[99] “The destruction of the British fleet gave the United States supremacy on Lake Erie and compelled the abandonment of Malden and Detroit; it recovered Michigan, and made a real invasion of Canada once more a possibility, for by means of the control of the lakes thus given Harrison was enabled to enter at once upon an aggressive campaign on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. His men were easily transported to the north side, and his line of communication was no longer threatened by a British fleet. Its effect, too, upon the American people was decidedly important; for the first time an American fleet had met a British fleet and defeated it. Nor was it fair to discount the significance of the victory by saying that the vessels were small and of hasty construction. The charm of British invincibility had been broken in the great ship duels which made the names of Decatur, Bainbridge, and Hull household words. To this list was now added the name of Perry, who was looked upon by the Americans as a hero of the same class as Nelson.”--Prof. Kendric Charles Babcock in _The Rise of American Nationality_. [100] “The decisiveness of this battle was evident at once to the British. Hardly was the result known, when measures were taken for the retreat of Prevost’s army into Canada. At best, Prevost’s assault upon the land forces had been so poor as to give little aid to the fleet; and for this failure and his prompt retreat Prevost was ordered to trial by court-martial, but died before the trial could take place. The war was practically ended by this retreat of the British army from Plattsburg into Canada. It would seem as though the persistent mismanagement of the American forces in northern New York, the incompetency of Dearborn and Wilkinson, the strange interference of Secretary Armstrong, the diversion of the forces of Izard from the front of Prevost’s army, were all atoned for by the brilliancy of the accomplishment of Commodore Macdonough and his handful of sailors and soldiers on Lake Champlain.”--Prof. Kendric Charles Babcock in _The Rise of American Nationality_. [101] For the whole correspondence beginning with this letter, see _Senate Docs._, 28 Cong., 1 Sess., I, No. 1, pp. 25–48. [102] _Senate Docs._, 28 Cong., 1 Sess., I, No. 1, p. 28. [103] _Senate Docs._, 28 Cong., 1 Sess., I, No. 1, pp. 38, 41. [104] _Ibid._, pp. 42–48. [105] _Niles’ Register_, LXVIII, 84. [106] _Ibid._, 135; Von Holst, _United States_, III, 80, _nn._ 3, 4. [107] Dublán y Lozano, _Legislatión Mexicana_, V, 19–22. [108] Taylor’s successive orders, in _House Exec. Docs._, 30 Cong., 1 Sess., VII, No. 60, pp. 7, 79–82. [109] _House Exec. Docs._, 30 Cong., 1 Sess., VII, No. 60, p. 99. [110] _Ibid._, pp. 102–109.