Page 48: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2012)

One of the most famous sea battles in U.S. naval history took place in September1813, not upon the sea, but on the waters of Lake Erie, between what is now Ohio and Ontario, Canada. In the War of 1812 against Great Britain, the Battle of Lake Erie was a crucial and decisive victory for America and itsNavy, and the flotilla led by 27- year old Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. That battle was recently commemo- rated with events on Lake Erie. And next year?the 200th anniversary?will be even bigger. While the actual bicentennial will becelebrated in 1813, a number of events occurred this year, according to Peter Huston of the Perry Group, which sup-ports the commemorative events of the Battle of Lake Erie. The199th anniver- sary was celebrated in conjunction with the Coast Guard and Navy during Navy War of 1812 Week at the Port of Cleve- land Docks 28-30 on Aug 27-Sept. 4; and Put-in-Bay, Ohio on Sept. 8th 2012. On Sept. 8, 2012, a harbor illumina-tion took place at Put-In-Bay at themonument, with dozens of red flares il-luminating the pathway as the Toledo Symphony Orchestra concludes its per- formance. This story begins at Presque Isle, now Erie, Pa., where six wooden ships of green timber were constructed in eightmonths, yet they were well designed and solidly built. On the day of the great battle, the U.S. fleet on Lake Erie included two ships of 260 tons, Niagara and Lawrence, and seven other ships for a total of 54 guns and 960 tons. The British fleet comprised of six vessels, led by Detroit and Queen Charlotte, to-taling 826 tons and 63 guns. It isn?t cer- tain exactly where the battle was fought. Perry had a major impact on all thebattles fought on Lake Erie, and on the outcome of the war, but he will always be remembers for his battle flag, embla-zoned with the epitaph ?Don?t Give Up the Ship,? the dying words of Capt. James Lawrence aboard the USS Chesa- peake earlier that year. Perry was aboard Chesapeake at that time, and Lawrence was his commanding officer. Perry?s flagship was named for him. He is also remembered for his mes-sage to General William Henry Harri- son, his superior in what was then the country?s Northwest Territories, imme- diately after the victory: ?We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.? During the battle, Perry?s flagship, USS Lawrence, was pummeled by the British fleet. Perry took his battleflag?drapedaround his shoul-ders?and was rowed across to the brig Niagara where he contin-ued the battle to itssuccessful conclu-sion. That flag?ondisplay at the U.S.Naval Academy? still inspires. And a group of citizensknown as the Perry Group arehelping to keep history alive with a reenactment ofthat ?transfer of command.? In this event, to be conducted at the Port of Cleveland, the restored USS Niagara will join with active U.S. warship, USS DeWert (FFG 45), an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, where direct descen- dants of Commodore Perry?carrying areplica of the flag?will transfer bylongboat from one ship to the other, ending with a commemoration of theevent from the flight deck of DeWert. The Perry Group is underwriting theconstruction of the historically accurate18?6? longboat of that era.Rear Adm. Joe Horn, who is the com- mander of the Navy Air and Missile De- fense Command at Dahlgren, Va., was a keynote speaker at the Put-In-Bay event said these observances are part of a se- ries of events the Navy has undertaken in communities across the nation com-memorating the War of 1812. ?Yet few, if any, can match the strategic impor- tance of the battle fought and won here. Some would say this was the center of gravity of the war.? Horn said Perry had joined the Navy at age 13, and by 28 was a combat vet- eran. ?America victory rested on the shoulders of Oliver Hazard Perry.? ?Perry?s efforts?building and man- ning a fleet on the frontier of our nationwas alone an accomplishment worthy of notoriety,? said Horn. ?His next task, however, to beat the world?s strongest navy, was daunting. His battle orders? clear and concise: stay in a straight lineto engage the enemy and fight your adversary in close action.? ?Many tenants of naval warfare came into playthat afternoon:linear battle, ma-neuverability, weather gauge, ordnance selec-tion and ship de-sign,? said Horn. Although someships were badlydamaged, no shipssunk that day. While Lake Erie is not deep, there is no apparent wreck-age to mark the site. The USS Niagara was intentionally sunk in Misery Bay at Presque Isle in 1820 to ?preserve her,? and raised April 2, 1913 to be eventu- ally restored (so much so that the pres-ent day Niagara is essentially an all new ship).Control of the western end of Lake Erie was critical for access to a vast amount of territory. ?The turning point of the war was the Battle of Lake Erie,? saidDavid Zavagno, chairman of the Perry Group?s battle of Lake Erie Bi- centennial Committee.?If Perry had lost, the war could have gone either way,? added Huston. The Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, located at Put-in-Bayon South Bass Island, a short boat ridefrom Port Clinton, Ohio, is operated bythe National Park Service, with support from the Perry Group. It includes an in-terpretive center and the 352-foot mon- ument, and is the place of interment forthree American officers and three British officers killed in the Battle of Lake Erie. Fittingly, Horn served previously as commanding officer of the guided mis- sile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), named for the battle. The ship continues to have a close relationship with the communities on Lake Erie, and espe- cially with Put-In-Bay. ?It is a unique, storied relationship.Allowing the USS Lake Erie crew mem- bers to participate just adds to the richheritage commemorated at Put-in Bay,? Horn said. ?The National Park Service employees and the residents really roll out the red carpet for us. They are won- derful hosts with a deep sense of prideand admiration for military personnel.When the Navy comes to town, they treat us like VIPs.? Horn said he was deeply honored to be the guest speaker and address some 500 people at Put-in Bay. ?To speak about the sacrifices, tenacity and brav- ery of Oliver Hazard Perry and his crew and then to talk about our Sailors serv-ing today was a privilege I will remem- ber for a long time.? There are plans for a number ofunique events for the 200th commemo- ration of the Battle of Lake Erie. The Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial Cele- bration will run from late August through September 10, 2013, will attractpeople to Put-in-Bay and other Lake Erie locations. The events will include a fleet of Tall Ships in an historic reen- actment of the Battle of Lake Erie, a grand Parade of Sail and Port Festivals in waterfront cities in the U.S. and Canada. Visitors will be able to tour the Ships, enlist as Crew Members in the reenactment, or be part of the Bicenten-nial Fleet or Militia. The U.S. Mint will print a specialquarter in honor of the Park and the bat- tle. ?At Put-in Bay, they will christen a replica of the boat Perry used to transferfrom the Lawrence to the Niagara dur- ing the Battle of Lake Erie,? said Horn. ?Add to all this the hospitality of the res- idents at Put-in Bay and you have the in- gredients for a tremendous event.? For information about these events, visit the Perry Group website: www.BattleofLakeErie-Bicentennial.com 48Maritime Reporter & Engineering News FEATURE MARITIME HISTORY Wrap Yourself in History Crucial Sea Battle ? Battle of Lake Erie ? from War of 1812 Commemoration set for 2013 By Edward Lundquist MR#12 (42-49):MR Template 12/4/2012 2:35 PM Page 48