Because the British sway on the Great Lakes was unchallenged, the general situation of the enemy was immensely better than it had been at the beginning of the campaign.

During a year of war the United States had steadily lost in men, in territory, in prestige, and this in spite of the fact that the opposing forces across the Canadian border were much smaller.
That the men of the American navy would be prompt to maintain the traditions of the service was indicated in a small way by an incident of the previous year on Lake Erie.

In September, 1812, Lieutenant Jesse D.
Elliott had been sent to Buffalo to find a site for building naval vessels.

A few weeks later he was fitting out several purchased schooners behind Squaw Island.

Suddenly there came sailing in from Amherstburg and anchored off Fort Erie two British armed brigs, the _Detroit_ which had been surrendered by Hull, and the _Caledonia_ which had helped to subdue the American garrison at Mackinac.