Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie

A gripping and absorbing narrative, yet an easily understood and highly readable account of the Old Northwest's most significant military event. The focus of the book is the naval conflict itself. Reviewed in detail are the armament and tactical maneuverings of the two squadrons; however, the stories of the American and British crewmen constitute the heart of this book. The book also relates the important events leading up to the Battle of Lake Erie. Described are the strategic significance of Lake Erie, the campaigns of the War of 1812 in the Old Northwest preceding the Battle of Lake Erie, plus the story of both the building and manning of the American squadron. Containing numerous maps and illustrations, it is a concise and fascinating account of the turning point of the War of 1812 in the Old Northwest.

After a four-year tour of duty with the United States Coast Guard, which included a WestPac cruise to Vietnam, Gerard T. Altoff joined the U.S. National Park Service in 1972. Duty assignments at Zion National Park in Utah and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota were followed by his current position at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, where he has served as the Chief Ranger and Historian since 1979. In addition to numerous articles published in historical journals, Altoff's books include Deep Water Sailors - Shallow Water Soldiers: Manning the United States Fleet on Lake Erie, 1813 and Amongst my best men: African Americans and the War of 1812. Altoff also co-authored A Signal Victory, the Lake Erie Campaign, 1812-1813 with Dr. David Curtis Skaggs.