Washington County New York
Biographies
DR.
NATHANIEL EASTMAN
[Harper's Weekly, 09/08/1860. Submitted by
Candi.]
Dr. Nathaniel Eastman, of Seville, Medina County, Ohio,
though not exactly a survivor of the battle, had so much to do with the stirring
events of those days that he naturally ranks with the survivors. He has
kindly transmitted to us the following memorandum:
“I was born June 17,
1792, at Fort Ann, Washington County, New York. My father was a physician,
raised and educated in Fairfield County, Connecticut. I commenced the study of
medicine with my father in 1809, then living in Genesee County. In 1810 and 1811
I pursued my studies under the tuition of Dr. Cyrenus Chapin, of Buffalo. In
January, 1812, I was licensed to practice physic and surgery by the Medical
Society of Genesee County. In February I entered on the practice of my
profession in the town of Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. In the winter
and spring of 1813 an epidemic prevailed along the Lake Shore, an d nearly all
who were attacked fell before it. The volunteer militia stationed at Erie were
the greatest sufferers, almost every case terminating fatally. In February I
went to reside in the town of Erie, and practice medicine in company with a Dr.
Wallis. About the last of August, when the fleet was to sail from the port of
Erie, by the solicitation of Commodore Perry, I volunteered as assistant surgeon
in the Marine Hospital, where a number of sailors and marines were left sick,
under the charge of Dr. Roberts. A few days after the battle the brig Lawrence,
then commanded by Lieutenant Yarnall, came into the harbor of Erie with the
wounded of the fleet. I assisted to get the wounded off the brig, and in
removing them to the court house, then occupied for a hospital. Dr. Parsons was
principal surgeon; Dr. Roberts, Dr.Davis, and myself assisted in dressing wounds
and in attending on the sick and wounded. About the 20th of October Commodore
Perry came down from the upp er lakes in the Ariel, and, if I mistake not, three
or four days after Dr. Parsons left the hospital and went with Perry to the
East. On the 14th of December I received an order from Captain Elliot, then
commander of the fleet, to go to Put-in-Bay with a detachment of sailors under
Sailing-master Stephen Champlin. We sailed from Erie, in the Scorpion, on the
16th, and landed on Put-in-Bay Island on the 24th. The party marched across the
island to the prizeships Detroit and Queen Charlotte, that lay moored in the
bay, where they had been left in a crippled condition. I was stationed on board
the Detroit, and per formed the duties of surgeon for both ships until the 16th
of April, 1814, when I was relieved b y Dr. Roberts, who came up from Erie with
Captain Elliot in the Ariel. I returned to the fleet, and was stationed on board
the brig Niagara as act ing surgeon's mate, until the last of June, when I
resigned my appointment, and left the service. I have practiced medicine at the
place where I now reside thirty-six years. Respectfully yours,“Nathaniel
Eastman.”