Historical1813
Battle of Lake Erie
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led American forces to a decisive victory over the British fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Perry's famous dispatch, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," announced the first capture of an entire British naval squadron.
Why It Matters
The Battle of Lake Erie secured American control of the Great Lakes and the Northwest Territory, protecting the nation's borders and demonstrating that the young republic could defend its sovereignty.