细节
PERRY, Oliver Hazzard (1785-1819). Letter signed ("O. H. Perry") to Major General William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), "U.S. Sloop of War Lawrence, Erie Harbor," 5 August [1813]. 1 full page, 4to., integral address leaf bearing two additional autograph notes of Perry signed ("O.H.P."), affixed after the main letter had been sealed. Damaged, with losses along one of the upper horizontal folds, affecting portions of 4 lines text, verso neatly backed.
PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE: A CONFIDENT PERRY VOWS THAT "IN TWO DAYS NAVAL SUPERIORITY WILL BE DECIDED." The 27-year-old Perry had been placed in command of Lake Erie in the Spring of 1813, and spent several months collecting vessels, seamen and munitions. "Getting the ships to Presque Isle posed...dangers because the British Fleet on Lake Erie was cruising nearby..." Perry's ships "had to be stripped of their guns and lifted by floats over a sand bar...This was accomplished in early August..." (D.R. Hickey, War of 1812, p.131).
Perry reports to General Harrison on the coming offensive. He has "succeeded in get[ting one] of the Sloops of War over the bar. The [other will probably today or tomo]rrow. The enemy...have seven over the bar....I am of the opinion that in two days Naval superiority will be decided on this Lake, and should we be successful, I shall sail to the head of the lake immediately to co-operate with you, and hope that our joint exertions will be productive of honor and advantage to our country. The squadron is not much more than half man'd but as I see no prospect of reinforcements I have determined to commence operations with those I have & requested Capt. Richardson to dispatch an express to you the moment the issue of our contest with the enemy is known." He explains that a shortage of sailors has delayed their rendezvous: "My anxiety to join you is very great, and had seamen been sent to me in time, I should now in all probability been at the head of the Lake, acting in conjunction with you." In his first postscript (on the address leaf), Perry gives Harrison recognition signals: "In the event of my coming off the mouth of the Maumee River...I will fire three guns in quick succession and after two minutes interval, fo[ur] in quick succession." An additional hasty postscript is dated 3 p.m. "Thank God the other sloop of War is now over. I should be after the enemy, who is now making off, in a few hours. I shall be with you shortly."
It was not until 10 September that the legendary battle of Lake Erie was fought. Perry's flagship was rendered useless by the British vessels' withering broadsides. He transferred by small boat to another ship and sailed back into the action. After a bloody exchange six of the British warships were forced to strike their colors. It was on that day that Perry penned his famous note to William Henry Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours." Perry's decisive victory constitutes "the most important battle fought on the Great Lakes during the war. It changed the balance of power in the West...." (Hickey, p.135).
PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE: A CONFIDENT PERRY VOWS THAT "IN TWO DAYS NAVAL SUPERIORITY WILL BE DECIDED." The 27-year-old Perry had been placed in command of Lake Erie in the Spring of 1813, and spent several months collecting vessels, seamen and munitions. "Getting the ships to Presque Isle posed...dangers because the British Fleet on Lake Erie was cruising nearby..." Perry's ships "had to be stripped of their guns and lifted by floats over a sand bar...This was accomplished in early August..." (D.R. Hickey, War of 1812, p.131).
Perry reports to General Harrison on the coming offensive. He has "succeeded in get[ting one] of the Sloops of War over the bar. The [other will probably today or tomo]rrow. The enemy...have seven over the bar....I am of the opinion that in two days Naval superiority will be decided on this Lake, and should we be successful, I shall sail to the head of the lake immediately to co-operate with you, and hope that our joint exertions will be productive of honor and advantage to our country. The squadron is not much more than half man'd but as I see no prospect of reinforcements I have determined to commence operations with those I have & requested Capt. Richardson to dispatch an express to you the moment the issue of our contest with the enemy is known." He explains that a shortage of sailors has delayed their rendezvous: "My anxiety to join you is very great, and had seamen been sent to me in time, I should now in all probability been at the head of the Lake, acting in conjunction with you." In his first postscript (on the address leaf), Perry gives Harrison recognition signals: "In the event of my coming off the mouth of the Maumee River...I will fire three guns in quick succession and after two minutes interval, fo[ur] in quick succession." An additional hasty postscript is dated 3 p.m. "Thank God the other sloop of War is now over. I should be after the enemy, who is now making off, in a few hours. I shall be with you shortly."
It was not until 10 September that the legendary battle of Lake Erie was fought. Perry's flagship was rendered useless by the British vessels' withering broadsides. He transferred by small boat to another ship and sailed back into the action. After a bloody exchange six of the British warships were forced to strike their colors. It was on that day that Perry penned his famous note to William Henry Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours." Perry's decisive victory constitutes "the most important battle fought on the Great Lakes during the war. It changed the balance of power in the West...." (Hickey, p.135).