of twelve guns; schooner Chippeway,
of one gun; and the sloop Little Belt, of
two guns. So that the American squadron is increased
by the addition of six vessels and sixty-four
guns, while the enemy have not a single gun
afloat on this lake.

“The engagement lasted about three hours,
and never was victory more decisive and complete.
The captured squadron, you perceive,
exceeds ours in number of guns as well as weight
of metal; their crews were more numerous, and
more prisoners were taken than we had men to
guard them. The loss on both sides is severe;
scarcely a man on board this brig has escaped
unhurt. I have, myself, however, fortunately
come off with a mere scratch in the breast, where
a splinter struck me. On board the Lawrence
there were twenty-two killed and sixty-one
wounded, although thirty-one of our crew were
on the sick list, and unfit for duty. Our total loss
throughout the squadron is twenty-seven killed,
and ninety-six wounded—a pretty strong evidence
that our brig bore the brunt of the action.
The day before the action, there were one hundred
and sixteen men in the squadron reported
unfit for duty.

“I am unable to state the loss of the enemy; it
must, however, have been immense, as several of
their vessels are literally cut to pieces; so much
so, that the masts of the two ships were all carried
away by the board, in a slight gale after the battle,
owing to their being so severely wounded in the
action. Barclay, the British commodore, has done

himself great honor by the gallant manner in
which he fought his squadron. Twice was he
carried below on account of his wounds, and as
often returned again upon deck. Little did I
think, when compelled to fight under this same
brave officer, in the battle of Trafalgar, that I
should ever fight against him. But so it is—
I was also in an engagement with him afterwards,
with a French ship, when he lost his arm. He is
a fine-looking officer, about thirty-six years old,
and has seen much service. A shot from our ship
deprived him of his remaining hand.

The first care of our humane commodore, after
the battle, was to attend to the comfort of the
suffering crews of both squadrons. The sick and
wounded are taken care of in the most tender
manner, and the officers who have fallen on both
sides, were buried last Sunday morning with the
honors of war, on an island in the lake.

“The prisoners have been landed at Sandusky,
and Perry has requested Harrison to have them
marched to Chilicothe, until the pleasure of
government respecting them is known. Perry is
now on board the Ariel, and Yarnell has been
directed to take the Lawrence to Erie, with all
the wounded of our fleet, as this ship is so cut up,
that it will not be safe to keep her on the lake
until repaired.

“By this time I suppose you are anxious to see
the names of those who have distinguished themselves
on this occasion. Well, then, attend.—
Next to the god-like Perry, (whose exalted merits

are far above the reach of any commendation my
humble pen can bestow) stands the gallant Elliott,
and the greatest praise that can be bestowed on
either of these heroes, is to say, that each of them
was himself—he that is more, is more than man.
When Perry arrived on board of the Niagara,
after leaving his own ship, Elliott discovered
that an important part of the fleet had assumed
improper positions, and immediately volunteered
his services to pass the whole of the enemy's
line, bring up these vessels, and place them in a
position better calculated to annoy the enemy.
The gallant offer was accepted; and Elliott
passed down the whole line, in a small boat,
while the enemy's fire was so incessant, that his
clothes were wet by the water which was dashed
on him by the balls that fell around his boat. In
this manner he proceeded to our gun-boats, and
ordered them to make sail, and follow him; they
did so, and he placed them under the sterns of
the enemy's two heaviest ships, which placed the
latter between two raking fires, and accelerated
their surrender.

“His eye was every where, and he soon observed
that the guns of the Somers were not well
served nor properly pointed; he therefore went
on board that vessel, and fired the thirty-two-pounder
three times himself, while Perry had
brought the Niagara into the midst of the enemy's
line, where she was spouting fire from both
sides at once. These manœuvres decided the
contest.

“Next to Elliott, I will mention the undaunted
Yarnell, who, though several times wounded, refused
to quit the deck. The officers, generally,
wore short-jackets, to prevent their being picked

off by the enemy's sharp shooters; and Yarnell
was also dressed as a common sailor. A red bandanna
handkerchief was tied round his neck, and
another round his head, to stanch two wounds he
had received. From these the blood trickled
down his face, and a splinter having passed
through his nose, it had swelled to a hideous magnitude.
In this frightful plight, looking like
the very genius of carnage and ill luck, he came
up to Perry, in the hottest and bloodiest of the
fight, and announced to him that all the officers
of his division were killed. Perry ordered others
in their place. Shortly after, Yarnell returned
with a repetition of the dismal tidings, that all
the officers were shot down: `Then, sir,' said
Perry, `you must endeavor to make out by yourself.
I have no more to furnish you.' Perry
escaped unhurt, as did also his brother, a young
midshipman on board the Lawrence.

