ur vessel;
at least, if I can judge by comparison; for those which we have
on board of this ship are attentive and obedient, and, as far as
I can judge, many of them excellent seamen: at any rate, the men
sent to Lake Erie have been selected with a view of sending a
fair proportion of petty officers and seamen; and, I presume,
upon examination it will be found that they are equal to those
upon this lake."[7]

Perry was not long in discovering that the Negroes whom Commodore
Chauncey had sent him were competent, faithful, and brave; and his
former prejudice did not prevent him from speaking their praise.

"Perry speaks highly of the bravery and good conduct of the
negroes, who formed a considerable part of his crew. They seemed
to be absolutely insensible to danger. When Captain Barclay came
on board the 'Niagara,' and beheld the sickly and party-colored
beings around him, an expression of chagrin escaped him at
having been conquered by such men. The fresh-water service had
very much impaired the health of the sailors, and crowded the
sick-list with patients."[8]

These brave Negro sailors served faithfully through all the battles on
the Lakes, and in the battle of Lake Erie rendered most effective
service. Once more the artist has rescued from oblivion the heroism of
the Negroes; for in the East Senate stairway of the Capitol at
Washington, and in the rotunda of the Capitol at Columbus, in the
celebrated picture of Perry's Victory on Lake Erie, a Negro sailor has
a place among the immortalized crew.

The following testimony to the bravery of Colored sailors is of the
highest character.

"EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM NATHANIEL SHALER, COMMANDER OF THE
PRIVATE-ARMED SCHOONER 'GOV. TOMPKINS,' TO HIS AGENT IN NEW YORK,
DATED--

"AT SEA, Jan. 1, 1813.

* * * * *

"Before I could get our light sails in, and almost before I could
turn round, I was under the guns, not of a transport, but of a
large _frigate_! and not more than a quarter of a mile from
her.... Her first broadside killed two men, and wounded six
others.... My officers conducted themselves in a way that would
have done honor to a more permanent service.... The name of one
of my poor fellows who was killed ought to be registered in the
book of fame, and re