Chapter 11:
The Battle of Lake Erie

 

With the fall of three American forts—Chicago, Detroit and Mackinac—in the summer of 1812, President Madison and his war council decided that military supremacy on the Great Lakes, especially on Lakes Ontario and Erie, was paramount in order to stem the British onslaught. If British domination over the lakes could be stopped by capturing Montreal and all of Lower Canada (Quebec), then supplies, war material and troops would not be able to reach the Western frontier—and British incursions would cease.

The American base at Sackets Harbor in upstate New York on Lake Ontario was picked to become the main base for American operations. A large naval and Marine installation was hurriedly built, several forts erected, and preparations were made to attack the British fleet at Kingston, 35 miles due North.

The dilemma for the American commander, Commodore Chauncey, was how to fight on two lakes separated by Niagara Falls when his two fleets were only now being built. There were few officers and shipbuilders available and not enough sailors and Marines to form detachments on all ships. He determined that the Lake Ontario fleet would have priority because the main British harbor was also engaged in a ship-building arms race. The Lake Erie squadron under Commodore Perry and Marine Lieutenant John Brooks would have to wait for their crews and Marines until after Sackets Harbor was first supplied and secured. After all, the Corps had just been re-formed in 1798, and there were only about 1,200 officers and men to go around.

Lieutenant John Brooks was the son of Governor Brooks of Massachusetts. He was considered a firebrand and a good officer, though he’d been shipped west to cool off from a potential duel with another Marine officer over gambling. Brooks brought 18 Marines with him from the Washington Navy Yard. Hundreds more Marines had been expected from Commodore Chauncey but as it turned out, Gen. Harrison’s army (especially the 137th and 147th Pennsylvania regiments) were levied to fight as Marines. These frontiersmen were expert marksmen with their Pennsylvania rifles and would add devastating firepower to the Marine detachment. The British soldier feared the American long rifle and called it “the best widow maker in North America.”

Brooks’ plan for the nine American ships was to have full Marine units on the two brigs—the Lawrence and the Niagara—and Marine NCOs on the other ships, directing the militia marksmen. Normally each ship would have 50 Marines on board including an officer, a fifer and a drummer, providing firepower during battles. They would fight as six-man squads on the “tops” (platforms on the mast) with one marksman firing and five loading and passing the loaded rifle forward. They were also trained to replace cannon crews that were disabled and to lead boarding and landing parties. They acted as ship’s guards as well—sleeping between the ship’s officers and the crew to deter mutiny.

But Brooks would have to make do with only his 18 Marines. These men were equipped with a .75 caliber sea-service musket. The captured arm was a 3rd India-pattern British “Brown Bess” musket, shortened for easier loading among the rigging. A Marine was expected to load, ram and fire three rounds a minute and, unlike the British, they kept their eyes open on firing. They also carried a 16-inch bayonet and a battle-ax, as well as grenades that would be thrown from the tops at the enemy and at open British magazine hatches. Quite a few ships were blown sky high by a well-lobbed grenade.

The saws, axes, and hammers clanging on the forges produced the lake fleet in record time. Cannons cast in Pittsburgh, 120 miles south of Erie, Pennsylvania—Perry’s base—were carried overland by sledges. When finished, Perry’s fleet boasted 54 guns able to throw 900 pounds of iron per broadside against the enemy. The Lawrence and the brig Niagara each had 20 cannon; the Caledonia, three; the schooner Ariel, four; Scorpion, two; Somers, two; sloop Tripe, one; and Porcupine, one. Most of these cannon were newly invented carronades or “smashers” which were devastating, though only at close range. Even in these early days, America’s success in battle was partly due to having the most advanced technology.

The Americans positioned their ships at Put-in Bay, Ohio—ideally situated to intercept any traffic between Maiden and Long Point, Ontario, which was fast becoming a British stronghold.

When the British fleet from Maiden appeared northwest of Put-in Bay, they had the Detroit with 19 guns; Queen Charlotte, 17; Lady Prevost, 13; the brig Hunter, ten; the sloop Little Belt, three; and the schooner Chippewa, one—for a total of 63 guns and 460 pounds of iron broadside, but very few carronades. Their crews and provincial marines had been hastily assembled and had no gunnery practice, whereas the American gun crews were experienced. Some of the Americans had fought on the Constitution and others were from ships out of Newport, Rhode Island.

When the two fleets closed for battle on Sept. 10, 1812, every American ship in line knew exactly the ship they were to attack. The British battle line also had a precise strategy. The British pounced on the Lawrence first since they wanted to destroy the largest ship. This was where Lt. Brooks and most of the Marines were stationed. Three ships—the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Hunter—formed a crescent around the Lawrence with the Hunter getting behind the Lawrence. They proceeded to rake her—firing broadside across the length of the ship, smashing everything in its path. The carnage was immense.

