During the War of 1812, control of the Great Lakes was vital to both the United States and Great Britain. One of the most important naval clashes of the war came on September 10, 1813, when a young American naval officer, Oliver Hazard Perry, led his fleet against the British on Lake Erie.

4805 – 2013 First-Class Forever Stamp – The War of 1812: Battle of Lake Erie

4805a – 2013 First-Class Forever Stamp – The War of 1812: Battle of Lake Erie, Imperforate

Perry had been given the difficult task of building and commanding an American squadron on the lake. When the two fleets met near Put-in-Bay, Ohio, Perry flew a blue battle flag bearing the words “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” a tribute to his friend Captain James Lawrence, who had been killed earlier that year.

During the battle, Perry’s flagship, Lawrence, suffered devastating damage and heavy casualties. Rather than surrender, Perry transferred by small boat to the Niagara, took command, and renewed the attack. The American ships broke through the British line, and the entire British squadron eventually surrendered.

155 – 1870-71 90c Oliver H. Perry, Carmine, Hard Paper, Perf. 12

After the victory, Perry sent Major General William Henry Harrison his famous message: “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” The triumph gave the United States control of Lake Erie, helped force British troops to withdraw from Detroit, and contributed to the American victory at the Battle of the Thames the following month.

CNOHVI25P – 2013 Perry's Victory International Peace Memorial Quarter, P Mint

CNOHVI25D – 2013 Perry's Victory International Peace Memorial Quarter, D Mint

Perry became a national hero, and the Battle of Lake Erie remains one of the best-known American naval victories of the War of 1812. His determination in the face of heavy losses helped secure an important strategic advantage and created a lasting place for him in US history.