Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. . , Breaking Enemy Lines , The Battle of Lake Erie took place around seven miles west of here. After spending two weeks training a hybrid crew of sailors and soldiers, Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry was ready. Perry’s presence at Put-in-Bay severed British supply lines. He waited for the British to sail., The battle began with Perry on board the US Brig Lawrence. In the first two hours the vessel was wrecked. Perry transferred to the unengaged US Brig Niagara and renewed the fight. He sailed through the British line blasting the enemy ships into submission. Within 15 minutes the British surrendered. , , The Process of Peace , Peace negotiations began almost a year after the Battle of Lake Erie and lasted nearly five months, When finalized in Ghent, Belgium, on December 24, 1814, it still had to be ratified by the individual governments. British Parliament ratified the treaty just three days later. Because the distance across the Atlantic Ocean slowed communication, the U.S. Congress did not ratify until February 17, 1815. Then, the respective military forces had to be contacted and told to stop fighting. The final land battle took place in Missouri on May 24, 1815. The last naval action occurred June 30, 1815, in the Indian Ocean., Today, the U.S./Canadian border is the longest undefended border in the world at 5,525 miles (8,891 kilometers). , , Why here, Why Put-in-Bay? , Can you imagine what it would be like if there was nothing here? There would be no buildings here, no roads, and no lights at night, not even on the mainline. In 1813, western Ohio, including islands, was a very remote place., So where did the Royal Navy get their supplies? How were they delivered? Supplies came from the United Kingdom. It took a year for supplies to travel here, up the Detroit River and on to Ft. Malden, the next outpost on the supply line., Royal Navy ships sailed with food, ammunition, and other supplies past Put-in-Bay. When Commandant Perry based his fleet here, he cut the ability for the enemy to resupply – an often used strategy of war. , , What Can You See That Perry Could Not? , You are standing at 317 feet above the lake seven miles away from the battle site. The memorial is three times the height of the mast of an 1800s Lake Erie war ship. Even from the top of the shipmast you could not see the battle, seven miles away., If Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry were at the top of a ship mast here today he certainly could not have seen what you can. On a clear day you can see as far as Cleveland - over 60 miles away.