Home Search Site About MultiEducator History Shopping For Educators World Timeline Election Central NationbyNation Primary Source Documents 20th Century Almanac Aviation History Navy History Railroad History America's Wars Revolutionary War War of 1812 Mexican American Civil War Spanish American World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Desert Storm Enduring Freedom Iraqi Freedom Biographies Presidents First Ladies 20th Century 500 Amistadt Civics History of Israel Other Links About Historycentral Advertise Contact US		HistoryCentral.com > > War of 1812> Battle of Lake Erie Battle of Lake Erie   On September 10, 1813, Commodore Perry defeats the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. The Battle, which is hard fought by both sides, ends up with a total defeat for the British. Perry sends his famous message to his commander: "WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND THEY ARE OURS. Lake Erie becomes an American lake. Multimedia Presentation Oliver Hazard Perry was the commander of American ships on Lake Erie.  His mission was to gain naval superiority on the Lake.  To accomplish that mission Perry had to increase the number of ships he had. He built two new brigs, which he called the Lawrence and Niagara.  Each weighed 500 pounds and was armed with 18 32-pound carronades, and two long range twelve pounders.  Perry also had captured brig the Caledonia and seven converted schooners.  Perry’s fleet was cooped up on Presque Isle were the ships had been built.  They managed to slip away from there in early August 1813.  The British and Americans now had capable fleets on the Lake.  On September 10, 1813 the British decided to engage the American fleet, which was at anchorage at South Bass Island.  The Americans had the advantage in terms of the number and weight of their guns. Each American vessel had been assigned an opponent, and after a number of hours of sailing the two fleets were within shooting distance.  The Americans swiftly closed to take advantage of their fleets better short-range cannons.  Commodore Perry commanded aboard the Lawrence.  For a period during the battle the Niagara the Lawrence’s sister ship was not fully engaged and Perry found himself out gunned.  While the Lawrence gave as well as it got, it was soon barely seaworthy and Perry left it to go aboard the Niagara.  Once Perry was safely aboard the Niagara the Lawrence struck her colors, a short cheer went up from battered British ships.  The Niagara then bore down on them and in short order the British were forced to surrender.  Perry then went on to report the words that made him famous- “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
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