Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (New York, NY), 29 September 1860, page 299-300

The Inauguration of the Perry Monument at Cleveland, on the 10th of September, was attended by a vast concourse of people from every State in the Union. The number stated varies between thirty and fifty thousand, but we have little doubt that close upon fifty thousand persons attended the ceremonies. After the many admirable and appropriate speeches and addresses had been made, and the various interesting and imposing ceremonies had come to a close, the attention of the assembled thousands was drawn to the mock battle which was about to take place upon the Lake, in a peaceful but life-like reaction of that gallant and bloody battle, so important and so decisive in its results. An eye-witness thus describes the scene:

The mock battle came off upon the Lake at five o'clock. There were eleven vessels engaged in the two squadrons. Captain Champlin, of Buffalo, a commander in Perry's fleet, commanded the representatives of the American fleet, and Mr. John Chapman, of Hudson, who was taken prisoner from the British by Perry at this battle and became an American citizen, took charge of the British force. The artillery companies performed their part very well, and the sullen booming of the cannon came over the water with a heavy sound, but far lighter than if the hearers had had fathers or brothers at the guns and it was a real battle. The scene upon the bank during this performance was beautiful in the extreme. All along the vast amphitheatre, from "Water street to the Marine Hospital, were men, women and children, in such profusion, that to one standing upon the piers or upon the boats, it looked like a huge flower-bed filled with all the colors of the rainbow. It was a magnificent sight.