| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | September 10 | | Perry’s Victory | | Old Ballad |
| | | | A naval victory gained by the Americans under Perry over the English under Barclay on Sept. 10, 1813. |
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WE sailed to and fro in Erie’s broad lake, | |
| To find British bullies or get into their wake, | |
| When we hoisted our canvas with true Yankee speed, | |
| And the brave Captain Perry our squadron did lead. | |
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| We sailed through the lake, boys, in search of the foe, | 5 |
| In the cause of Columbia our brav’ry to show, | |
| To be equal in combat was all our delight, | |
| As we wished the proud Britons to know we could fight. | |
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| And whether like Yeo, boys, they’d taken affright, | |
| We could see not, nor find them by day or by night; | 10 |
| So cruising we went in a glorious cause, | |
| In defense of our rights, our freedom, and laws. | |
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| At length to our liking, six sails hove in view, | |
| Huzzah! says brave Perry, huzzah! says his crew, | |
| And then for the chase, boys, with our brave little crew, | 15 |
| We fell in with the bullies, and gave them “burgoo.” | |
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| Though the force was unequal, determined to fight, | |
| We brought them to action before it was night; | |
| We let loose our thunder, our bullets did fly, | |
| “Now give them your shot, boys,” our commander did cry. | 20 |
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| We gave them a broadside, our cannon to try, | |
| “Well done,” says brave Perry, “for quarter they’ll cry, | |
| Shot well home, my brave boys, they shortly shall see, | |
| That quite brave as they are, still braver are we.” | |
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| Then we drew up our squadron, each man full of fight, | 25 |
| And put the proud Britons in a terrible plight, | |
| The brave Perry’s movements will prove fully as bold, | |
| As the famed Admiral Nelson’s prowess of old. | |
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| The conflict was sharp, boys, each man to his guns, | |
| For our country, her glory, the vict’ry was won, | 30 |
| So six sail (the whole fleet) was our fortune to take, | |
| Here’s a health to brave Perry, who governs the Lake. | | | |
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