“Webster, as I predicted, `acted well his part,
and there all the honor lies.' He acted as sailing
master on board the Niagara, and in breaking the
enemy's line, no officer ever excelled him. Even
the enemy have extolled the gallant style in which
the Niagara was brought into close action, and the
name of Webster has been publicly commended
by the commodore. The young hero now acts
as lieutenant, and Perry has assured him that the
first mail from Washington will furnish him with
a commission bearing date the tenth of this month.
Thus may bravery ever be rewarded.

“The following officers are spoken of as having
signalized themselves on this brilliant occasion:
lieutenants Brooks, Smith, Edwards, Turner,
and Packet; midshipmen Forest, Lamb,
Clarke, Claxton, and Swartwout; sailing master

Taylor and Champlin; pursers M`Grath and
Hambleton; and captain Brevoort, of the army,
who acted as a volunteer, in the capacity of a
marine officer, on board the Niagara, and did
great execution with his rifle. Brooks, Lamb,
and Clarke, are fallen, no more to rise. Hambleton,
who volunteered his services on deck,
was severely wounded, late in the action. Claxton
and Swartwout are also badly wounded.

“So much for officers—but heroism is not always
distinguished by an epaulet. A seaman
named Hall, in one of the gun-boats, observing
the last remaining sponge fall overboard, without
which the long gun would have been useless,
plunged into the waves and caught it—his comrades
seized the end of the sponge and drew him
on board, and then again poured away into the
enemy.

“James Bird, son of J. Bird, of Exeter, in
the state of New-Hampshire, was on board the
Lawrence, and did his duty like a hero. His
comrades fell thick around him, but he stood at
his post firm and undismayed. At length a canister
shot struck him on the shoulder, as he was
stooping to his gun, and he was instantly covered
with blood. His officer ordered him below, but
he ventured to disobey, preferring to do his duty
while he had life, to abandoning his post. The
blood flowed so fast, that another order was issued
to go below; when he ran down, got a hasty
bandage on the wound, and returned again upon
deck. Although his left arm was now useless,
yet he handed cartridges, and performed every
service in his power, with his right, until the stars
and stripes waved gloriously over the foe.

“Two Indian Chiefs had been stationed in the
tops of the Detroit, to pick off our officers with
their rifles. No sooner, however, did the ships
come into close action, than they were dismayed
by this new and tremendous species of battle,
and slunk into the hold. When the ship was
taken, they anticipated cruel treatment, if their
nation was discovered, and therefore borrowed
sailors' clothes, that they might pass for Englishmen.
Thus disguised, they lay in close concealment
for two days, when word was brought to
Perry, that two Indians were concealed below,
who had not tasted food for eight-and-forty hours.
He had them brought up on deck, where they
made a most uncouth and ludicrous appearance,
with their borrowed garments bagging about
them. They expected nothing less than to be
butchered and scalped; but, notwithstanding,
preserved the most taciturn inflexibility of muscle.
Perry, however, after putting a few good humoured
questions to them, ordered them to be taken
away and fed; a degree of lenity which seemed
to strike them with more surprise than their stoic
natures are apt to evince.

“Our surgeon relates an anecdote which may
serve to show the cool intrepidity of our seamen,
and their propensity to extract amusement from
the most frivolous incident—even amid the horrors
of a sanguinary battle. That part of the
Lawrence which was appropriated for the purpose
of a cockpit, was exposed to the enemy's
shot, and there the wounded and dying lay strewn
about in such numbers, that the feet of the surgeon
sank in blood and gore, which had acquired the
consistency of mud. We had a dog on board, and
confined him to this place during the action, that

he might not be in the way on deck. At every
new discharge of the enemy's guns, he howled
most pitiously for mercy; but as soon as a partial
silence succeeded, he would growl and bark defiance
at the enemy. A shot at length opened day-light
on that scene of gloom and horror, when the
dog immediately thrust his head through the shot-hole
and howled for quarters. The strange conduct
of this terrified animal, the surgeon assures
me, so diverted the wounded and dying, that they
burst into loud and intemperate peals of laughter.

“Your relation, Mr. Latamore, of Erie, is now
on board this vessel; he sets out on his return
home to-morrow, and has promised to forward
this letter to you with all convenient haste. We
proceed for the same place immediately, but as
the wind is ahead, he will outsail us on horseback.
He informs me that young Croghan has been rewarded
for his gallantry at Fort Sandusky, in the
best possible way that a young hero could wish
to be rewarded—by the fair. The ladies of
Chilicothe, it appears, have presented him an
elegant sword, as a testimony of their respect for
his bravery and patriotism; and government has
promoted him to the rank of colonel. Adieu.