Lake Erie Battle

It was the dawn of September 10, 1813 – a light breeze blew from the southwest. As the British set sail, this gave them the important advantage needed to begin the “Battle of Lake Erie.”
At around 10 a.m. the Americans approach the British in the middle of Lake Erie. When the two enemies were only about five kilometers apart from each other, the wind completely died away, returning abruptly from the southeast. This put the British at a disadvantage, forcing them to hold their position.
At 11 a.m. Perry raised his famous flag bearing James Lawrence’s heroic words: “Don’t Give Up The Ship.”
By 11:45, only two kilometers away, Barclay fired the first shot from the Detroit.
The Lawrence then entered the bombardment 5 minutes later, as it manoeuvred into close quarters with the Detroit.
At about 12:20 the Lawrence was parallel to the British.
The Niagara, however, was well out of the fight as it was preoccupied by another attack from the main force of the British front. The Niagara followed so closely behind the Caledonia that at one point the Niagara’s main topsail had to be backed in order to prevent a collision with the more sluggishly sailing Caledonia.
As the second hour of the battle wore on there were to be many casualties onboard the Detroit and the Lawrence. The cannonballs tore through the ships, sending debris flying everywhere.
At about 2 p.m. the brutal cost of fighting between the Lawrence and the Detroit had begun to take their toll. The Lawrence started to fall back as the number of killed and wounded surpassed eighty.
Captain Perry fired the last shot from the Lawrence’s starboard, and then decided to give up his flagship and head to the Niagara.
A small boat that had been towed behind the brig was pulled along the port side of the ship. Then the flag bearing “Don’t Give Up the Ship” was hauled down, as Perry headed toward the Niagara. Standing in the stern, in full view of the British sharpshooters, Perry defiantly held his battle flag. The British watched Perry change from the wrecked Lawrence to the perfectly fresh Niagara.
As Perry came on board, he ordered to speed on and steer the Niagara through the British line.
As the Niagara approached the Detroit, the British planned to counterattack them and broadside with their starboard battery.
As the British reset their sails to bring the bow of the Detroit across, the wind pressed the sails and pushed the ship into reverse; the Detroit rammed backwards into the Queen Charlotte. With their spars tangling the Detroit lay immobile in the water. Perry then used the Niagara to cross in front.
With the Detroit horribly wrecked the Niagara silenced their guns out of pity. The British then hauled down their flags and the battle came to an end.
The Americans took control over the surrendered ships and a message was sent to General Harrison saying: “We have met the enemy and they are ours – two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.”