The Battle of Lake Erie Further Reading An Overview of the Battle of Lake Erie British Background to the Battle of Lake Erie American Background to the Battle of Lake Erie The British at the Battle of Lake Erie

The Americans at the Battle of Lake Erie At Put-in-Bay, on the morning of September 10, an American sailor spies the sails of the approaching British fleet. Oliver Hazard Perry wastes no time in pulling up anchor to go and meet the enemy. The wind is against him, and this worries his sailing master. Perry’s subordinate points out that if he continues sailing into the wind, he will have the disadvantage of fighting Robert Barclay’s fleet from the lee-side, giving his enemy what sailors called the "weather gauge". Perry is determined: "I don't care," he says, "To windward or leeward, they shall fight today." Once again Perry's legendary luck holds: at the last minute, the wind suddenly changes. The Americans gain the all-important weather gauge after all, and the greater maneuverability that comes with it. The previous evening, Perry had briefed his officers on his strategy. Because the Americans are mainly armed with short-range guns, it is essential that they fight at point blank range. Perry repeats Nelson's famous phrase: "If you lay the enemy close alongside you cannot be out of your place." Perry will prove his personal bravery today, but not by foolish, daredevil tactics. The U.S. Commander avoids wearing a bright officer’s uniform that would make him a choice target; instead he wears a plain blue seaman’s jacket. As the U.S. Squadron closes in, Perry realizes that the British ships are not placed in the order he had anticipated. He modifies the placement of his ships accordingly. Captain Jesse Elliott, who had originally led the line, must drop back. Elliott subsequently spends the greater part of the battle hanging back, content to launch ineffectual long-range cannonballs at the British. By midday, Perry’s flagship the Lawrence is close enough to the enemy for its short-range guns to be effective. The ship has already suffered a frightful pounding during its approach. For the next two hours the main battle rages between Lawrence and the two largest British ships, Detroit and Queen Charlotte. Much to the fury of Perry’s crew, Elliott in the Niagara continues to stand off. He hasn’t attacked the Queen Charlotte as Perry ordered. This has left the Queen Charlotte to join the Detroit in pounding the Lawrence.