ERIE, BATTLE OF LAKE. A famous naval en gagement in the War of 1812, between Great Britain and the United States, fought in Put in-Bay, near the western end of Lake Erie, on September 10, 1813. The American fleet, which had been hastily built at Presque Isle (now Erie), Pa., consisted of 3 brigs, 5 schooners, and a sloop. with a total of 54 gluts, throwing a broad side of 93t' pounds, and 490 officers and men. The British had 2 ships of war, 2 brigs, a schoon er, and a sloop, mounting 63 guns, throwing a broadside of 459 pounds,'and carrying about 460 officers and men. The American guns, though of heavier calibre, were of shorter range than those of the British. The American commander was Oliver Hazard Perry, then ranking as master commandant; the Ilritish commander was Robert II. Barclay, who had served under Nelson at. Trafalgar. During the first part of the battle the English concentrated their he on Perry's flagship, the Lawrence, which was soon so com pletely disabled that Perry left her in cominand of Lieutenant Yarnall, and shifted his flag to the Niagara, under a fire. The action now became general, and after a stubborn contest Perry forced Barclay's flagship, the Detroit, and three other vessels, to surrender. The remaining two attempted to escape, but were soon overtaken and captured. Perry at once sent his famous
dispatch to General Ifarrison: "We have met the enemy, and they are ours—two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." The battle lasted three hours and fifteen minutes, and during this time the Americans lost 123 in killed and wound ed; the British, 135. This victory gave the Ameri cans almost undisputed control of the Upper Lakes, and not only removed all danger of inva sion in that quarter, but virtually insured the recapture of Detroit and the conquest of Upper Canada by the American army under General Harrison. Gold medals were conferred by Con gress upon Perry and Master Commandant El liott, and minor rewards upon the other officers and men. In 1858 the remains of the officers killed were buried on Put-in-Bay Island. There has been much discussion among naval his torians in regard to the relative strength of the two fleets and the precise amount of credit to be awarded to Perry. Perhaps the most judicial statement of the ease is that in Roosevelt's Naval Mar of 1812 (New York, 1882). Consult also: Spears, The History of Our Navy (New York, 1899) ; and Maclay, History of the Navy (New York, 1894-1901).