ABSTRACT
The first step to an organized policy on the lakes was taken in September 1812 when Commodore Isaac Chauncey was given command of all the lakes west of Lake Champlain. He took personal charge of activities on Lake Ontario, establishing his headquarters at Sackett's Harbor. He sent Commander Jesse D. Elliott to establish a navy on Lake Erie. Elliott built two small brigs and bought schooners that could be used as gunboats. He raised American morale when he sailed from Black Rock and attacked two small British vessels anchored near Fort Erie. l
In the winter a more ambitious building plan went into operation at Presque Isle (Erie, Pennsylvania). Under the able direction of shipbuilder Noah Brown, two 20-gun brigs, a schooner, and three gunboats began to take shape. There was an additional brig, three schooners, and a sloop at Black Rock. In March 1813 Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry arrived at Presque Isle to take command of this new, unfinished fleet, and the ships from Black Rock joined him in June. For the Americans, shipbuilding on the lakes was more feasible than it was for the British, for they had resources that were unavailable to the Canadians. They were also able to send experienced seamen from the Atlantic coast, while the British often had to depend on Canadian landsmen to man their ships.
