Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Perry's Victory on Lake Erie

Oliver Hazard Perry

Oliver Hazard Perry, an American naval commander was born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, on August 23, 1785. He was a skilled seaman, dignified, calm and admired by his officers and crew. He was very firm in discipline.

The Revolutionary War was thought to be the War for American Independence, but history tells us the War of 1812 secured the freedom that our forefathers desired. The war not only provided us the privileges of a sovereign nation, but it firmly established our northern border with Canada and ended all British claims in America. The British then began to raid American merchant ships violating their right of international neutrality; as a result the United States declared war against the British on June 18, 1812. This war would center on the Great Lakes, and the British wasted no time to strike first. Preparations had to be made to protect the Americans from a possible British onslaught. The U. S had no warships in the Great Lakes. President Madison decided warships would be the first order of business. Captain Dobbins influenced the president to build the ships in Erie's harbor. The harbor would provide protection and resources needed to build the warships and most important it had the manpower.

Captain Chauncery, Commander of Naval Forces, appointed Oliver Hazard Perry to command the Lake Erie Squadron. Perry was appointed to Commodore on February 22, 1813, and after this promotion he took 150 of his best men and left Rhode Island. His initial visit to Erie solidified protection and completion of the fleet being built.

All of his officers were instructed and given assignments. Before leaving Erie, Perry had a blue flag with the words 'Don't Give Up the Ship' in white made for hoisting at the start of action. On September 10, 1813, both fleets were underway and preparing for action. At 2:00 p.m. the Lawrence bore the brunt of the battle from the Detroit and Queen Charlotte. The Lawrence became unmanageable and Perry ordered a transfer to Niagara. The British thought Lawrence would soon surrender, and ceased fire upon it. Fifteen minutes after Perry took command of the Niagara, Elliott was sent by small boat to assemble the smaller ships. Perry quickly maneuvered the Niagara to sever the British line of formation, causing the Detroit to collide with the Lady Charlotte. At this moment, Perry ordered full volley from both sides of the Niagara at the Detroit and Lady Charlotte on the starboard, and the British Prevost and the Chippeway on the port side. By 2:50, the battle would be over. Perry would send his famous message to General Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. Casualties were heavy for both sides.

Britain was alarmed with Perry's victory. Perry's victory was the turning point for American independence. It was the first victory which energized the nation. The victory would pave the way to an end of the War of 1812, which ended on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1814, with the Treaty of Ghent. On his thirty-fourth birthday, only a few years after the Battle of Lake Erie, Oliver Hazard Perry suffered an untimely death from yellow fever while on a diplomatic mission to Venezuela. He died at sea and his body was buried in Trinidad. Later, he would be moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where a monument was raised by the state. He would never see how great the young nation for which he fought would become during the nineteenth century or how significant his victory was regarded.