ERIE, BATTLE OF LAKE, a naval engagement in the war of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States, fought in Put-in bay, near the western end of lake Eric, Sept. 10, 1813. The American fleet, which had been built at Erie, ran the British block ade on the 012th of August, and sailed west. It consisted of 9 vessels, with 54 guns and 490 officers and men. The British had 6 vessels, mounting in all 63 guns, with 502 officers and men. Only 2 vessels of the American squadron were in the proper sense vessels of war, the others having been built for trade. The American guns, though of heavier caliber, were of shorter range than those of the British; but the American fleet had an advantage in the better quality of its seamen. The American commandant was lieut. Oliver Hazard Perry. At the opening of the battle Perry's flag-ship Lawrence was disabled, but he left her in command of lieut. Yarnall and shifted his flag to the .Nictgarct under a heavy fire. The remainder of the fleet now joined in the attack upon the enemy,
compelling the almost immediate surrender of the British flag-ship Detroit and three other vessels. The remaining two attempted to escape, but were overtaken and cap tured. Perry at once sent a dispatch to gen. Harrison, saying, "We have met the enemy, amid they are ours—two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." The battle lasted 3 hours, and about 13 men were killed and wounded on each side. The American supremacy on the lakes being established, Detroit was evacuated by the Brit ish, and peace established in Michigan. Gold medals were conferred by congress upon Perry and Elliott, the leaders in the battle, and minor rewards upon the other officers and men. In 1858, on the anniversary of the battle, the remains of the officers killed were buried on Put-in bay island, 'where a Monument has been erected.to their memory.