Video: 'The War of 1812' (September 10, 1813, at 55:48)

(Friday, September 10, 1813, first shot was fired, from Detroit, at 11:45 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Lake Erie, part of the War of 1812) — An American naval force commanded by Oliver H. Perry defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Erie today during the War of 1812. (Afterward, Perry sent the message, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”)

Nine vessels of the United States Navy defeated and captured six vessels of the British Royal Navy.

This ensured American control of the lake for the rest of the war, which in turn allowed the Americans to recover Detroit and win the Battle of the Thames to break the Indian confederation of Tecumseh.

It was one of the largest naval battles of the War of 1812.

Video: 'Battle of Lake Erie 1813'

Perry’s vessels and prizes were anchored and hasty repairs were underway near West Sister Island when Perry composed his now famous message to Major General William Henry Harrison (who would later become the 9th president of the United States).

Scrawled in pencil on the back of an old envelope, Perry wrote:

Dear General:

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