Since we did
not sail today we decided to explore a little of the waterfront in Erie. We
spent time at the Maritime Museum, where a replica of Perry’s ship, the Niagara
is docked. We toured the ship with a very interesting tour guide. He sailed on
this particular ship for ten years. The ship goes to different cities on Lake
Erie for tours, and does day cruises. Niagara has a crew of forty, including
twenty students learning to sail a square rigger. The ship was beautiful and
the tour was very educational.
A brief history lesson…
After the
American Revolution, England was not happy with the independence of the
thirteen American Colonies, and still had ideas about expansion in America. One of the areas of disagreement focused on
the area around the Great Lakes, the border between British Canada America. On
June 18, 1812 America declared war on England…sometimes referred to as the
second war for independence. It is a
historical fact that America was unprepared for war. Initially the war did not
go well for America with the British taking Detroit and Mackinac, as well as
Ft. Dearborn, (Chicago). President
Madison was very interested in retaining control of Lake Erie. He ordered a
naval fleet of ships to be built. Construction of the fleet was mostly done by
hand in Erie, Pennsylvania. Presque Isle Bay was an ideal spot to build the
fleet because British Ships could not get in because of their deep draft. Oliver
Perry took charge of the operation in the Spring of 1813. The battle took place
near Put-in-Bay, on September 10, 1813. Even though the British cannons could
fire a distance of one mile and the American cannons could only fire one half of a mile, Perry and the Americans still won the
battle. There were many reasons for the victory, but one was that the British officers would dress as officers making themselves targets, while Perry wore a seaman's coat. “We have met the enemy and they are ours”…remember Perry’s quote from
American History? The victory secured Lake Erie, which is now part of the largest
unguarded border in the world. If you are interested in reading more about this battle just google The Battle for Lake Erie. It is fascinating.
The Niagara
Masts and rigging...
How is this for a long board?
One of the cannons that would only shoot 1/2 mile. I was thinking that this would be useful to help enforce a no wake zone.
Isn't this little sailboat cute?
Tomorrow we hope to sail to to Dunkirk New York, and then Saturday on to Buffalo. The winds are out of the Northeast right now...the direction we want to go. They are supposed to shift to the East by morning.
So far the trip has been great. We are feeling some urgency to get across New York before it gets too cold.
Thanks for checking out the blog.
Twenty students learning to sail ... what a great opportunity! Looks like a great tour.
ReplyDeleteHey, bring that cannon back to "C" dock. There is a cannon smith on "C" but they are too small. Maybe "Assualt Weapon" can get us into a little more history making. Champagne corks just don't sink ships.
ReplyDeleteFYI, is Connie's 60th birthday.
Stay safe out there in the fresh water sea. Loved the history lesson.
Brad and Glo
Pretty cool! keep em' comin'. (bear)
ReplyDeleteBritain viewed America as traders and often pulled men from US flagged ships which angered Washington. Britain was fighting Napoleon (Waterloo) and had zero interest in expansion in America.Your president said "taking Canada is just a matter of marching north". It occurred to the "Hawks" that Britain was too busy to put up a fight. Your revisionist history makes the USA look like a victim which is wrong. After Commodore Perry won the Battle of Lake Erie he ordered his men to sail back to Erie and anchor in a bay. He ordered them to remain with the ships and left for Washington and the fame that came with it. His men suffered horribly and many died waiting for his return. The bay has been called Misery bay ever since. Earlier in the year Perry could not get out of Erie Penn because the British maintained a blockade. An army commander died back in Amherstburg and the British admiral sailed back to "escort" his widow across lake Erie and try to convince her to marry him on the way. Perry got out. Cannons were fired using goose quills as fuses. they were left in the ran the night before the battle and the British Tars had to fire their cannon with pistols which didn't work. A hot chick and a dumb fuse maker cost them the battle.
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