Providence Blessed Our Efforts

Thus the United States were forced into a war which they had not provoked;---America took up arms in support of her rights, and for the preservation of her national honour, with a firm determination not lay them down until the object should be attained. Providence blessed our efforts, and our arms were crowned with the most brilliant triumphs over those of our enemy. The army and navy exhibited a noble rivalship of zeal, devotion, and glory. In the one Lawrence, Bainbridge, Decatur, Perry, McDonough, Porter; — in the other *Pike, Scott, Brown, Jackson, and many more, proved to the enemy, and to the world that we possessed resolution to defend our rights, and power to avenge our injuries. [Source]

*Portrait Of Zebulon Pike (Seen At Fort Pike, Louisiana)

Jackson And Horseshoe Bend (Alabama)

Site Of Perry's Victory

Title Map of the surveyed part of the territory of Michigan on a scale of 8 miles to an inch
Contributor Names:  Farmer, John, 1798-1859, V. Balch and S. Stiles (Firm)
Detroit : [publisher not identified], 1826.

Headquartered At Put-in-Bay

Perry established his headquarters at Put-in-Bay, an indentation on the northern coast of South Bass Island, which lies some twenty miles north west of the present city of Sandusky, Ohio. Here he was in excellent position to watch the movements of the British fleet, which had retired to its headquarters at Amherstburg, some thirty miles northwestward of Put-in-Bay. He was also convenient to Harrison, who was at Seneca-town, thirty-five miles to the southward. [Source]

A Verse Commemorating Perry

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The Boasters Hurried To Leave Detroit

South Of Detroit And North Of Lake Erie

From Pioneer Collections...(recollections of Aura P. Stewart of St. Clair County, Michigan):

"On entering Smith's Hotel, he saw a number of British officers seated around a table drinking whiskey and discussing the probabilities of success to the British arms.  One of their number, a civil officer, after filling his glass and elevating it high, said, 'God will bless the British arms, and I drink to the success of our brave seamen now engaged.'  At that speech o the British official, father said he became excited, and knowing that he could gain no satisfaction by replying left the house in disgust; but soon after Mr. Truax returned from Malden and brought the glad news of Perry's victory [on Lake Erie]; it was then amazing to see the boasters hurry to get over the Detroit river."

Commodore Perry In Battle

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Perry's Victory

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More Rentless And Destructive

An excerpt from the Life and letters of Judge Thomas J. Anderson...:

His [Thomas Anderson's] sons William, Joseph and Abner, took up arms against Great Britain in 1812. Under Col. Sanderson they went from Fairfield county, Ohio, and William and Joseph are mentioned in Sanderson's report now on file in the office of the Adjutant General of Ohio.

Joseph, under Gen. W.H. Harrison, died in the service at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, of camp fever.

Battle Of Lake Erie

William was in the battle of Lake Erie, (Perry's Victory,) lay sick a while at Put-in-Bay and after the invasion of Canada died at Malden or Fort Malden. They were good soldiers and true men, but were swept away by an enemy more relentless and destructive than the British and Indians--the poisonous malaria of the vast swamps of Northern Ohio.

George Sanderson's Ohio soldiers: 

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Commodore Perry Visited Long Point

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The battle of Lake Erie: a collection of documents, chiefly by Commodore Perry...:

Shortly after reaching the open lake, Perry visited Long Point, the enemy's naval station opposite Erie. Of this visit he wrote thus to the secretary on August 8: I have the honor to inform you I have returned from Long Point without having seen the enemy; we are now busily employed in getting in ballast, provisions, and pro curing volunteers from the militia. I propose sailing this evening in pursuit of the enemy.

Environs Of Detroit

A Tour from the City of New York, to Detroit, in the Michigan Territory, By William Darby:

Route of General Harrison's Army in 1813 and spot marked where Commodore Perry captured the British Fleet are part of the map which was engraved for Darby's Tour.

We Have Met The Enemy

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Newport Men With Perry

A partial list of men from Newport, Rhode Island, who served with Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry:

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Second View...

...of Commodore Perry's Victory.

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Last Formation....

...In the Battle of Lake Erie:

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We Have Met The Enemy; And They Are Ours

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Poem Celebrating Perry's Victory

From Songs, Odes, and Other Poems On National Subjects: Naval:

And bid them remember

The tenth of September,

When our eagle came down from her home in the sky,

And the souls of our ancients were marshall'd on high.

Ships Of Perry's Victory

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Perry's Victory On Lake Erie

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Gunboats Launched In May

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From The United States: its beginnings, progress and modern development, Volume 5, by Jesse Ames Spencer:

With characteristic energy, [Oliver Hazard] Perry organized the citizens of Erie into a guard, sent to Buffalo for soldiers and arms, and went to Pittsburg for the other necessary supplies. By hard work three gunboats were launched early in May and the others on May 24.

American Naval Officers

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