rendered useless, and the greater part of her crew either killed or wounded. In this perilous condition, Commodore Perry adopted one of those bold, decisive resolutions which often enable a great commander to convert an apparent defeat into a certain victory. He caused his boat to be lowered, and launched himself and his fortunes upon the bosom of the lake, amid the showers of death that fell around him. Reaching the Niagara in safety, which was just coming into close action, with a swelling breeze, he at once determined to break through the enemy's fleet, already somewhat crippled by the contest with the Lawrence. The Niagara had every rope and spar, every gun and man untouched. She broke into the enemy's line, and, ranging by the vessels in succession, poured in her broadsides, compelling them, one by one, to lower their flags in token of submission, until they all were "ours." In achieving this decisive victory, the Niagara was assisted by the smaller vessels, which were brought into coöperation by Captain Elliott, who had volunteered in this service when Commodore Perry assumed command of his vessel. Not long after Commodore Perry boarded the Niagara, the Lawrence struck her colors. She was, however, but a fleeting trophy; for, before she could be taken possession of, every British flag had followed her humiliating example.

This consummate victory opened the lake to General Harrison, who, soon after, crossed his army to the Canadian shore, and, in the course of a short campaign, which was brilliantly finished by the battle of the Moravian towns, drove the enemy from the northwestern frontier. On the twenty-ninth of September, 1813, Detroit was occupied by a detachment of his army. An armistice was concluded with the Indians on the eighteenth of October following, thus restoring tranquillity and security to the Territory.

General Harrison soon after moved down, with his main body, to the Niagara frontier, and left General Cass in command at Detroit. No military movements took place during the winter following, excepting an incursion into the interior of the upper province by Major Holmes, who was attacked near Stony Creek, and maintained his ground with great bravery and success.

CHAPTER XXVII.

MACKINAW - EXPEDITION UNDER COMMODORE SINCLAIR AND COLONEL CROGHAN FOR ITS REDUCTION - COLONEL TURNER CAPTURES THE PERSEVERANCE AT ST. MARY'S, AND REDUCES THAT POST - CAPTURE OF THE MINK-DESTRUCTION OF GOODS BELONGING TO THE NORTHIWEST COMPANY-LANDING OF THE FORCES AT MACKINAW-FALL OF MAJOR HOLMES-DEFEAT OF THE AMERICANS-FULL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE, ETC.

naw.

SO FAR as the Northwest was concerned, the war was now practically closed, yet there was one post of great importance which had not been wrested from the English. That was Fort MackiActive steps were soon taken to dispossess the English of this stronghold, and drive them wholly from the American soil. Immediately after the battle of the Thames, an expedition to the upper lakes was contemplated; but, unfortunately, it was prevented by the non-arrival of two schooners, which had been sent to Cleveland and Bass Islands for provisions. These vessels had arrived off Malden, but a storm from the west drove them to the lower end of the lake, where they were stranded. Early in the following April, 1814, this expedition up Lake Huron was again proposed, the object being twofold-the capture of Fort Mackinaw, and the destruction of certain vessels, which it was said the English were building in Gloucester, or Matchadash Bay, at the southeast extremity of the lake. But this plan was also abandoned; partly from a want of men, partly from the belief that Great Britain did not, as had been supposed, intend to make an effort to regain the commerce of the upper lakes; and partly, also, from a misunderstanding between General Harrison and Colonel Croghan, who commanded at Detroit, on the one hand, and the Secretary of War on the other. No sooner had this plan been abandoned than it was revived again, in consequence of new information of the establishment at Matchadash Bay.

Accordingly, orders were issued on the second day of June, and ample preparations were soon made. A squadron was fitted out, consisting of the United States sloops-of-war Niagara and Lawrence, carrying twenty guns each, with the smaller schooners, Caledonia, Scorpion, Tigress, Detroit, and others, and a land force of seven hundred and fifty men, placed on board. Commodore Sinclair was the naval commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Croghan, a young man who had gallantly and successfully defended Sandusky during the early part of the war, had charge of the militia.

