Perry, however, had to give up the Lawrence after it was disabled, and transferred his flag to the Niagara. Perry’s flagship, named after the “martyred” Captain James Lawrence, used Lawrence’s famous words “Don’t give up the ship” as a banner at its masthead. In a hotly contested battle at Put-in-Bay on the western edge of the lake, the two squadrons met on September 10, 1813. Lieutenant Oliver Hazard Perry in the meanwhile had amassed a fleet of ten ships to meet Barclay. Unable to convince his superiors to send him men and additional guns, he stripped Fort Malden of its cannon for his squadron. Lieutenant Robert Barclay of the Royal Navy initially had the advantage, but by early September he had a smaller fleet with fewer men and resources. Throughout the summer of 1813, two young energetic naval commanders led a furious effort on each side to build and man a fleet of ships. The only way to drive the British back was to control Lake Erie. This stalemate, along with victories on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, ensured that the United States would not lose any territory as a result of the army’s bungling.Īfter the American surrender of Detroit by General William Hull on August 16, 1812, the British dominated all of Michigan and the upper Great Lakes. But in each instance, one or the other pulled back, believing his opponent had an advantage. On a number of occasions, the British under Sir James Yeo and Americans under Isaac Chauncey maneuvered for position on Lake Ontario, fired upon one another, and seemed poised to fight. Painting memorializing Perry's command at the Battle of Lake Erie, by William Henry Powell
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