By Thomas Best
Even though I am retired from teaching history, I still cannot separate myself from visiting interesting historical sites. On my wife’s and my most recent trip to the east coast, we had the opportunity to visit one of my college students, Nick Mainz. Nick, a Monmouth College graduate, is now a National Park Ranger at a site of one of the most pivotal battles from the War of 1812: The Battle of Lake Erie along Put-in-Bay.
This site is actually called “Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.” Found on South Bass Island, just off the Ohio’s northern coastline, Nick showed us around this historic site during the second weekend in September when reenactors gather to commemorate this battle won by Oliver Hazard Perry against the British. He guided us at one of the more impressive memorial sites on national park service property, a 352-foot-tall Doric white and black marble column completed in 1915. The world’s tallest Doric column has two purposes. First, it honors Perry’s naval victory against a squadron of British warships which helped secure American control of the Great Lakes. Secondly, the column also celebrates the on-going peaceful border with our Canadian neighbors. Amazingly, this tall memorial, bigger than the Statue of Liberty, was constructed in just 32 months.
Inside the memorial are the names of Perry’s ships and the men who were wounded and killed during this battle. In the bottom level are also entombed the remains of some officers from both the British and American ships who were killed during the battle. If you so choose, when the top level of the column is open, you could either walk up the 467 steps or ride the elevator to the top.
Nick also led us around the War of 1812 military demonstrations which featured both music of the era and the firing of period piece cannon and flintlock muskets. If you want to visit this site (accessible by ferry boat), I would also advise you to stop by the small but informative visitor center. Inside are excellent model displays of the naval engagement, weaponry, a monumental statue honoring Perry, and theater which provides a helpful film describing this naval duel.
Here, you will learn how Perry’s bravery and intelligence allowed his nine-ship squadron to block and damage the six British ships which were part of effort to resupply British forces in this region. Despite being out-gunned and having his flagship, “The Lawrence,” badly damaged, Perry managed to transfer his command to “The Niagara,” where he expertly maneuvered this ship into a position in which he blocked British line and inflicted heavy damage upon the British crews and ships. By mid-afternoon, every British ship had surrendered. Having flown a flag declaring “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” Perry later delivered the news of his victory with these motivational words: “We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. Yours with great respect and esteem, O.H. Perry”. If you want to learn more about the War of 1812, this site is essential to visit.
