OLIVER H. PERRY.

THE SUCCESS of our naval warfare with England in the revolutionary 'ruggle, and in the war of 1812, has given a greater impulse to the riotic feelings of our nation than a hundred battles on land would

produced, however victorious they might have been. In jus

this feeling, and to keep it alive, the general history of our hould be familiar to every one in the nation.

are many of our naval heroes who deserve much from trymen, and who should be grouped in our history, as well

for distinction in our biography. From among these eted, for this number of our work, a name dear to all Heart their country's honor.

RD PERRY was born at Newport in August, 1785. ined for the navy by his father, then in the service 3. He was entered a midshipman on board of eneral Greene, in 1798; a period of general

of our commercial difficulties with France. hat time to gain any other laurels than those nds by polite observances of gentlemanly These are truly earnests of future 1 as things of promise as well as of

V.

the Tripolitan war, and secured the officers and men in the squadron. ain information, and showing to ...g instructed, and ready on any ne, very early in life, an accomplished

as a lieutenant commandant in the schooner Reel attached to the squadron under Commodore Rodgers London, and employed in Long Island Sound to prevent in-ons of the embargo laws. In this vessel, in the spring of 1811,

OLIVER H. PERRY.

THE success of our naval warfare with England in the revolutionary struggle, and in the war of 1812, has given a greater impulse to the patriotic feelings of our nation than a hundred battles on land would have produced, however victorious they might have been. In justice to this feeling, and to keep it alive, the general history of our navy should be familiar to every one in the nation.

There are many of our naval heroes who deserve much from their countrymen, and who should be grouped in our history, as well as separated for distinction in our biography. From among these we have selected, for this number of our work, a name dear to all who have at heart their country's honor.

OLIVER HAZARD PERRY was born at Newport in August, 1785. He was early destined for the navy by his father, then in the service of the United States. He was entered a midshipman on board of the sloop of war General Greene, in 1798; a period of general excitement on account of our commercial difficulties with France.

He was too young at that time to gain any other laurels than those which are won from friends by polite observances of gentlemanly courtesy and strict probity. These are truly earnests of future fame, and should be prized as things of promise as well as of present value.

Midshipman PERRY was in the Tripolitan war, and secured the affection and respect of all the officers and men in the squadron. By seizing every opportunity to gain information, and showing to all that he was desirous of being instructed, and ready on any occasion to instruct, he became, very early in life, an accomplished navigator and seaman.

In 1810, he was a lieutenant commandant in the schooner Revenge, a vessel attached to the squadron under Commodore Rodgers at New London, and employed in Long Island Sound to prevent infractions of the embargo laws. In this vessel, in the spring of 1811,

inquiry on his conduct. The court acquitted him of all blame, and reported that it was owing to his coolness and intrepidity that the guns and other property, with the crew of the Revenge, were saved. Such a misfortune often tries an officer's character more than several ordinary battles.

The nation not only responded to the report of the court of inquiry, but Mr. Secretary Hamilton wrote Lieutenant PERRY a very complimentary letter on his admirable conduct under the calamity. It is seldom that an officer gains by his misfortunes, but this was distinctly the case with PERRY.

This time of peace and restrictive system was trying to our naval commanders; they hated to be made spies upon smugglers, and overseers of little matters; and many of them resigned their commissions.

In 1812, Lieutenant PERRY was promoted to the rank of master and commander, and appointed to the command of the gunboats in the harbor of New York; but he was soon disgusted with this service, for it was dull and inactive, and did not afford any chance of gaining distinction, or of improvement in naval tactics. Every sailor under his command imbibed the same impressions; and when, at his solicitations, he was ordered to Lake Ontario to reinforce Commodore Chauncey, his men volunteered to go with him. On his arrival at Sackett's Harbor, Commodore Chauncey ordered PERRY to Lake Erie to superintend the building of vessels, in order to meet the force the British had on those waters. He commenced his labors with extraordinary zeal, and gave animation to every heart and hand engaged in increasing the naval power on Lake Erie. On the 4th of August he got his squadron over the bar, and swept into the deep waters of the lake. The enemy did not molest him while in this unpleasant situation, although they were daily watching his movements. He sailed in pursuit of the squadron, but soon returned, not being able to meet them. Being reinforced by a considerable number of men, on the 12th he sailed again; on the 15th he arrived at Sandusky; then cruised about Malden, and offered battle to the enemy's fleet at anchor under the guns of the fort, but the challenge was not accepted.

On the 10th of September the American squadron were lying at Put-in-Bay; at sunrise the British squadron were discovered by PERRY, making towards him. PERRY's force was two twenty-gun brigs, and several small vessels, carrying in all fifty-four guns, and manned with about six hundred persons; sailors, landsmen, and boys. The British

force was superior in men and metal, being six vessels, carrying sixty-three guns. At eleven o'clock, A. M., the British were formed in line of battle; but the wind now changing, PERRY had an opportunity to bear down upon them as he chose. The commodore, in the Lawrence, led. From her mast head was displayed the last words of the gallant Captain Lawrence, who fell in the action between the Chesapeake and Shannon: "Don't give up the ship." At a few minutes past twelve, the British commenced firing, and some damage was done to the Lawrence before PERRY could make his short guns bear upon the enemy. At length he opened his battery, and stood the fire of the enemy's force for two hours. The other part of his own fleet did not come to his assistance. The Lawrence was become unmanageable; her decks were strewed with the dead; her guns were dismounted. At this moment PERRY conceived a bold and most admirable design. It was no sooner conceived than it was put in execution. Giving the command of the Lawrence to Lieutenant Yarnell, he took his flag under his arm, jumped into his boat, and amidst a shower of shot made his way to the Niagara, the second ship of his squadron. He went off from the Lawrence standing up in his boat; but the seamen, seeing how much he was exposed, seized him with affectionate violence, and pulled him down to a seat. His flag was now seen flying from the mast head of the Niagara, comparatively a fresh ship. This was a moment full of peril. The youthful hero was as calm as adventurous. He brought his ship in a position to break the enemy's line of battle. He gave two ships a raking fire with his starboard guns, poured a broadside into a schooner from his larboard tier, and lay his ship alongside of the British commodore. The effect of his fire was terrific, and the enemy's battery was silenced in a very short time. The small American vessels were soon brought up, and the contest decided, which had now lasted for nearly three hours. The enemy was not only entirely subdued, but all his vessels were taken, and brought to the American side of the lake. Never did a warrior fight with a braver or more skilful foe. Commodore Barclay, who commanded the British squadron on that day, was a man of no ordinary fame. He had gained laurels at the battle of Trafalgar, and other sea-fights, where Englishmen had bled and won the victory; but this day his experience did not avail him-he was forced to yield. The loss was great on both sides, but much more severe on the part of the British. They had two hundred killed and wounded; the Americans about one hundred and twenty-three.