His plan of battle was therefore governed entirely by his knowledge of Barclay's strength and of the possibilities of his own forces.
With a light breeze and working to windward, Perry's ship moved to intercept the British squadron which lay in column, topsails aback and waiting.

The American brigs were fanned ahead by the air which breathed in their lofty canvas, but the schooners were almost becalmed and four of them straggled in the rear, their crews tugging at the long sweeps or oars.

Two of the faster of these, the _Scorpion_ and the _Ariel_, were slipping along in the van where they supported the American flagship _Lawrence_, and Perry had no intention of delaying for the others to come up.

Shortly before noon Barclay opened the engagement with the long guns of the _Detroit_, but as yet Perry was unable to reach his opponent and made more sail on the _Lawrence_ in order to get close.
The British gunners of the _Detroit_ were already finding the target, and Perry discovered that the _Lawrence_ was difficult to handle with much of her rigging shot away.

He ranged ahead until his ship was no more than two hundred and fifty yards from the _Detroit_.