Pittsburgh's Role in Perry's Victory

From the June 25th Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Perry legacy spans centuries" by Craig Smith.

Oliver Hazard Perry was 27 when he was charged with building a fleet on Lake Erie to stop the British Navy.  He turned to Pittsburgh for manpower, suplies and know-how to accomplish the task.  Heavy rope, anchors, iron nails, cannon shot and other materiel were shipped 130 miles from Pittsburgh to Erie, Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie.

Within a year, Perry had built nine ships with lumber from the surrounding area.

Perry was born in 1785 in Rhode Island and his ancestors on both sides of his parents were accomplished Navy men.  By the age 12, he had sailed on his father's ship to the West Indies.  By the age of 14, he was a commissioned midshipman learning to be an officer on his father's ship.  In 1897, he became a lieutenant in the Army.

The ships were built on Presque Island becaus eit was the best-protected natural harbor on the American side of Lake Erie.  His supplies were shipped from Pittsburgh on the Alleghenny River/French Creek system to Waterford and from there on the Waterford and Erie turnpikes.

Once his ships were finished, Perry sailed to Put-in Bay and from there, on September 10, 1813, engaged the overconfideant British fleet.  Although his flagship USS Lawrence was knocked out of action, Perry rowed over to the USS Niagara and continued the fight and winnibng a resounding victory.  The British surrendered and Perry sent the famous message, "W have met the enemy and they are ours."

For the action, he became a hero.  he had significant contributions later in the war at the Battle of Thames and received a Congressional Medal of Honor (or what passed for one back then) and a promotion to captain.

Now, You Know.  --RoadDog