september 10, perry's victory on lake erie occurred, and was well received. perry was twenty-seven years old, and was given command of a flotilla on lake erie, provided he would cut the timber and build it, meantime boarding himself. the british had long been in possession of lake erie, and when perry got his scows afloat they issued invitations for a general display of carnage. they bore down on perry and killed all the men on his flag-ship but eight. then he helped them fire the last gun, and with the flag they jumped into a boat which they paddled for the niagara under a galling fire. this was the first time that a galling fire had ever been used at sea. perry passed within pistol-shot of the british, and in less than a quarter of an hour after he trod the poop of the niagara he was able to write to general harrison, "we have met the enemy, and they are ours."