I OLIVER HAZARD PERRY AND THE KENTUCKIANS WHO HELPED TO WIN THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, SEPTEMBER 10, 1813 Oliver Hazard Perry, who was so largely instrumental in producing the conditions which immediately preceded the battle of the Thames, is one of the most unique characters in American history. He was born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, August 23, 1785; died in Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad, August 23, 1819. Although only thirty-four years of age at the time of his death, he had won glorious immortality. His father before him was a naval officer. His mother was a brilliant and accomplished woman, the granddaughter of an officer in the Scotch army and who had signed the Solemn League and Covenant in Scotland. The father, Christopher Raymond Perry, was the mate on the ship on which the mother sailed to America to visit Doctor Benjamin Rush, and this acquaintance led to their engagement. They were shortly afterward married. Oliver Hazard Perry was made a lieutenant in the American navy on the 15th of January, 1807. While in command of the schooner "Revenge," cruising off the south coasts of the United States, he lost his ship, but was acquitted of all blame by a court of inquiry. When the war opened with England he was probably the best ordnance officer in the American navy. He was painstaking, energetic, and brave, and had the capacity for mastering the details of everything he undertook. Disappointed in securing the command of a ship, he tendered his services to Commodore Chauncey, and he was sent at once to Lake Erie. Traveling in sleighs, he reached Erie on the 27th of March, 1813, and at once began the construction of the "Lawrence" and the Niagara," and the other vessels then being fitted out for service on the lake. Surrounded by great difficulties, he pushed his work with such tremendous energy that he was able to move out from Put-In-Bay on September 10, 1813, with nine small vessels manned by about five hundred landsmen and sailors, many of whom had never seen salt water, but by practice and constant drilling, within five months Perry had transformed some of these men into fairly good artillerists. He was to meet an experienced and brave commander on the English side Robert Heriot Barclay. The English ships were better armed and better manned than the American vessels. After a contest at close range, and exhibiting great skill and courage, Perry forced the English fleet to run up the white flag, and after four hours of tremendous |