Help Commemorate
the Battle of Lake Erie
You can join the Perry Group and National Park Service on a trip back aboard the Jet Express on Saturday September 10th, Historic Weekend as we commemorate the 209th Anniversary of the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie. This will be the start of an amazing day of observances that includes the flag officers of the frigate “USS Lake Erie.” The day will also include Art in the Park (DeRivera Park), 1812 Re-enactor encampment and the annual parade featuring the Anthony Wayne High School Marching Band at 1:30 p.m. from Put-in-Bay School to Perry’s Victory Visitor Center. There will be a special Battle of Lake Erie ceremony presented by the National Park Service.
We will leave Port Clinton at 10 a.m. aboard the Jet Express and travel to Put-in-Bay. At 10:30 a.m. the Jet Express departs from Put-in-Bay and travels to the 1813 battle site where a recounting of that September 10th morning will be followed by a solemn wreath laying ceremony for the fallen will take place. We will then return to Put-in-Bay. Cost is $25 for Perry Group members and $75 for guests. Cash bar will be available. Space is limited. Purchase tickets online at www.FriendsOfPerry.org or contact Linda Natco at perrygroupinfo@gmail.com for more information. The Friends of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial ( The Perry Group) is a 501(c)(3) charity.
Park Ranger Andy Van Camp
September is an exciting and important time for Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. It is during the month of September that the park commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie. This important battle took place on September 10, 1813, roughly seven miles from the boundary of the park. In late 1813, the United States had been successful in blocking British supply routes and left them with two choices: to withdraw or confront the U.S. presence on Lake Erie. Great Britain chose to confront the U.S. fleet, led by Oliver Hazard Perry. Perry sailed to meet the HMS Detroit and Queen Charlotte, their largest vessels, with his fleet that included U.S. Brigs Niagara and Lawrence. From the onset of the battle, the British proved to be formidable foes. After several hours of combat the British were successful in crippling the Lawrence. Because of this, Perry transferred to the Niagara and altered course, hoping to break the British line. The Detroit and Queen Charlotte attempted to counter and ended up ramming one another. Perry and his sailors were able to capitalize on their mistake, break through their line, and open fire. His men were able to end the battle only minutes later, shortly after 3 p.m.
The sacrifice of Perry’s men helped achieve a decisive victory over the British. The ramifications of the victory were widespread. The U.S. secured Lake Erie as British naval strength had been decimated. Additionally, General William Henry Harrison was able to transport personnel more easily to mainland Canada. There, he was able to hand the British another devastating defeat at the Battle of the Thames. While the engagement lasted only hours, lives were forever changed. For the United States, a total of twenty-seven men were killed. Of those twenty-seven, three were officers. The mortal remains of twenty-four enlisted men were committed to Lake Erie, wrapped in their burial shrouds – either sail canvas or their hammocks weighted down with a cannon ball. These brave men still rest at the bottom of the lake to this day. Ninety-six of Perry’s men were wounded, and several would succumb to their wounds. Those that survived undoubtedly faced a great deal of mental anguish, as they bore witness to their comrades falling around them.
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial remembers and honors those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie by hosting its annual Historic Weekend. This year, Historic Weekend will take place from Friday, September 9th, to Sunday, September 11th. The park is planning a wide range of activities suitable for anyone interested in the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812. Park grounds will be transformed into a living history camp where you will find re-enactors portraying both soldiers and civilians. Civilians will be highlighting daily camp life and will provide demonstrations ranging from cooking to blacksmithing. Soldiers will be providing historic weapons demonstrations, including small arms, a carronade, swivel gun, and field gun. There will also be fife and drum music to enjoy. There will be a special flag retirement ceremony Friday evening. On Saturday, the traditional Historic Weekend parade will be joined by participants of Broncos on the Bay. Following the parade, there will be a solemn ceremony held at the park honoring those who fought and died in the battle. Keynote speakers include Captain Danielle DeFant, commanding officer of the USS Lake Erie and retired Colonel Tamara Crawford. The Perry Group, the park’s friends’ group, will also take a special trip to the battle site on Saturday aboard the Jet Express. This is a ticketed event and information on purchasing tickets is available at http://theperrygroup.org/events. More details about scheduled activities will be available soon. Please reach out to Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial if there are any questions at 419-285-2184, ext. 1227. We are excited to welcome everyone to the park for Historic Weekend!
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
