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The Battle

The Lawrence was by now silent, and it was thought by the weary British that the battle was over and that they had won. Perry had different ideas. As soon as he reached the Niagara the wind freshened, and he took Command. He saw the chance to bear down with a fresh ship on a disorganized line. By this time the British, their leaders casualties, were in trouble. Their smaller ships had dispersed to leeward, mostly disabled, and the Detroit and Queen Charlotte fell foul of one another. Elliott was sent off to rally the smaller Americans, and the next thing the British knew was that the Niagara was upon them, burning for revenge. The Detroit and Queen Charlotte had little fight left in them, and after they had been taken the smaller vessels were gradually rounded up. Total defeat, which had looked so unlikely, stared the British in the face. Before daylight faded the flag was hauled down, and Perry returned triumphantly to the battered Lawrence.

With Lake Erie secured as a result of the action, the British army ashore, near to starvation as it was, could only retreat. The town of Detroit, Britain's proudest capture, fell to the Americans and the whole United States was, for the time, clear of invaders. 'We have met the enemy and they are ours.' That was Perry's summary of his exploit. It was in a special sense his own. Resourceful, refusing to admit defeat, he had thrilled his countrymen, and he deserved his monument.

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