Newport, but finding that,
owing to the British blockade, there was little chance of his seeing
active service in that position, he asked to be sent to the Great
Lakes, whose possession we were preparing to dispute with England.

The importance of this mission can hardly be overestimated. By the
capture of Detroit, earlier in the war, the English had obtained
undisputed control of Lake Erie, and were in position to carry out their
plan of extending the Dominion of Canada along the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers down to the Gulf, and so shutting in the United States upon the
West. To Perry was assigned the task of stopping this project, and of
regaining control of the lake.

He arrived at Lake Erie in the spring of 1813, and proceeded at once to
build the fleet which was to sail under the Stars and Stripes. He showed
the utmost skill and energy in doing this, and by the middle of July, in
spite of many difficulties, had nine vessels ready to meet the
enemy--two brigs and two gunboats which he had built, and five small
boats which were brought up from the Niagara river. On the third of
August, he sailed out to meet the British, his ships being manned by a
motley crew of "blacks, soldiers, and boys."

The flagship had been named the Lawrence, after the heroic commander of
the Chesapeake. Luckily the English were not ready for battle, and Perry
had a month in which to drill his men before the enemy sailed out to
meet him. At last, on the morning of Saturday, September 10, 1813, the
British fleet was seen approaching, and Perry formed his ships in line
of battle.

The British squadron consisted of six vessels, mounting 63 guns, and
manned by 502 men. The American ships mounted 54 guns, with 490 men.
Although of smaller total weight than the American guns, the British
guns were longer and would carry farther, and so were much more
effective. The British crews, too, were better disciplined, a large
number of the men being from the royal navy, and the squadron was
commanded by Robert Heriot, a man of much experience, who had fought
under Nelson at Trafalgar.

The American shore was lined with an anxious crowd, who appreciated the
great issues which hung upon the battle. Perry, calling his men aft,
produced a blue banner bearing in white letters the last words of the
man after whom the Lawrence was named: "Don't give up the ship!"

"Shall I hoist it, boys?" he asked.

"Aye, aye, sir!" they shouted, and the bunting was run