eight years of age, was in command. He had brought his sailors, ship carpenters and supplies four hundred miles through the unbroken forests, and had constructed his fleet from the forests on the lake shore in the remarkably brief time of six months.

Perry's fleet consisted of 2 ships, of 20 guns each, the Lawrence and the Niagara, and 7 smaller vessels, one of 4 guns, one of 3, two of 2, and three of 1, making a total of 54 guns, all of short range. During the construction of his flotilla, the British fleet often approached and threatened their destruction, but were prevented by the shallow water in the harbor. Finally, the ships were completed and launched, the larger ones by the aid of scows, and Commodore Perry at once proceeded to the head of the lake where he anchored in Put-in-Bay, opposite to, and distant 30 miles from Malden, where the British fleet lay protected by the fort.

The British fleet consisted of one ship of 19 guns, one of 17, one of 13, one of 10, one of 3, and one of 1,— amounting in all to 64 guns of long range. The fleet was in command of Commodore Barclay who had left one arm at Trafalgar where he fought under the illustrious Nelson.

On September 10th, at sunrise, the British fleet appeared off Put-in-Bay, distant about 10

miles. Commodore Perry immediately got under way with a light breeze from the southwest. At 10 o'clock the wind changed to the southeast, and Perry, on board the Lawrence, hoisted his motto, "Don't give up the ship," which was received with repeated cheers by the crew. A line of battle was then formed, and the fleet bore up towards the enemy, who, at the same time, were preparing for battle. The lightness of the wind caused the hostile squadrons to approach each other very slowly, and prolong for two hours the solemn interval of suspense and anxiety which precedes a battle. The order and regularity of naval discipline heightened the dreadful quiet of the occasion. No noise, and no bustle prevailed to distract the mind, except at intervals the shrill pipings of the boatswain's whistle, or a murmuring whisper among the men who stood around the guns, with lighted matches, closely watching the movements of the enemy, and occasionally stealing a glance at the countenances of their commanders. In this manner the hostile fleets gradually neared each other in awful silence.

At 15 minutes after eleven, a bugle was sounded on board the enemy's foremost ship, the Detroit. Loud cheers burst from all the enemy's crews and a tremendous fire was opened upon the Lawrence from the long range British

guns.

The Lawrence was obliged to sustain the fire for 40 minutes without returning a shot, owing to the short range of her guns.

Commodore Perry, without waiting for the other ships, kept on his course and at 12 o'clock opened fire from the Lawrence. The distance was still so great that his guns did little damage, while the sides of his own ship were continually being pierced by the British guns. Iis men were fast falling, and the magazine was greatly endangered. Commodore Perry, realiz ing the perilous position in which he stood, made all sail, and directed the others to follow, intending to close with the enemy. But the tremendous fire to which he was exposed soon cut away every brace and stay of the Lawrence, leaving her an unmanageable wreck. The utmost order and regularity still prevailed. As fast as the men at the guns were wounded they were carried below, and others took their places. The dead remained where they fell until the close of the action. At this juncture the enemy believed the battle already won.

& The Lawrence was reduced to a mere wreck; her deck was streaming with blood and covered with the mangled remains of her crew. Her guns were dismounted, but Commodore Perry and his officers helped to work the last one capable of service. At 2 o'clock Captain Elliot was

enabled, by an increase of wind, to bring his ship into close action, and Perry immediately determined to shift his flag on board that ship, leaving his own in charge of Lieutenant Yarnell. Taking his flag under his arm, Perry ordered a boat to place him on board the Niagara. Broadsides were leveled at his boat, and he received without injury, a shower of musketry from three of the enemy's ships. He landed safely and hoisted his flag with its animating motto. Captain Elliott was sent back to bring up the other schooners. At that moment the flag of the Lawrence was hauled down. She had sustained the principal force of the enemy's fire for more than two hours and was rendered incapable of defense. Any further show of resistance would have been a useless sacrifice of the remains of her brave and gallant crew. The enemy at the same time were so badly crippled that they were unable to take posession of her, and circumstances soon enabled the bleeding crew to again hoist her flag.

Commodore Perry then gave the signal to all the vessels for close action. Finding the Niagara in good condition, Perry determined upon the desperate plan of breaking the enemy's line of battle. He accordingly passed the head of two ships and gave them a raking fire at close range, and after getting the entire squadron into