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The United States Brig Niagara
in Erie, Pennsylvania is a reconstruction of an early 19th
century warship of the United States Navy. On September 10,
1813, nine small ships defeated a British squadron of six
vessels in the Battle of Lake Erie. This pivotal event in
the War of 1812 secured the Northwest Territory, opened
supply lines and lifted the nation's morale.
Six vessels in Perry's Fleet, including Niagara
were constructed in Erie. Building of the American squadron
was a remarkable feat, given Erie's mere five hundred
inhabitants and remote location. Shipwrights, blockmakers,
blacksmiths, caulkers, boat builders, and laborers were
recruited from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.
Materials to construct the vessels were imported from other
regions of Pennsylvania including iron from Meadville and
Pittsburgh; canvas for sails from Philadelphia; rigging,
cannon shot and anchors crafted in Pittsburgh. The cannon
were brought from Washington, D.C. and Sacketts Harbor N.Y.
Because there were no sawmills, the lumber had to be cut,
hewed, and squared by hand.
Daniel Dobbins,
a Great Lakes shipmaster living in Erie, was assigned by the
Navy to direct construction until experienced builders
arrived. In February 1813, Commodore Isaac Chauncey, Great
Lakes Naval Commander, hired Noah Brown, a New York
shipbuilder to complete the six vessels. Brown also designed
two of the four schooners and the two brigs, Lawrence
and Niagara.
In March 1813,
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry took command. By late July,
Perry completed the vessels and raised volunteers to augment
his sailors.
A significant
number of the skilled sailors were free blacks, many
landsmen and soldiers were also enlisted due to a shortage
of men.
On August 1,
the British squadron withdrew its blockade and the American
ships emerged from Erie harbor. For the next month Perry
trained his crews and watched the British squadron at Fort
Malden, Ontario (Amherstburg, near the mouth of the Detroit
River).
On September 10, the British under Commodore Robert Heriot
Barclay and the Americans under Perry met in battle near
Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Perry's flagship Lawrence engaged
her counterpart, while Niagara, for unknown
reasons, did not close the enemy. Nevertheless, the
Lawrence held fast and continued a heavy bombardment.
After she was completely disabled, with most of her crew
wounded or killed, Perry transferred by boat to the
undamaged Niagara, sailed her into close action,
broke the British battle line, and forced Barclay to
surrender. In the aftermath, Commodore Perry wrote his
famous report to General William Henry Harrison: " We have
met the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one
schooner, and one sloop."
After the war,
Niagara served as a station ship in Erie until
1820, then was scuttled there in Misery Bay. To celebrate
the centennial of the battle in 1913, Erie citizens raised
the hulk and rebuilt her, using many of the old timbers.
Niagara, towed by the USS Wolverine, visited
Great Lakes ports and participated in ceremonies at
Put-in-Bay on September 10, 1913.
Following the
commemoration, Niagara returned to Erie. In 1931,
the state took custody of her and began a major restoration
that was delayed by the Great Depression. Her hull was
completed in 1943; masts and rigging were finally installed
in 1963.
By the early
1980s the Niagara was again severely decayed.
International Historic Watercraft Society was contracted to
design and build a reconstruction of the Niagara. The
present ship is a new vessel, incorporating both known and
conjectural design features. Some original timber is
installed in non-structural places.
On September
10, 1988, the Niagara was launched in Erie
ceremonies marking 175th anniversary of the Battle of Lake
Erie and the ensuing peace between the United Kingdom and
the United States. |
