by Christine Lorraine Morgan, April 9, 2026 with additional research material from Jenny Cook and GC68/Toby

Early on in the War of 1812, things were not going well for America. The British had captured Detroit and were gaining control of the Great Lakes.

The 500 or so people who lived in the City of Erie feared that they would see British ships sailing into their harbor. Perry’s fleet was under construction here, with untrained men and not enough supplies to get the job done. Seemed as though an inspirational symbol was needed at this point in history.

This is when the women in Erie stepped in and seized the helm of the situation the best way they knew how.

Dorcas Forster Bell and her two daughters, and three daughters of Col. Thomas Forster got together with Margaret Forster Steuart and held a sewing party in a large room of the Steuarts’ house to design a flag for Perry’s fleet.

As the sewing project continued, the flag took on an element of importance.

On Sept. 7, believing that a crisis was around the corner, Perry assembled his officers and while on board, he declared his battle plan and brought forth the freshly completed flag.

“Perry mustered his crew aft, unfolded the flag, mounted the gun-slide and addressed his men, ‘My brave lads, the inscription on this flag is the last words of the gallant Captain Lawrence, after whom this ship is named, namely, ‘Don’t give up the ship.’ Shall I hoist it?”

“Aye aye sir” came the unanimous response, and cheers ascended as the blue folds were given to the breeze,” according to “Erie History – the Women’s Story.”

I guess we all knew the flag came from somewhere, it took reading this book to understand just what a big deal it was back when Erie’s freedom was in jeopardy. And how Erie’s early women made a difference during this crucial battle in their own subtle but powerful way.

As the Battle of Lake Erie progressed, Perry’s ship, the “Lawrence,” was in trouble and began to sink. Perry left the ship, taking the flag with him, and rowed to the “Niagara,” one of the other ships in his squadron.

Once he was aboard, with the flag rose aloft, the “Niagara” advanced into battle and the tide turned. After a three-hour struggle, the Americans scored a tremendous history-making victory, which took place beneath the symbolic flag created by Erie’s seamstresses.

Image capture from August 2025 shows the flags flying aboard the “Lettie G Howard” during the tall ship festival.