Lieutenant Brooks, commander of the Marine detachment, was standing next to Perry when Brooks was hit by a 32-pounder cannonball taking away his hip. He was hurled across the deck and asked Perry to kill him, for the pain was excruciating. Perry refused and ordered the Marines to carry him below. The Lieutenant held on for some time, dying only after he learned the outcome of the battle. Others met the same fate. Perry attracted so much fire it seemed that anyone standing next to him was doomed.

The Lawrence was a wreck in two hours. Perry asked the surgeon for walking wounded to work the guns—whose crews were already mangled. The cockpit where the wounded were served was above the waterline, allowing broadsides to wreak even more havoc on the already-wounded. Pohig, a Narragansett Indian, was first wounded in the arm and then had both of his legs taken off by a cannonball. Eventually, only one gun was left, and Perry helped aim her.

The brig Niagara, captained by Lt. Elliot, had been lagging behind, untouched. Elliott had an attitude problem because he’d been passed over for command and now, meeting Perry in the heat of battle, all he would say was, “How goes the day?” Perry curtly ordered him to bring the other American ships up fast. Finally, the Niagara came to relieve the Lawrence and Perry immediately transferred his battle flag, “Don’t give up the ship,” via a jolly boat to the Niagara.

It was an incredibly brave move and the American crews cheered wildly. Of course, every British ship poured fire on the Lawrence’s jolly boat—round shot, grape, cannister of one-inch musket balls, and musket shot. Perry’s little boat was hit by a cannon ball and he plugged the hole with his coat. Finally, Perry ordered the Lawrence to haul down her colors to ease the killing of his men. The smaller American craft now closed in on the British.

The Niagara, fresh with full cannons and Marines, then broke the British line and fired at two ships on larboard and three on starboard. The Detroit and the Queen Charlotte got their bowsprits tangled and the American ships raked them unmercifully. One broadside from the Niagara literally tore the Lady Prevost to pieces. Aboard that ship, British Lieutenant Buchan suffered a shot in the face from an American Marine. Perry ordered the Marines to cease fire on the Lady Prevost as her resistance was over.

Meanwhile, the Marine marksmen poured volleys and grenades at the British. The battle was a horrific cacophony of ear-shattering broadsides, crashing timber, tearing canvas and the screams of dying men.

The Niagara’s bold example brought all the American ships into the heat of the battle. In just eight minutes, four British ships surrendered and two tried to flee but were overtaken. Victory was complete. This was the first time in history that an entire British squadron was captured—and by an infant 30-year old country at that. So frightening was the battle that a number of Canadian Indians were found hidden and skulking for safety aboard the English vessels. They had been engaged as marksmen but the first shot had taken all the fight out of them.

Perry fired off a letter to the Secretary of the Navy: “Sir—it has pleased the Almighty to give into the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake. The British squadron, consisting of two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the force under my command after a sharp conflict. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Oliver Hazard Perry.”

The Americans had 123 casualties, 27 of whom were killed. The British counted 135, 41 of whom died. Perry, on returning to the Lawrence told Purser Hambleton, “The prayers of my wife have prevailed in saving me.” He had accepted the British surrender from nine defeated officers on the blood strewn deck of the Lawrence. Sick all this time with fever, Perry lay down and slept among the dead for hours.

On the following day, they buried the dead at sea and all 15 ships shoved off to Put-in-Bay. After repairs, six dead officers including Lt. Brooks, USMC, were buried on South Bass Island. The Perry Victory Monument enshrines them today and Congress posthumously awarded Lt. Brooks a silver medal. He was the first Marine in history to receive a Congressional medal.

The six British ships were sold for $242,250. That prize money was divided by 596 officers, seamen and Marines in proportion to their rank. Perry received $7,140, a fortune at that time, and the average Marine received $214.59. The slain men’s shares were given to their parents.

The 300 captured British officers and seamen, plus 14 officer’s wives and 28 children, were transported to Camp Bull in Chillicothe, then capital of Ohio. They were soon joined by 601 captured British infantry and several Indians from the battle of the Thames. The British officers were allowed to retain their servants and the men lived in fine style, attending many town functions including observing the execution of six American deserters. The following year they were all exchanged and paroled.

The battle of Lake Erie was a much needed victory for the United States. It showed that the Americans could take on the powerful British navy. And it gave General Harrison and his Army of the Northwest a clear path to Upper Canada (today’s Ontario), enabling his subsequent victory over the British and Indians at the battle of the Thames. Indian leader Tecumseh was killed at Thames and the Indian coalition was broken.

The victory at Erie ultimately kept the Michigan, Indiana and Illinois Territories—originally intended by the British to be an Indian state—in the union. Once again a mere handful of Marines, through their courage and fighting skills, had made an outstanding contribution to the future of our country.

Battle of Lake Erie
Artist: William Henry Powell