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ROBERT HERIOT BARCLAY
and the
BATTIE OF LAKE ERIE

In the record files of the Canadian Public Archives, Ottawa, Canada, there is a transcription of the court martial of Robert Heriot Barclay, the naval commander of the British fleet on Lake Erie which was defeated by Oliver Hazard Perry. Such items as seem particularly per- tinent are extracted from that transcription and presented here. The court martial took place September 9, 1814 on board His Majesty's Ship Gladiator in the harbor at Portsmouth, England, Admiral Edward James Foote, presiding.

The transcription begins:
Pursuant to an Order from The Right Honorable Lord Comiss of the Admiralty dated the eighth Day of September 1814 and directed to the President setting forth That Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo, had trans- mitted to their Lordships the Copy of a Letter which he had received from Robert Heriot Barclay Esquire Commander of His Majestys late Ship Detroit and Senior Officer commanding a Squadron of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels in Lake Erie dated the 12th. of September 1813 detailing the particular Circumstances of the Capture of the said Squadron on Lake Erie by a Squadron of Ships and Vessels of the United States of America on the 10th of the same Month The Court proceeded to enquire into the cause and circumstances of the Capture of His Majestys late Squadron and to try the said Captain Robert Heriot Barclay his surviving Officers and Seamen late belonging thereto for their Conduct on that Occasion and having heard the Evidence produced and compleated the Enquiry and having maturely and deliberately weighed and considered the whole the Court is of Opinion That the Capture of His Majestys late Squadron was caused by the very defective Means Captain Barclay possessed to equip them on Lake Erie the Want of a sufficient Number of able Seamen whom he had repeatedly and earnestly requested to be sent to him the very great Superiority of the force of the Enemy to the British Squadron and the unfortunate early fall of the superior Officers in the Action. That it appears that the greatest Exertions had been made by Captain Barclay in equipping and getting into Order the Vessels under his Command That he was fully justified under the existing circumstances in bringing the Enemy to Action. That the Judgement and Gallantry of Captain Barclay in taking his Squadron into Action and during the Contest were highly conspicuous and entitled him to the highest Praise and that the whole of the Officers and Men of His Majestys late Squadron conducted themselves in the most gallant Manner and doth adjudge the said Captain Robert Heriot Barclay his surviving Officers and Men to be most fully and most honourably acquitted and they are hereby most fully and most honourably acquitted accordingly.

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