The British squadron consisting of two
ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop, have this moment
surrendered to the force under my command after a sharp conflict." There
is nothing of the valor of the pen or of the exaggeration of self from
the ink horn in this concise and expressive note.
The enemy's surrender was gracefully received. Perry soon visited the
wounded Barclay, and tendered him every service that it was in his power
to render, and every possible attention was given to the wounded of both
fleets. Then came the roll-call to see who had answered the final
summons to duty on the field of honor, who had received marks of courage
in the fight, and who had gone through the dreadful ordeal of battle
unscathed. It was then that the tears of sorrow mingled with the
exultations of victory which soon were to be shouted along the line of
every highway and by-way, from hamlet to village, from village to town,
and from town to city, throughout the land.
Perry wrote to Governor Brooks of Massachusetts a letter condoling with
him on the fall of his gallant son in action; for while Perry's brow was
laurelled with the wreath of victory, he did not forget that there were
mourners weeping for brave hearts which in the fight had been forever
put to rest.
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