Perry's Ship, the USS Revenge, Discovered Off Rhode Island

From Jan.7, 2011, Yahoo News.

A team of divers say they've discovered the remains of the USS Revenge, commanded by  U.S. Navy hero Oliver Hazard Perry, famous for his victory over the British at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 and his "I have met the enemy and they are ours."  During this battle, he flew the equally famous flag, "Don't Give Up the Ship."

Charles Buffum and Craig Harger say the wreck changed history.  Had it not sunk in 1811, Perry wouldn't have been sent to the backwaters of Lake Erie.

The Sunday was the 200th anniversary of the wreck.

Buffum has been interested in the USS Revenge ever since his mother gave him the book "Shipwrecks on the Shores of Westerly" which included Perry's account of the wreck where he hit a reef in a storm during a heavy fog off Watch Hill on Westerly.  Perry was bringing his ship from Newport to new London, Ct.

Buffum, Harger and Mike Fournier used a metal detector and after several dives, came across a cannon and then another.  They made their first discovery in August 2005 but kept it secret while continuing the search, finding four more 42-inch long cannons, an anchor, cannister shot and other metal objects.  All the wood is gone.

They are 99% sure the wreck is that of the Revenge, but have not found the ship's bell which would be conclusive proof.

Many of the found objects were just 15 feet deep and they fear other divers coming to the site now.

Perry was demoted after the incident.  His ship,the Revenge, was a schooner that had been purchased in New Orleans and mounted twelve 6-pdr. guns.  The Revenge had been plotting coastal waters and harbors when it sank.  The ship was initially pulled off the rocks, but the tow rope broke and the Revenge drifted into the rocks again and this time sank..

So, That's How He Got to lake Erie.  Arrive Dejected and Then Win Big.  --Brock-Perry