In the spring of the year 1813 there was a race between the Americans at Presque Isle. PA. And the British at Amherstburg in Upper Canada. The race was to produce the best equipped fleet to gain military supremacy over Lake Erie. The Americans were building their two giant brigs, Lawrence and Niagara, while the British were building their large frigate Detroit.

Both sides faced extreme hardships. Erie Pennsylvania, the community at Presque Isle, was a frontier settlement, not an Industrial center. The only local resource was timber. Everything else had to be brought in from all over the state by keel-boat up rivers, and by ox cart through forest and bog. Amhurstburg (Fort Malden) was even worse off because it was not even a self sufficient community. Food and supplies had to be brought in from Montreal across an equally harsh wilderness. Supplies that could be brought in by ship were subject to seizure by Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario. Fittings for the building of the Detroit had to be sent all the way from England as there were no iron foundries in either of the Canadas.

Definitive Software Inc. and I would also like to thank the people at the Flagship Niagara League, especially Rebecca Grimaldi for their assistance in identifying and locating Mr. Cristopher Muzik for us.

Niagara, anonymous pamphlet, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission With The Flagship Niagara League.