An Eerie Lake Erie" We have met the enemy and they are ours.” Commodore Perry

Lake Erie

The battle begins!

The lake is 9,940 square miles with a length of 241 miles.

It has an average depth of 62 feet. Lake Erie also has a shoreline of 2,726 miles.

The Back Round of Lake Erie

The battle took place on September 10, 1813.It was fought during the war of 1812. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was the

American’s leader in the battle.

The Battle of Lake Erie

His mission was to gain navel superiority on the lake.

This would allow the Americans to control the British weapon supply.

The Americans had nine small ships. The two

main ships were the Niagara and the Lawrence.

The British only had six vessels but they were from the prestigious royal navy.

The Battle Cont.

The crew on the Lawrence led the fight until the ship was disabled and most of them were killed or wounded.

The ship was carrying Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who was transferred by boat to the unharmed Niagara when the Lawrence was disabled.

He then broke the British battle lines.

In the end, the Americans defeated the British , captured their ships and regained control of Lake Erie

The Lawrence

The Battle of Lake Erie

This is a famous painting of Perry being taken to the Niagara by William H.

Powell in 1865.

Perry was the hero and general for the American force.

He was born on August 23, 1785 and died on August 23, 1819.

Commodore Oliver H. Perry

1785 Joined navy

1799 Midshipman aboard his father's frigate,

U.S.S. General Greene

1801-05 Served in Tripolitan War (vs the

Barbary States)

1802 promoted to lieutenant

1807-09 Engaged in building gunboats for

President Jefferson's naval program

Perry’s Navy Career

1812-13 War of 1812

1813 Battle of Lake Erie (War of 1812)

1813/09/10 First capture of an entire British

fleet (Battle of Lake Erie)

1814 Received the thanks of Congress for his

part in the war

1819 Contracted yellow fever on the Orinoco

River, Venezuela, and died at sea off Trinidad

Percy’s Navy Career cont.

The ShipsThe American fleet had these ships:3 brigs

5 schooners

1 sloop

Ships cont.The British had these types of ships:2 ships

2 brigs

1 schooner

1 sloop

" We have met the enemy and they are ours.” Commodore Perry

ObjectiveMy objective is for the class to name the

two main ships of the Americans.

The two main ships are the Niagara and the Lawrence.