Parsons, Usher. Battle of Lake Erie: A Discourse, delivered before the Rhode-Island Historical Society on the Evening of Monday, February 16, 1852. Providence: Benjamin Albro: 1853. 8vo, printed wraps, sewn binding, 36pp. In custom box by W. Root & Son, London for Charles E. Lauriat Co., Boston with marbled boards, blue leather spine with gilt edging and lettering. In his introduction, Parsons notes "I have made this choice [of topic]...because a very inaccurate and perverted account of it has been written and imposed upon the public by the late J. Fenimore Cooper, Esquire. I am aware that this gentleman's mistakes and misrepresentations should have been noticed and corrected before his decease, and my apology for the delay is, that I never saw the pamphlet containing them, nor knew of its existence, until within a few days past, and after commencing this discourse." Parsons gives an account of the battle in great detail. One of the events noted by everyone involved was that Captain Elliot failed to bring the Niagara up with the Lawrence when Perry headed out to meet the British fleet. In fact the Niagara held back for two hours. When the Lawrence was broken beyond fighting, Elliot came up on the far side of the Lawrence, but still held back about half a mile, forcing Perry to row some distance to reach the ship. He took command of the Niagara, sending Elliot to the smaller vessels astern, and continued the close-in fight begun with the Lawrence. After the battle, even though all surviving officers (and crew) condemned Elliot's actions, Perry decided to save him the humiliation of being labeled a coward (or worse), and went to each ship requesting that the men refrain from mentioning Elliot in their letters home. One officer decided to ignore this request and there had been a couple dozen army on board (since many men on all ships were ill with "lake fever"). Perry had Harrison send him some able-bodied men to make up for the ill sailors. Parsons notes: "Besides this desire to save Elliot, Perry was unwilling that the enemy should know that the second in command in our squadron had failed in his duty. In expressing his doubts to Mr. Hambleton, his confidential friend, at the time of drawing up the report, he quoted with approbation the declaration of an English admiral. "It is better to screen a coward, than to let the enemy know there is one in the fleet." (p. 18) (In addition, Parsons expresses the idea that one factor contributing to Perry's success was that when the larger vessels in the English fleet were battered and partially compromised, Perry had a "fresh" ship, the Niagara having not been in heavy action. pp 15-16) Cooper, J. Fenimore. Naval History of the United States of America. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., 1847. 8vo, embossed leather, label with gilt on spine plus other gilt devices, marbled endpapers and page edges, frontis depicting the Battle of Lake Erie, 447pp. With about a dozen full-page illustrations and maps. Provenance:Property from the Estate of Lewis W. Walker, Jr., Hudson, OH Condition: Spine somewhat sunned, wear to front hinge. Damage to upper spine especially, with about an inch of missing leather. Illustrations moderately toned even though each has a tissue guard.
Parsons, Usher. Battle of Lake Erie: A Discourse, delivered before the Rhode-Island Historical Society on the Evening of Monday, February 16, 1852. Providence: Benjamin Albro: 1853. 8vo, printed wraps, sewn binding, 36pp. In custom box by W. Root & Son, London for Charles E. Lauriat Co., Boston with marbled boards, blue leather spine with gilt edging and lettering. In his introduction, Parsons notes "I have made this choice [of topic]...because a very inaccurate and perverted account of it has been written and imposed upon the public by the late J. Fenimore Cooper, Esquire. I am aware that this gentleman's mistakes and misrepresentations should have been noticed and corrected before his decease, and my apology for the delay is, that I never saw the pamphlet containing them, nor knew of its existence, until within a few days past, and after commencing this discourse." Parsons gives an account of the battle in great detail. One of the events noted by everyone involved was that Captain Elliot failed to bring the Niagara up with the Lawrence when Perry headed out to meet the British fleet. In fact the Niagara held back for two hours. When the Lawrence was broken beyond fighting, Elliot came up on the far side of the Lawrence, but still held back about half a mile, forcing Perry to row some distance to reach the ship. He took command of the Niagara, sending Elliot to the smaller vessels astern, and continued the close-in fight begun with the Lawrence. After the battle, even though all surviving officers (and crew) condemned Elliot's actions, Perry decided to save him the humiliation of being labeled a coward (or worse), and went to each ship requesting that the men refrain from mentioning Elliot in their letters home. One officer decided to ignore this request and there had been a couple dozen army on board (since many men on all ships were ill with "lake fever"). Perry had Harrison send him some able-bodied men to make up for the ill sailors. Parsons notes: "Besides this desire to save Elliot, Perry was unwilling that the enemy should know that the second in command in our squadron had failed in his duty. In expressing his doubts to Mr. Hambleton, his confidential friend, at the time of drawing up the report, he quoted with approbation the declaration of an English admiral. "It is better to screen a coward, than to let the enemy know there is one in the fleet." (p. 18) (In addition, Parsons expresses the idea that one factor contributing to Perry's success was that when the larger vessels in the English fleet were battered and partially compromised, Perry had a "fresh" ship, the Niagara having not been in heavy action. pp 15-16) Cooper, J. Fenimore. Naval History of the United States of America. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., 1847. 8vo, embossed leather, label with gilt on spine plus other gilt devices, marbled endpapers and page edges, frontis depicting the Battle of Lake Erie, 447pp. With about a dozen full-page illustrations and maps. Provenance:Property from the Estate of Lewis W. Walker, Jr., Hudson, OH Condition: Spine somewhat sunned, wear to front hinge. Damage to upper spine especially, with about an inch of missing leather. Illustrations moderately toned even though each has a tissue guard.
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Suchauftrag anlegen![[Americana - Battle of Lake Erie] J. Fenimore Cooper](https://fws-files.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/website/auctions/items/large/3884303_1.jpg "Quelle: Cowan's Auctions, Inc.")
