Battle of Lake Erie

The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes also referred to as the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought on September 10, 1813 in Lake Erie off the coast of Ohio during the War of 1812. It was between nine ships of the United States Navy and six vessels of Great Britain. The decisive victory of the Americans over the British fleet ensured American control of the lake and the North-Western Territory during the War of 1812, opened supply lines, and improved American morale after a series of U.S. defeats in the Great Lakes theater. The successful U.S. invasion of Canada in the following month, culminating in the U.S. victory at the Battle of the Thames, is regarded by many historians as a critical factor in forcing the eventual stalemate in the war.

The Battle

On September 10, British Commodore Robert Heriot Barclay, in his flagship HMS Detroit, met Captain Perry near Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Barclay's six ships outweighed and outgunned Perry's nine, including Perry's flagship, Lawrence. Lawrence faced an unfavourable wind and was destroyed in the course of the battle with four-fifths of its crew killed or wounded. However, Perry was able to row a half-mile through heavy gunfire and transfer command to Niagara, a ship equal in size and strength to Lawrence, but which had not yet been engaged in the battle. As HMS Detroit had suffered some damage, Niagara was able to capture it, along with the other five British ships. Although Perry won the battle on the Niagra, he received the British surrender on the deck of the Lawrence so as to allow the British to see the terrible price his men had suffered.

Related Topics:
Robert Heriot Barclay - Flagship - HMS ''Detroit'' - Put-in-Bay, Ohio - ''Lawrence'' - ''Niagara''

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~