“We Have Met the Enemy”: Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie

By Dr. Sherri Q. Bolcevic, 319th Reconnaissance Wing Historian

During the War of 1812, the dense forests and vast waters of the American frontier were a theater of war just as critical as the Atlantic seaboard. Control of the Great Lakes meant control of the vital supply lines required to hold the Northwest Territory.

On 10 September, Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry led a young United States Navy squadron against the veteran British Royal Navy at the Battle of Lake Erie. It was one of the most decisive naval victories in American history, proving that the fledgling U.S. Navy could stand toe-to-toe with the world's greatest sea power.

Stipple print of Oliver H. Perry Esq. of the United States Navy (NHHC)

The Opposing Squadrons

Building a naval fleet in the wilderness of Pennsylvania was a monumental logistical feat. Perry oversaw the construction of his vessels from green timber, rushing to challenge a British fleet commanded by Commander Robert Heriot Barclay, a veteran who had served under Lord Nelson at Trafalgar.

While the Americans had more vessels, the British held an advantage in long-range guns. Perry’s strategy relied on closing the distance quickly so his ships' heavy carronades (short-range, large-caliber cannons) could smash the British line.

 

Fleet	Commander	Flagship	Total Vessels	Total Tonnage	Total Guns	Strategic Goals
United States Navy	Master Cmdt Oliver H. Perry	USS Lawrence (20 guns)	9	940	54	Sever British supply lines to Detroit
Royal Navy	Cmdr Robert H. Barclay	HMS Detroit (19 guns)	6	826	63	Maintain control of Lake Erie

 

“Don't Give Up the Ship”

Before the battle, Perry hoisted a large blue battle flag over his flagship, the USS Lawrence. Stitched in bold white letters was the phrase “DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP.” This was a tribute to his friend, Captain James Lawrence, who had spoken those words as he lay mortally wounded aboard the USS Chesapeake just months prior. That flag served as the rallying cry for the American sailors.

The engagement began shortly before noon. The wind initially favored the British, allowing them to pound the USS Lawrence from a distance. For two grueling hours, Perry's flagship bore the brunt of the British squadron’s firepower.

The ship was devastated. Every gun on the Lawrence’s engaged side was dismounted, and 80 percent of her crew was killed or wounded. The flagship was essentially a floating, shattered wreck.

The Decisive Maneuver

Despite the horrific casualties, Perry refused to surrender. In a moment of incredible tactical audacity, he hauled down his blue battle flag, boarded a small wooden rowboat with a half-dozen men, and ordered them to row through heavy enemy fire to his second-in-command's ship, the relatively undamaged USS Niagara.

Lithograph showing Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry transferring from USS Lawrence to USS Niagara (Library of Congress)

Once aboard the Niagara, Perry hoisted his battle flag and took command. The wind suddenly shifted in the Americans' favor. Perry drove the Niagara directly through the British line, unleashing devastating double-shotted broadsides from both sides of the ship into the British vessels Detroit and Queen Charlotte, which had become entangled with one another.

Within fifteen minutes of Perry breaking their line, the British squadron had been battered and dismasted. With most of their senior officers wounded, they made the decision to surrender. 

The First Total Surrender

The Battle of Lake Erie marked the first time in history that an entire British naval squadron surrendered. The U.S. Navy's victory secured the Great Lakes for the United States, forcing the British to abandon Detroit and paving the way for General William Henry Harrison's victory at the Battle of the Thames.

Following the surrender, Perry scrawled a hasty note on the back of an envelope to Harrison, immortalizing the victory with a phrase just as famous as his battle flag:

"We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop."

A longer missive from Perry to William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, informing him of the victory (National Archives)

The Battle of Lake Erie remains a defining moment for the United States Navy, showcasing the aggressive leadership and resilience that would become the hallmark of American sea power.

Perry's original "Don't Give Up The Ship" flag as displayed at the United States Naval Academy Museum (USNA)

Bibliography

Roosevelt, Theodore. The Naval War of 1812. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1882.

Skaggs, David Curtis. Oliver Hazard Perry: Honor, Courage, and Patriotism in the Early U.S. Navy. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2006.

Toll, Ian W. Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006.