Commodore Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie

September 10, 1813

The Battle of Lake Erie fought on the lake’s western end on September 10, 1813 near Put-in-Bay pitted American and British naval forces in a climatic struggle for control of the Great Lakes.  The battle became the most important and certainly the bloodiest naval engagement of the War of 1812, made a national hero of the American commander Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and added his motto “Don’t Give Up The Ship” to a lexicon of cherished American naval and military quotes.  The battle is largely remembered through a painting in the U.S. Capitol by W.H. Powell depicting Perry transferring his flag and command to the Niagara as his original flagship Lawrence lay crippled and blazing in the water.  In addition to the painting there is a diorama of the fighting at the Milwaukee Public Museum.  Both the painting and the diorama are commonly portrayed on postcards.  Additionally, monuments to Perry and his victory are found in a number of locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Following is a work in progress checklist of known postcards portraying events, monuments and historical miscellany for Commodore Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie.

Postcard Publishers

PublisherLocationNotes
Ackley, E.B.Sandusky, OH
AlbertypeBrooklyn, NY
Alexander Mfg.Sandusky, OH
Bosselman, A.C.New York, NYPrinted in Germany
Braun Post CardCleveland, OH
Caldwell, W.N.Lakeside, OH
Cardinell, John D.Philadelphia, PASesqui-Centennial International Exposition, 1926
CCCCChicago, ILCommercial Color Card Co.
Centennial, 1913Erie, PAB&W Printed on Thin Stock
City News AgencyErie, PA
Cleveland NewsCleveland, OHPrinted by American News in Germany
DuPont, E.I.Wilmington, DE1913 Centennial Commemorative Postcards
Faris, KellyPut-in-Bay, OH
Graphic EnterprisesMilwaukee, WI
GraystoneDanville, VAB&W Printer
Hamm, M.E.Toledo, OH
Hauck, Tillie J.Erie, PA
Herbster, H.A.Put-in-Bay, OH
Hotel LawrenceErie, PA
ICSChicago, ILInternational Card Service
Kelley's StudioHagerstown, MDChrome Publisher
Lange, G.G.GermanyPrinted in Germany
Leighton, Hugh C.Portland, MEPrinted in Germany
Meriden GravureMeriden, CTB&W Printer
MWM DexterAurora, MOChrome Publisher
Reynolds, B.S.Washington, DC
RotographNew York, NYPrinted in Germany
Schnoor & FuchsPut-in-Bay
SOHIOCleveland, OHStandard Ohio of Ohio
Teich, CurtChicago, ILAlso known as Curteich
Tichnor Bros.Boston, MALinen Publisher
Toledo Post CardToledo, OH

 Postcard Checklist

LocationEraPublisherNumberSubject
ClevelandDBBraunA6252Commodore Perry Monument
ClevelandDBCleveland NewsM1148Commodore Perry Monument
ClevelandDBLeighton4139Commodore Perry Monument
ClevelandDBUnidentified27Commodore Perry Monument
ClevelandUDBRotographD 1863Commodore Perry Monument
ErieB&WCity News AgencyGraystonePerry Memorial & Natl Peace Monument
ErieB&WCity News AgencyMeridenPerry Memorial & Natl Peace Monument
ErieDBCentennial, 1913B&WCrowds Viewing Niagara
ErieDBCentennial, 1913B&WEscorting Niagara Ino Harbor
ErieDBCentennial, 1913B&WPerry's Flagship Niagara
ErieDBCentennial, 1913B&WPerry's Flagship Niagara At Dock
ErieDBCentennial, 1913B&WCrowds Waiting to Tour Niagara
ErieDBCentennial, 1913B&WNiagara Being Towed by Tugboat
ErieDBCurteichR-46244Rebuilt Niagara
ErieDBDuPontDuPont Powder Wagon Arriving Erie
ErieLINENCity News Agency7A-H798Perry Memorial & Natl Peace Monument
ErieLINENTichnor63456Niagara Under Full Sail on Lake Erie
ErieLINENUnidentified68493Perry Memorial & Natl Peace Monument
ErieRPPCUnidentifiedDeck of the Niagara - 1913
ErieWBHammR-46244Rebuilt Niagara
ErieWBLawrence Hotel27993Commodore Perry Cocktail Lounge
Fairport HarborDBCCCC33225Niagara at Dockside During Centennial
Gibraltar IslandDBHerbsterR-41283Original Relics of 1813
MilwaukeeCHROMEGraphic EnterprisePerry's Victory on Lake Erie (Diorama)
MilwaukeeWBHauck99824Perry's Victory on Lake Erie (Diorama)
MilwaukeeWBNone99824Perry's Victory on Lake Erie (Diorama)
Numbered SetDBUnidentified17Commodore Perry's Flagship Lawrence
Numbered SetDBUnidentified18Commodore Perry's Flagship Niagara
Numbered SetDBUnidentified20Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
Numbered SetDBUnidentified21Commodore Perry at Battle of Lake Erie
Numbered SetDBUnidentified22Battle of Lake Erie (Drawing of Ships)
Numbered SetDBUnidentified26Medal Struck by Congress……
Numbered SetDBUnidentifiedN/NCommodore Perry Transferring Flag
Numbered SetDBUnidentifiedN/NBurial Scene of Officers Slain
PerrysburgCHROMEToledo Post Card8CK-2707Commodore Perry Memorial
Put-in-BayCHROMEFaris17240-EPerry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayCHROMEKelley's StudioS-72104Perry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayCHROMESOHIO#10Perry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayDBUnidentifiedR-28153Perry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayDBUnidentifiedPerry's Victory Centennial Celebration
Put-in-BayLINENAckley0A4220-NPerry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayLINENAckley1B-H1856Perry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayLINENCaldwell2C-H1338Perry Preparing to Leave Lawrence
Put-in-BayLINENCaldwell4C=H802Perry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayUDBBosselman1553Perry's Victory on Lake Erie
Put-in-BayWBHerbster2A1035Commodore's Memorial I.L.Y.A.
Put-in-BayWBHerbsterPerry's Victory & Intl Peace Memorial
Put-in-BayWBSchnoor & Fuchs36744=NPerry Park
SanduskyDBAlexander Mfg.RC-555Perry Memorial, Soldiers' Home
Washington, D.C.DBAlbertypeThe Battle of Lake Erie (painting)
Washington, D.C.DBAlexander Mfg.16922The Battle of Lake Erie (painting)
Washington, D.C.DBLange7The Battle of Lake Erie (painting)
Washington, D.C.DBReynolds613The Battle of Lake Erie (painting)
Washington, D.C.UDBBosselman1166The Battle of Lake Erie (painting)
Washington, D.C.WBCardinell109302The Battle of Lake Erie (painting)
Washington, D.C.WBReynolds48014The Battle of Lake Erie (painting)