Video
Guns Across the Lakes: Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara- The 1814 Campaign
Transcript
Ahoy and welcome back to another installment of Guns Across the Lakes. My name is Charles Johnson and I'm the educator here at the Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara. This week we focus on the US Navy's Presque Isle squadron after the Battle of Lake Erie through its 1814 campaign and onto the eve of the Battle of Mackinac Island. Following the Battle of Lake Erie Harrison's army followed suit in defeating the British at the Battle of the Thames. With these two engagements Lake Erie and Detroit were under sole possession of the United States. Almost overnight Oliver Perry was held as a hero in the eyes of citizens across the United States. Celebration within the ranks at Erie however quickly faded as the perceived inaction of Jesse Elliott, Perry's second in command at the Battle of Lake Erie quickly divided those who remained. At the battle Perry's Brig Lawrence sailed directly into the teeth of enemy fire whereas Niagara from much of the early portion of the engagement hung back away from the bulk of British firepower. Lawrence was all but destroyed however Elliott's Brig Niagara remained relatively untouched. Many members of the officer cadre believed that Elliott purposely held the brig back. Initially quiet on the subject Perry wrote that Elliott had served with his customary gallantry on that day. He then ordered that his fellow officers remain quiet on the subject as well. Unfortunately dissent had traveled out when Lieutenant John Yarnell wrote a letter that would eventually be published in an Ohio newspaper. Word travels quickly through the ranks of any military force especially one like the early 19th century American navy a letter such as Yarnell's could have severely tarnished Elliott's reputation. Ultimately Perry requested transfer from Erie and on October 25th 1813 he resigned his command turning over the Lake Erie squadron to none other than Jesse Elliott. Perry's trip home to Newport Rhode Island lasted three weeks and was prolonged due to being fed by enthusiastic crowds gifts and banquets every stop along the way. While Perry was beset by celebration what he left behind was quite the opposite. Presque Isle Naval Station fell into a state of disrepair and chaos. Ships were left tattered and even sunken in their mooring lines and on top of that the Perry-Elliott debate embroiled the men leading to intense squabbles duels and arrests across the station. Furthermore American losses on the border canceled out the previous season's gains throughout the winter. As the calendar flipped into 1814. The British captured Fort Niagara and destroyed the settlements at Buffalo and Blackrock. With the latter the Americans lost two of the prize vessels the Little Belt Chippawaas well as a sloop Trippe. Understanding the threat Elliott wrote to the Secretary of the Navy on the 5th of January 1814 requesting a force of 2000 militia in Erie until the middle of March as an added layer of precaution. British strategy continued to point toward increasing their presence on the lakes primarily to ensure their ability to control their holdings as well as supply lines out in the western end of the region. As well as their desire to create a buffer state of native allies along the American border. Furthermore they scheme to destroy or recapture the vessels they lost at Put-in-Bay and build a new shipyard in the lakes. Fortunately for the Americans of Presque Isle the winter of 1813-14 was a mild one preventing a British crossing the lake due to limited ice coverage. On the other side of the coin the winter was exceptionally difficult at Erie. Pneumonia and smallpox ravaged the station killing many resulting in the anchorage being nicknamed Misery Bay. In April, Chauncey ordered Elliott to prepare the Niagara and Lawrence and proceed into Lake Huron as soon as the ice would permit. For the United States the strategy was to press on following their supremacy on Lake Erie and retake Fort Mackinac. Severing British supply and communication lines with their western allies. Shortly after Chauncey penned this letter to Elliott the latter requested leave from Presque Isle and in his place the US Navy sent Captain Arthur Sinclair to oversee operations at the station. Upon arrival Sinclair immediately realized the challenge of the task ahead describing the situation at Erie's being a deplorable one. An audit of the officers and crews showed that there are very few that still remained and of those that did most were unfit for service. Expenses and accounts were out of control and the crime had forced the arrest of many throughout the station. As