gs, one
schooner, and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the
force under my command, after a sharp conflict.

I have the honour to be, etc.,
O. H. PERRY.

_____

_Captain O. H. Perry to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States schooner Ariel,
William JONES, Put-in-Bay, Sept. 13, 1813.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: In my last I informed you that we had captured the enemy's
fleet on this lake. I have now the honour to give you the most
important particulars of the action. On the morning of the 10th
instant, at sunrise, they were discovered from Put-in-Bay, where
I lay at anchor with the squadron under my command. We got under
weigh, the wind light at south-west, and stood for them. At 10
A.M. the wind hauled to south-east and brought us to windward;
formed the line and bore up. At 15 minutes before 12, the enemy
commenced firing; at five minutes before 12, the action commenced
on our part. Finding their fire very destructive, owing to their
long guns, and its being mostly directed at the Lawrence, I made
sail, and directed the other vessels to follow, for the purpose
of closing with the enemy. Every brace and bow line being soon
shot away, she became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great
exertions of the sailing master. In this situation, she sustained
the action upwards of two hours within canister distance, until
every gun was rendered useless, and the greater part of her crew
either killed or wounded. Finding she could no longer annoy (p. 179)
the enemy, I left her in charge of Lieutenant Yarnall, who,
I was convinced, from the bravery already displayed by him, would
do what would comport with the honour of the flag. At half-past
two, the wind springing up Captain Elliot 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 schooner which had been kept astern by
the lightness of the 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 th