This is a picture of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. An American fleet led by Oliver Perry defeated a British fleet for control of the lake. It did not look good in the early part of the battle as his flagship the Lawrence (named after the captain who had said “Don’t give up the ship” earlier in the war) was pummeled by two British warships. 4/5 of his crew were killed or wounded. With his ship virtually out of the battle, Perry got in a thankfully unholed boat and was rowed half a mile to the Niagara. It must have been an awkward meeting with Captain Elliott because Perry felt he had held back the Niagara when the Lawrence was being destroyed. Perry took command and sailed the Lawrence at the British ships and got pay back until their fleet surrendered. His report to Gen. William Henry Harrison was “We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop.” The result was it led to the recapture of Detroit and Harrison’s victory in the Battle of the Thames.
The Battle of Lake Erie – Library of Congress
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