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1898-99. | THE CONTEST FOR THE COMMAND OF LAKE ERIE IN 1812-13. 363 
augus. The time for defensive preparations gained by the British was 
invaluable. 
The necessity of securing the control of the lakes for the accomplish- 
ment of their plans of conquest had, in fact, been forcibly pointed out to 
Dr. Eustis, the American Secretary of War, as early as January 2nd, 
1812, by General John Armstrong, who was destined to succeed him in 
office before the year was out. 
“Resting, as the line of Canadian defence does, in its whole extent, 
on navigable lakes and rivers, no time should be lost in getting a naval 
ascendency on both, for ceterzs paribus, the belligerent who is the first 
to obtain this advantage will (miracles excepted) win the game.’’* 
A memorandum which appears to have been submitted to the Secre- 
tary by General Hull, soon afterwards contains this warning : 
“Tf, Sir, we cannot command the ocean, we can command the lakes 
of our country. This we ought to do; but if there is no intention of 
building a naval force on the lakes superior to that of the British, that 
communication must be abandoned until we take possession of the 
Canadas.” + 
But the boastful declarations of the advocates of war, both in and out 
of Congress, that the militia of Kentucky or Ohio alone, could, and 
would, take Canada, seem to have impressed their government ‘so 
strongly that it preferred to put its trust for the time in its land forces 
alone, which promised at least a superiority in numbers that seemed 
overwhelming. General Hull’s discomfiture, succeeded by other disasters, 
convinced the President and his advisers of their mistake, and several 
hundred seamen, accompanied by a large body of shipwrights, were des- 
patched to the lakes. 
At the Black Rock shipyard they found the merchant schooners 
Catharine and Amelia, and sloop Contractor, to which was soon added 
the prize brig Caledonia. These vessels were rapidly fitted out as gun- 
boats, and armed with those heavy long guns which had already proved 
so effective at sea. 
These preparations soon became known to Sir George Prevost, and 
caused him much uneasiness, as his correspondence with Lord Bathurst 
shows. On October 26th he asked for the appointment of a captain in 
the Royal Navy to superintend the “naval establishment” on the lakes. 
*Armstrong, ‘* Notices of the War of 1812,” I., 235. 
t ‘‘ Canadian Archives,’’ C. 676. 
