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USS Ariel (II)
Schooner:
Built in 1813 on Lake Erie at Presque Isle (Erie), PA., by Adam and Noah Brown
Launched, April 1813
Commissioned USS Ariel sometime during the ensuing summer, LT. John H. Packett in command
At the outset of her service, Ariel was blockaded in the harbor at Presque Isle by the British squadron under Capt. Robert Heriot Barclay, RN, until 2 August
The English warship sailed away, 2 August and LT. Oliver Hazard Perry sailed his squadron out into the lake on 5 August.
At about 8:00 that morning, the British squadron reappeared and traded long-range gunfire with Ariel and other small units of the American flotilla
After trading a few rounds with Ariel and her colleagues, CAPT. Barclay drew off
Soon thereafter, USS Niagra cleared the Harbor and the Americans began preparations for battle
Perry and his squadron left Presque Isle on the 18th to search for the British, however, the British by then had put into Amherstburg and remained there until the beginning of the second
week in September
Perry took all his ships, except USS Ohio which he sent down the lake, into Put-in-Bay
On 9 September, the British squadron, dangerously short of provisions, left Amherstburg in search of a decision with the superior American forces
When Lawrence's lookout sighted Barclay's squadron on the horizon at daybreak on 10 September, Perry immediately ordered his ships to weigh anchor
As the American force steered generally northwest to meet the enemy, Ariel and USS Scorpion led the column, with
USS Lawrence immediately astern and the rest of the Americans at some distance back
The action opened at about 1145 with some extreme range shots from a long 24-pounder on board HMS Detroit, second ship in the British column
Scorpion responded with her long 32-pounder, but Ariel, armed only with long 12-pounders, apparently held her fire for a time
Within 10 minutes, the action became general, at least between the British and three or four of the leading American ships
The rearmost American's were still quite out of range. Ariel, Scorpion, and USS Caledonia appear to have suffered little due to
the fact that the British concentrated upon Lawrence. The smaller warships, however, stood gallantly by their stricken flagship inflicting on the enemy what damage they could. During
the first phase of the Battle of Lake Erie, Ariel lost one of her four 12-pounders when it burst due to an overload.
Two hours and 30 minutes into the action, Lawrence was a battered wreck with her last gun silenced. However, Ariel, Scorpion, and Caledonia
remained in action as the fresh Niagra finally hauled up to join in the close action
At that point, Perry shifted his flag to Niagra and charged to break the British line of battle
Lawrence, with but 14 effective seamen, struck her colors soon after Perry crossed over to Niagra .The British were never able to take possession of her, though, because Niagra succeeded in breaking the British line and raking three of their ships to port and the other four
to starboard
Meanwhile, Ariel and Scorpion provided what amounted to a crossfire on the three ships to Niagra's portside
Within 15 minutes of his line being broken, Barclay, his major units in shambles, lowered his flag in surrender
Two of the smaller British ships tried to flee, but Scorpion and USS Trippe shepherded them back later that night
Throughout the battle, Ariel lost only one man killed and three wounded
On the night of 11 September, both squadrons entered Put-in-Bay
The defeat of the British squadron on Lake Erie opened the way for the recapture of the Northwest Territory (primarily what is now the state of Michigan) and for an invasion of Canada.
After repairing the ships of the squadron and their prizes, Perry began embarking the troops of General William Henry Harrison's invasion force on 24 September. That operation complete, the
squadron and its embarked troops set out for the mouth of the Thames River on the 27th
They reached their destination at about 4 o'clock that afternoon, and the troops moved ashore unopposed
Three ships of the squadron moved upriver as the American troops advanced on the retreating British
Although some sources indicate that Ariel was one of those ships, others which are probably more reliable indicate that the troops were accompanied by Scorpion,
USS Tigress, and USS Porcupine. However, these records state that even those three ships were unable to ascend the
river far enough to participate in the American victory in the Battle of the Thames fought, 5 October 1813
Ariel therefore, probably rode at anchor at the mouth of the river throughout the operation
The brief campaign ended two days after the battle when the American troops returned to Detroit to consolidate once more their position in Michigan while the American flotilla reigned supreme
on Lake Erie.
Ariel's subsequent career remains a mystery, one source suggests that she was burned during the British raid on Black Rock (now Buffalo), N.Y., on 29 and 30 December. That end,
however, seems unlikely for she was carried on a list of ships dated 18 March 1814; and Theodore Roosevelt, in his still-respected study, Naval War of 1812, indicates that she joined three other
small warships on a brief raid of British posts along the northern shores of Lake Huron. Unfortunately, none of the sources offer any real substantiation for their assertions. All that can be
clearly stated is that her name was not included with those of her sister schooners on a list of United States naval vessels dated 2 January 1816
Specifications:
Displacement 75 t.
Length unknown
Beam unknown
Depth of Hold 9'7"
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament four long 12-pdrs
Propulsion sail
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Ariel (II)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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Last Updated 25 February 2022