Jesse Elliott, USN-- Part 4: Service in Lake Ontario and Back to Lake Erie

Jesse Elliott was then transferred to Lake Ontario where he served under Commodore Isaac Chauncey as captain on the flagship, the USS Madison,  and took part in the Battle of York on 27 April 1813 and the Battle of Fort George on 27 May.

He was promoted to master commandant in July and reassigned to the Lake Erie Squadron, to serve as Perry's second in command.  He felt Perry had insufficient combat experience and was particularly outspoken Perry's decision to use Presque Isle for his shipyard.   

The two me were on collision course at thus time.  No doubt Elliott was still smarting over being replaced in Lake Erie by Perry to begin the problems.

BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

Then came the famous battle.

During the Battle of Lake Erie against a British squadron under Captain Robert Barclay on 10 September 1813, Elliott commanded the USS Niagara.  Perry commanded the Niagara's sister ship, the USS Lawrence.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Montgomery, USN-- Part 3

From American Military Leaders A-L by John Fredricksin.

JOHN B. MONTGOMERY

(November 17, 1794-March 25, 1874)

John Barrien Montgomery is best-known for raising the U.S, flag over what became San Francisco in the Mexican War..  A religious, Bible-quoting officer, he completed fifty years of service without  a single incident or  controversy to mar his  reputation.

Montgomery was born in Allentown, New Jersey, the second of three brothers.  All three joined the U.S. Navy just before the War of 1812 and enjoyed  distinguished careers.  Montgomery became a midshipman in June 1812 and ventured to Sackets Harbor as part of Commander Isaac Chauncey's Lake Ontario Squadron.

Attached to the schooner Hamilton, he participated in the November 10, 1812,  bombardment of Kingston, Ontario, before transferring to the brigs Madison and General Pike.  In this capacity, Montgomery fought during the capture of York (now Toronto), Ontario (Upper Canada at the time), in April 1813 and Fort George, Niagara,  the following month.

--Brock-Perry

Henry Eckford-- Part 5: Building Ships--Fast

The USS Madison, actually listed as a corvette, took only nine weeks from the cutting of the timber and 45 days from the laying of its keel to launch on November 26, 1812.  In November 1814, it took only five weeks to launch the frigate USS Mohawk and the schooner USS Sylph took just 21 days from keel to launch.

That Eckford could sure slap them together fast.

On May 1, 1814, U.S. Army troops on sentry duty at Sackets Harbor shot and killed a carpenter after the launch of the USS Superior.  An ensuing confrontation between them and shipyard workers  led to a threatened strike.  Eckford joined Commodore Chauncey of the Navy and Major General Jacob brown in diffusing the situation.

Eckford's efforts, along with Adam and Noah Brown were a big reason for American success on the Great Lakes.

--Brock-Perry

Henry Eckford-- Part 3: Moves Operations to Sackets Harbor

Henry Eckford suspended his New York City operations, gathered his apprentices and best workers and moved to Sackets Harbor, New York.

His first ship was the USS Madison, a 42-gun frigate.  Construction of the ship was further complicated because Eckford was not only building it, but also building his shipyard, buildings and quarters.  Sackets Harbor went from being a small, sleepy village to a bustling town as one of the Navy's main bases during the war.

By April 1813, Eckford had 200 carpenters and workers there.  By the following year, it was 400 and 800 by 1815.  Part of this increase was due to the shipbuilding race between the British and Americans on the Great Lakes.

--Brock-Perry