The squadron reached Lake Huron on the twelfth of June, on its way to Matchadash Bay. Disappointment, however, awaited them. Every possible effort was made to gain the desired bay and destroy the imaginary vessels there building, but in vain. No pilot could be found for that unfrequented part of the lake. Islands and sunken rocks were numerous, and threatened destruction to the fleet. The lake was almost continually covered with a dense fog, and, from the time already consumed in the fruitless attempt, provisions were growing short, hence, that part of the work was abandoned, and the squadron proceeded to Mackinaw.

When nearing the place of destination, a council was called, to decide whether they should proceed at once to the capture of Fort Mackinaw, or first repair to St. Joseph's, and destroy the enemy's works at that place. It was urged that an immediate attack upon the fort was policy, inasmuch as the English, having had no intimation of their approach, were, probably, without Indian allies, and unprepared to defend the island; that, should they first proceed to St. Joseph's, time would thus be given the English to call in these savage auxiliaries, and so strengthen themselves, that, upon their return, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to take the place; but Sinclair thought that, by leaving a part of the squadron to cruise around the island during his absence, this could be prevented; hence, in spite of salutary advice from those who knew the Indian character far better than themselves, it was agreed between the naval and military commanders to proceed at once to St. Joseph's. This was a fatal error, as will be seen in the sequel.

On the twentieth of July, they arrived at St. Joseph's, and found the British establishment at that point deserted. This they burned, but left untouched the town and Northwest Company's storehouses. While wind-bound at this point, Sinclair

HON. ALFRED RUSSELL.

ALFRED RUSSELL, one of Detroit's most distinguished members of the bar, was born at Plymouth, Grafton county, New Hampshire, March 18, 1830. Mr. Russell graduated at Dartmouth College in the class of 1850, and at the Dane law school of Harvard University in the class of 1852. He was admitted to the bar at Meredith Bridge, New Hampshire, November, 1852, and emigrated to Michigan during the same month and settled in Detroit. Soon after his arrival in that city, he entered the law office of Hon. James F. Joy-studied law with that gentleman for a brief

captured the Northwest Company's schooner, Mink, on her way from Mackinaw to St. Mary's, with a cargo of flour, and by this means received intelligence that the schooner Perseverance was lying above the Falls of St. Mary, at the foot of Lake Superior, in waiting to transport the Mink's cargo to Fort Williams. Upon the receipt of this intelligence, he dispatched Lieutenant Turner, an active and enterprising officer, to capture her, and, if possible, get her down the falls. Colonel Croghan dispatched Major Holmes, with a party of regulars, to cooperate in the expedition, in which the capture of St. Mary's was included. The following official report of Lieutenant Turner to Sinclair will give the reader a clear idea of what was effected by this movement. It is dated U. S. schooner Scorpion, off Michilimackinac, July 28th, 1814

"SIR-I have the honor to inform you that, agreeably to your orders of the 22d instant, I proceeded on the expedition to Lake Superior, with the launches. I rowed night and day; but, having a distance of sixty miles against a strong current, information had reached the enemy, at St. Mary's, of our approach, about two hours before I arrived at that place, carried by Indians, in their light canoes, several of whom I chased, and by firing on them, and killing some, prevented their purposes; some I captured and kept prisoners until my arrival; others escaped. The force under Major Holmes prevented anything like resistance at

period as did he also with the Messrs. Walker. Mr. Russell was admitted to the bar of Michigan in 1853, and, in 1854, formed a partnership with the Messrs. Walker, which lasted until 1861. During that year, Mr. Russell was appointed United States district attorney for Michigan, by President Lincoln, and was reäppointed by President Johnson in 1865.

Mr. Russell was originally a Whig of the New England Federal party school, and acted with the Free Soilers during the existence of that party. Upon the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, he took a prominent part in the organization of the Republican party in Michigan, and has since been more or less closely identified with that organization. Mr. Russell is, however, a free thinker and an independent actor in politics. As a lawyer, he stands in the front rank of the profession, and is known throughout the State as an eminently useful citizen, and, in his social relations, as a polished gentleman.