In forty-five days from laying the keel he launched a ship of the corvette class, a third larger than the ocean cruisers _Wasp_ and _Hornet_, "and nine weeks ago," said he, "the timber that she is composed of was growing in the forest." Lieutenant Elliott at the same time had not been idle in his little navy yard at Black Rock near Buffalo, where he had assembled a small brig and several schooners.

In December Chauncey inspected the work and decided to shift it to Presqu' Isle, now the city of Erie, which was much less exposed to interference by the enemy.

Here he got together the material for two brigs of three hundred tons each, which were to be the main strength of Perry's squadron nine months later.

Impatient to return to Lake Ontario, where a fleet in being was even more urgently needed, Chauncey was glad to receive from Commander Oliver Hazard Perry an application to serve under him.

To Perry was promptly turned over the burden and the responsibility of smashing the British naval power on Lake Erie.