Oliver Hazard Perry’s American fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie consisted of nine ships.
The squadron included five schooners, three brigs, and one sloop. Perry commanded from the brig USS Lawrence, while USS Niagara was commanded by Jesse Elliott. Together, the vessels formed the American line against a six-ship British squadron under Robert Heriot Barclay.
The battle took place on September 10, 1813, near Put-in-Bay. Perry’s flagship was heavily damaged, but he transferred his flag to Niagara and helped break the British formation. The Americans captured all six British vessels, securing control of Lake Erie.
The number nine refers to the American vessels engaged in the battle, not the total number of craft that might have supported the wider Lake Erie campaign. That distinction can cause confusion because naval forces also used transports, supply boats, and vessels stationed elsewhere on the lake.