Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. THE FATE OF THE FLAG-SHIP LAWRENCE. At fifteen minutes before twelve, Barclay began the action by firing a single twentyfour pound shot at the Lawrence, which had then approached within a mile and a half, or less, of the British line. The shot did not take effect; but it was clear that he desired to conduct the fight with the American squadron at a distance, which his very great superiority in long guns marked out as his wisest plan. It was, on the other hand, the object of Perry to bring his squadron as near to his antagonist as possible, for he had the advantage in weight of metal. In five minutes more the shot from the Detroit struck the Lawrence, and passed through its bulwarks. At that moment, the advantage lay altogether with the British, whose line headed nearly south-southwest; the Americans, as they advanced, headed about southwest, with the wind abeam; so that the two lines formed an acute angle of about fifteen degrees; the Lawrence as yet scarcely reached beyond the third vessel in the British line, so that she was almost as much in the rear of the Detroit as in advance of the Queen Charlotte. The Caledonia was in its designated place in the American line, at a half-cable's length from the Lawrence; and from the angle which the line formed, a little less near the enemy. The Niagara, which followed the Caledonia, was abaft the beam of the Charlotte, and opposite the Lady Prevost, but at a slightly greater distance from the British than the ships which preceded her. As for the gun-boats, they would have spread beyond the British lines by more than a quarter of a mile, had they been in their places, each distant from the other a half-cable's length; but they were dull sailors, and the sternmost was more than two...