The Battle of Lake Erie Barclay didn't have enough sailors to crew his squadron so the army lent him inexperienced soldiers. Further Reading An Overview of 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

British Background to the Battle of Lake Erie The British squadron on Lake Erie has been hampered by a chronic shortage of supplies and personnel. The chief British naval commander, Sir James Yeo, is so intent on building up his Lake Ontario fleet that he seldom troubles himself with the problems of his subordinates. The British high command seems to consider the Lake Erie fleet to be expendable. Yeo, for example, does not hesitate to intercept shipments of rigging and armaments that are destined for Lake Erie. When desperately needed sailors are sent from Quebec to crew the Erie ships, Yeo goes so far as to keep the best men for himself. The sick and incompetent are forwarded to Lake Erie. Until the summer of 1813, the British enjoy naval supremacy on Lake Erie. In the months preceding the battle, both sides engage in a shipbuilding race aimed at winning control of the lake. British Naval Commander Robert Barclay builds a flagship at Amherstburg, the Detroit. But, he is desperately short of supplies for the new vessel. The logistics of transporting materials to this far-flung frontier are extremely complicated. Everything from axes to ropes and gunpowder has to be ordered from England. It is then shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to Quebec City, and eventually makes its way down the St. Lawrence River, across the length of Lake Ontario, and through the Niagara Peninsula. After a final trip across Lake Erie, the shipments arrive at Amherstburg. Barclay now has a new flagship, but no cannon to arm it with. He has no other choice than to strip the guns from Fort Malden and put them on board. These cannons are different sizes, and each size requires different ammunition. Barclay may have a new flagship, but he is painfully aware of the American shipbuilding effort. They now have four more ships than he does. Men are as hard to come by as hardware and ammunition. Barclay is nowhere near to having near enough sailors and gunners. Army Commander Henry Procter is forced to lend Barclay soldiers to crew the squadron. Due to the lack of guns and soldiers, Procter’s land force has been left extremely exposed: Fort Malden is now unarmed and the army is two-thirds its original size. Everything rides on the outcome of the naval battle.