The life of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry

Preface

The following work was undertaken at the request of Doctor Grant Champlin Perry, the eldest son of Commodore Perry, who, perceiving in the Naval History of Mr. J. F. Cooper an attempt to diminish that admiration with which the people of the United States have been accustomed to regard the memory of Perry, with a view of raising the standing of his second in command in the battle on Lake Erie, was desirous that a full account should be published of his father's life and services. This request having been willingly assented to, he accordingly forwarded to the writer the papers of his father, consisting almost entirely of public correspondence and log-books of various cruises, of which, however, the series was incomplete, and a vast mass of documents relating to the battle of Lake Erie, the whole forming rather materials for writing the history of that event than the life of Commodore Perry. The writer has had no access, either directly or through extracts, to Perry's corraspondence with his immediate family, which

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would have afforded not only great assistance m carrying on the thread of the narrative, but also a better insight than could be otherwise obtained into his thoughts, his feelings, and affections. While reverencing the motive which led to this sacred treasuring from the public eye of all that remains of such a husband and father, he cannot but regret, as his biographer, the want of access to such valuable sources of information.

Compelled to seek materials when he had believed that his only task would be to make use of those which, through a long series of years, had been collected, the writer addressed himself forthwith to the living friends and companions of Commodore Perry, and to others who could lend him assistance in his undertaking. He has been kindly and generously aided by most of those to whom he applied. To the sister of Commodore Perry, nearest his own age, he is indebted for materials used in detailing the incidents of his early life, and her own words have occasionally been incorporated in the narrative. To Lieutenant A. A. Harwood, of the Navy, a resident of the neighbourhood in which Commodore Perry was born, he is under great obligations for anecdotes of the commodore's early life, obtained among the companions of his youth, and for a description of the family homestead. From Commander Stephen Champlin and Mr. Thomas Brownell he has re-

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ceived personal explanations on various minor points relating to the Lake Erie squadron, con-- cerning which the printed and written document;^Jf were obscure or silent. To Doctor Usher Parsons, of Providence, the only medical officer in the Lake Erie squadron who was able to peform duty during and immediately after the battle, and who was subsequently surgeon of the Java when under Perry's command, the writer has to acknowledge himself under great obligations for a variety of facts communicated in a series of interesting notes, and just and intelligent opinions with regard to the character, manners, and acquirements of Perry. He has also to acknowledge the valuable communication he has received from the Honourable John Chambers, of Kentucky, an aiddecamp of General Harrison during the campaign of 1813, containing several interesting anecdotes of Perry, which, with little change of the language in wliich they were communicated, will be found incorporated in the narrative. In addition to the various facts illustrative of the battle of Lake Erie, and of Captain Elliott's course towards Commodore Perry, subsequent to his succeeding him in the command, obtained from the highly intelligent and interesting letters of Samuel Hambleton, Esq., purser of the Lawrence, to Commodore Perry, Mr. Hambleton has kindly placed at the writer's disposal all the letters of Commodore Perry to him- A

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self, during a long period of friendly correspondence ; and has, moreover, obligingly favoured him with extracts from his journal when on Lake Erie, and readily answered the various questions addressed to him. From his intelligent friend, C. O. Handy, Esq., secretary of Commodore Perry when on board the Java, and subsequently purser of the John Adams on his last cruise, the writer has received the heartiest assistance and valuable critical aid in the prosecution of his undertaking.

The writer has made occasional use of the valuable life of Perry published in 1821, by the Honourable John M. Niles ; also of the masterly and beautiful sketch on the same subject, from the pen of Mr. Washington Irving, in the Analectic Magazine, and of various other works tending to throw a light on the subject 5 he has also carefully consulted Niles's Register, and a few contemporary newspapers. With few exceptions, however, the present life is entirely written from original documents and materials collected expressly for the purpose, and the utmost care has been taken in the verification of the facts. With regard to the tone of the book, it has been unavoidably rendered more controversial than the taste of the writer would have dictated ; but the assaults made by Captain ElUott against the character of Commodore Perry have been so notorious, and the at-

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tempts of Mr. Cooper to dignify this gentleman at Commodore Perry's expense so obvious, that the life of Perry would have been incomplete had the writer failed to make use of the ample materials before him to set the question between these two officers effectually at rest.

Tarrytown, October 19, 1840.

Contents

THE FIRST VOLUME.