1813.

PERRY CONQUERS THE ENEMY.

903

"At half past two, the wind springing up, Captain Elliott was enabled to bring his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close action; I immediately went on board of her, when he anticipated my wish by volunteering to bring the schooners which had been kept astern by the lightness of tbe wind, into close action.

"It was with unspeakable pain that I saw, soon after I got on board the Niagara, the flag of the Lawrence come down, although I was perfectly sensible that she had been defended to the last, and that to have continued to make a show of resistance would have been a wanton sacrifice of the remains of her brave crew. But the enemy was not able to take possession of her, and circumstances soon permitted her flag to be hoisted.

"At forty-five minutes past two, the signal was made for 'close action.' The Niagara being very little injured, I determined to pass through the enemy's line, bore up and passed ahead of their two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to them from the starboard guns, and to a large schooner and sloop, from the larboard side, at half pistol shot distance.

" The smaller vessels at this time having got within grape and canister distance, under the direction of Captain Elliott, and keeping up a well directed fire, the two ships, a brig, and a schooner, surrendered, a schooner and sloop making a vain attempt to escape.

" Those officers and men who were immediately under my observation evinced the greatest gallantry, and I have no doubt that all others conducted themselves as became American officers and Beamen."*

Meanwhile the American army had received its reinforcements, and was only waiting the expected victory of the fleet to embark.

On the 27th of September, it set sail for the shore of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of the deserted and wasted Maiden, from which Proctor had retreated to Sandwich, intending to make his way to the heart of Canada, by the valley of the Thames.t On the 29th, Harrison was at Sandwich, and McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. At this point Colonel Johnson's mounted rifle regiment, which had gone up the west side of the river, rejoined the main army.

On the 2d of October, the Americans began their march in

    American State Papers, xiv. 205. For Perry's Letters see Niles' Register, v. GO to 62.    \ Seo official accounts in Nilcs' Register, v. 117.