Free The War of 1812 by Wesley B. Turner

Put-in-Bay. Barclay had six ships, only three of them adequately armed, mostly with guns taken from Fort Malden. Perry had nine ships, all well-armed with proper naval guns including some that could be swivelled around to shoot over either side. The two squadrons manoeuvred for three hours before the wind shifted in Perry’s favour, but his slow approach allowed Barclay to concentrate his broadsides on his opponent’s flagship
Lawrence
(named after his friend, the heroic Captain Lawrence). Firing began about noon and by mid-afternoon, the
Lawrence
was reduced to “a defenseless hulk.” 7 Remarkably, Perry was unhurt and so transferred to his second large brig, the
Niagara
, to continue the fight, and by late afternoon had defeated the British. The men on each side had fought bravely and had suffered terrible losses. Barclay, badly wounded in the thigh and his remaining arm, was taken prisoner along with all the other survivors. Perry now controlled Lake Erie, a result that would change the entire military situation for western Upper Canada.

    A Naval Battle on Lake Ontario.
The United States sloop of war,
General Pike
, and the British sloop
of war,
Wolfe
September 28, 1813.
    [Courtesy of the Archives of Ontario, S1431.]
    During the final weeks of the navigation season, Chauncey pretty well controlled Lake Ontario. Nonetheless, regulars and militia going by bateaux from York made it safely to Kingston, one indication that Chauncey’s evanescent control did not decisively affect the war. Yeo’s fleet was secure in Kingston harbour and being made stronger for the next year’s fighting. The two fleets, however, never again fought a battle.
    On the other lakes that mattered to the defence, Champlain and Huron, the British retained control throughout 1813. In June, two American schooners sailed from Lake Champlain into the Richelieu River to stop smugglers taking supplies into Canada. They were trapped by British gunboats and surrendered. The British were now stronger on Champlain than the Americans. They used their superiority to destroy the defences at Plattsburgh, seize militarysupplies at other places, and capture four small vessels. American farmers at least were pleased because they could still send foodstuffs to the British army.

    Second View of Com. Perry’s Victory
. An overall view of the naval
engagement, suggesting a very orderly combat.
    [Courtesy of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.]
WAR ALONG THE BORDER
    Early in 1813, the United States decided to increase its efforts to win the war. Congress approved a big war loan, appointed more generals, asked President Madison to raise more troops, and voted to build more ships. (This was why Chauncey and Perry were able to undertake so much ship-building.) Madison changed some of his cabinet members, one of his appointments being John Armstrong as Secretary of War. He did not like the man, but could not find anyone else of ability to take the position and there was the possibility that Armstrong might increase support for the war in New York State where he had political influence. Armstrong proved more active than his predecessor, but his leadership and planning were no better. He left Dearborn in command of the Northern Army until July, then replaced him with James Wilkinson, a man who was considered incompetent by many of his fellow officers. Wade Hampton, who was put in command of the Lake Champlain front, was a better officer, but he and Wilkinson hated each other. Armstrong blundered badly when he put these two in charge of the most important land sector in the war.

    Plaque at Fort York commemorating the Battle of York.
    [Courtesy of the author.]
    Land warfare in 1813 began far to the west. Brigadier-General James Winchester, another veteran of the American Revolution, was the new commander of part of the North Western Army. The rest of the army was under William Harrison, now a brigadier-general, whose victory at Tippecanoe