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Fighting Sail Deck

At dawn, September 10, 1813 Perry spotted Barclay's fleet.  He quickly weighed anchor and made sail.  At first wind, ("weather gauge") British and Perry's ships had to tack back and forth between the islands.  Wind shifted toward the south, both Perry and Barclay form their lines "on the port tack" so that the two largest ships of each side would face the lead ships of the other (Lawrence, Niagara vs. Detroit, Queen Charlotte).

The British had the long range weapons, Perry had the powerful guns, but he had to survive the initial long-distance firing and get close enough (in a light wind) in order to use them.

This section is devoted to what life was like aboard a wooden warship. It includes a reconstructed mid-ship section of the LAWRENCE showing battle damage caused by live cannon fire, a portion of a ship’s mast with movable yardarms and sails, a recreation of an officers cabin, information about food rations, and a cross section of the ship showing construction details. 

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Erie Maritime Museum, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Pennsylvania National Guard  have developed an authentic replica of the U.S. Brig Lawrence’s battle-torn hull. Using live cannon fire, crew shot at the replica to vividly illustrate the deadly impact of the 1812 Ordinance upon both ships and men.

Lawrence was Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s first flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Devastated by an onslaught of British carronade fire, most of the ship’s crew was either killed or badly wounded. Perry, undaunted, transferred to Niagara, Lawrence’s sister-ship, to continue the battle and win victory for the United States.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission chose a replica of Lawrence because she bore the brunt of the battle. This authentic battle damage of the nineteenth century American warship is permanently on display in the new Erie Maritime Museum in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Naval craftsmen constructed the replica of Lawrence’s starboard (right) mid-ship section. The replica includes a frame, clamp, waterway, caprail, ceiling, four gunports, deckbeams, bulwarks, sills and planking from the upper ten feet of the hull. Oak was used for the frames and deck-beams while pine and spruce were used for the planking, decks and ceiling. All were then painted in authentic period color scheme. 

After construction, the replica along with three carronades and support equipment were transported to Fort Indiantown gap, Pennsylvania for live fire preparation. After training and safety needs were met, crew from the Niagara fired at the replica from 2000 yards away, a distance that approximates the British Squadron’s actual position during the Battle of Lake Erie. Using two of Niagara’s carronades, fifty-three rounds of shot were fired with twelve 24 and 32 pound cannon balls as well as grape and canister shot.

The damaged hull is positioned in the "Fighting Sail" section of the Erie Maritime Museum. Visitors can now compare this damaged ship section with the undamaged section of the U.S. Brig Niagara. Informative displays and text tell first-hand about the Battle of Lake Erie and about life aboard an early nineteenth century U.S. naval vessel.