As far as the immediate seat of war was concerned, the British naval power was utterly destroyed, and a great and threatening danger removed.
Perry’s letter was short, but covered the whole ground. It was as follows:—
“Dear General,
We have met the enemy, and they are ours. Two ships; two brigs; one schooner; and one sloop.
Yours with very great respect and esteem,
O. H. Perry.”
He also wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, by the same express:—
“U. S. Brig Niagara,
off The Westernmost Sister,
Head of Lake Erie,
Sept. 10, 1813—4 P. M.
Sir:—
It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemy on this lake.