The Lake Erie Campaign of 1813: I Shall Fight Them This Day

by Walter P. Rybka

The story of the Lake Erie Campaign and the culminating Battle of Lake Erie. On September 10, 1813, the hot, still air that hung over Lake Erie was broken by the sounds of sharp conflict. Led by Oliver Hazard Perry, the American fleet met the British, and though they sustained heavy losses, Perry and his men achieved one of the most stunning victories in the War of 1812. Author Walter Rybka traces the Lake Erie Campaign from the struggle to build the fleet in Erie, Pennsylvania, during the dead of winter and the conflict between rival egos of Perry and his second in command, Jesse Duncan Elliott, through the exceptionally bloody battle that was the first U.S. victory in a fleet action. With the singular perspective of having sailed the reconstructed U.S. brig Niagara for over 20 years, Rybka brings the knowledge of a shipmaster to this war story.

Genres: Military History, History, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Bill Tress · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book! about 126 pages and the author explains the why of the war of 1812, short snippets of the invasion of Baltimore and Washington and than on to the campaign on Lake Erie. All the while explaining ship design, sail boat navigation and why the Americans won the battle. The illustrations were excellent and his style of writing was clear and concise,,, what more could you ask for!

[Michael Messinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good succinct description of the the Battle of Lake Erie. Good diagrams of the lines of sail and formation during different times of the day with wind direction. Best read after visiting the Niagara in Erie and perhaps while playing the board game Serpents of the Seas by GMT!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this book was kind of hilarious because this battled pretty much lasted three hours. Really informative though about a war not many people know about!

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Rindis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is intended as a short book for the National Parks service to sell as part of their memorial to the Battle of Lake Erie. The author was originally intending a much longer, definitive, work on the battle, which I think helped make this book much more solid.

This is a short book (just over a hundred pages without the appendixes), largely aimed at the general public, and it does a good job with the subject. It starts with a fair background to the War of 1812, its general course, and how the strategic frontier extended all the way out along the length of Lake Erie and into Michigan. Most of the book is from the American viewpoint, though there is of course time spent on British activities.

Along the way, there's talk about the general design and construction of the ships involved, including recreations of the Niagara. There's a denouement about a fight Perry and Elliot's post battle fight over credit and actions during the climatic battle.

It's a very short book, but serves its subject very well. The writing is clear, and goes through some very introductory material well. I'd like to see a much more comprehensive book on the campaigns around the Great Lakes in the War of 1812, but this is a great primer on the main part of that.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice quick read summarizing the Battle of Lake Erie by the current master of the reconstructed brig Niagara. Excellent maps, tables, and appendices. Rybka also does a great job explaining sailing terms to the modern day reader.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise overview of the naval campaign on Lake Erie in 1813 as well as a brief chapter on the entire war and images detailing all the information you need to gain a basic understanding of sailing. Everything I wanted