Customer Reviews

A Signal Victory: The Lake Erie Campaign, 1812-1813 (Bluejacket Books)

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This excellent book is the definitive history of this hard-fought, valiant effort by two small fleets fighting each other to the death quite literally in the middle of nowhere, 1813.

Two quickly built naval squadrons, getting men and material for sailor and ships from wherever they could, fought each other to literal annihilation for the loser, and great strategic gains for the victor. Two talented naval officers, Briton Robert H. barclay, and American Oliver Hazard Perry, built their small fleets, manned them with whatever came along (in Perry's case 'a motley set, blacks, soldiers, and boys', including a Marine officer who was given his choice of a court-martial or serving on the northwest frontier-he was later killed in action in the battle, quite gallantly taking his death wound leading his men), and set sail to settle the fate of Lake Erie and its surrounding territory.

The authors tell their tale with wit, verve, and aplomb, from the different characters to the ships and the men that manned them. This volume definitely has the smell of gunpowder about it and is meticulously researched and very well-written. It is highly recommeded both as a valued addition to the literature of the period and a book than can stand on its own.

Skaggs and Altoff have done a terrific job with this almost forgotten piece of North American history. The authors deal not only with the battle itself, but also describe the events that lead to it, and the repercussions of it. The research is meticulous and put forth in a very readable way. This should be required reading for any history buff.

Professor Skaggs shows why he is considered among the preeminent scholars of Great Lakes naval warfare in this excellent work on the legendary Battle of Lake Erie. The geopolitical setup is serviceable, if shallow in its discussion of the larger conflict of 1812, but in setting the specific stage for Great Lakes naval operations he excels. The characters are a strong point and Professor Skaggs doesn't shy away from portray Commodore Perry as both a brave and brilliant commander and a gentleman who was highly sensitive about his reputation and his honor, even to the point of interference in his legacy and operations. Jessy Elliot receives fair treatment, I feel, and while Professor Skaggs certainly takes Perry's side, I don't feel that he does so out of an unjustified bias.

Overall, I found this book riveting, thoughtful, concise, and fairminded. A difficult combination to muster, but Professor Skaggs is more than equal to the task of fine history writing.

The Lake Erie Campaign was one of the few bright lights during the War of 1812. This succinct, readable book details the challenges and hardships faced by the combatants in what was then a largely unsettled part of North America. I bought mine at the National Historic Site headquarters at Put-In-Bay, South Bass Island, Ohio...and at the time, they had plenty of copies.