for the shipsthose at Erie were still in dismal shape nowhere being ready for the campaigning season ahead. Sinclair immediately ordered the remaining prize ships which were left behind at Put-in-Bay to return to Erie for repairs. Paying close attention to British operations American Secretary of War John Armstrong argued that due to the lack of supplies moving across British lines on Lake Erie the British are most likely focusing their efforts on the Niagara Peninsula. This resulted in the plans to launch an expedition into Lake Huron being delayed. Back in Erie, Sinclair continued to work diligently to repair the squadron as well as clean up the mess from the months prior. As well as obtain the appropriate amount of supplies and food to sustain the station. Intelligence pointed to a considerable amount of flour and bread stuff in five or six large manufacturing mills guarded by a small company at Port Dover in Ontario. He sent for Colonel John Campbell to prepare for a joint effort in striking the Port Dover mills. On May 14th American troops landed at Port Dover and encountering little resistance. Campbell ordered his landing party to destroy the stores in the area however the raid quickly fell into chaos as the landing party began destroying and ransacking homes in the port. Campbell declared the raid as retribution for the British attack on Buffalo four months earlier. The British and Canadians however were incensed. This raid served as justification for the attacks on the Chesapeake, Washington DC, and Baltimore later in the year. Campbell himself was court-martialed yet acquitted for his actions at Port Dover. Alongside ship repairs Sinclair began to combat issues with the books as well as personnel who arrested for trivial causes. Amongst those was Purser McGrath and another officer who threw a volunteer overboard prior to Sinclair's arrival. In late may Sinclair reported peaceful harmony across the station however rumors began to arise that Napoleon had been defeated in Europe allowing the British to send seasoned veterans to aid their war effort in North America. Focus shifted back to Lake Huron and the impact these reinforcements could have in securing British control of the Upper Great Lakes. On June 19, Sinclair departed Erie with Lawrence, Niagara, Caledonia, Scorpion, and Tigris and arrived at Detroit two days later. The passage into Lake Huron was a difficult one however the British lacked the manpower and resources necessary to meet the Americans as they entered the lake. For Sinclair and his partner in the army Colonel George Croghan three objectives were sent down seek out and destroy the shipyards at Matchedash, capture Saint Joseph Island and recapture Fort Mackinac. Of their objective at Matchedash, Secretary of War Armstrong stated that British shipbuilding operations must be brought to a halt as the safety of Detroit commanded the lakes and general security of the frontier depend on it. Sinclair wrote that he struggled with an overall lack of knowledge of the area as well as the flats of Lake Saint Claire being less depth than he was informed. The process lasted from the 3rd of July through the 12th he then remarked that he charted his course towards Matchedash. The issues continued at the fleet Sinclair reported a lake filled with islands sunken rocks and an impenetrable fog all without the aid of a local pilot. As time wore on the lack of food and inability to sail the lakes forced Sinclair and Croghan to abandon their search for the shipyards at Matchedash and point their course towards Saint Joseph Island. According to the diary of Usher Parsons the Americans found an abandoned fort. He writes that the fort public buildings were destroyed found some sheep and about 40 barrels of rosin were also found. The Americans burned all the structures and by the 26th of July set sail in the direction of Mackinac island. Parsons continued in his diary and pursuing the island we were fired upon by the enemy and returned off Mackinac Island about two and a half miles. The events that would ensue following that journal statement from Usher Parsons would become known to history as the Battle of Mackinac Island. For this we turn it over to our friends at Fort Mackinac State Park as they tell the tale of this pivotal battle in the War of 1812. Thank you so much for joining us here in Erie and we hope you enjoyed this episode of Guns Across the Lakes until next time. huzzah
Description
The US end the 1813 Campaign on a high note with the Battle of Lake Erie and the Thames. This week we move in 1814 where the US hopes to continue the war in their favor on Lake Huron.
Duration
8 minutes, 10 seconds
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