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Don't Give Up the Ship: The Battle of Lake Erie
Narrator 1: It is September 10, 1813. The War of 1812 is raging, and control of Lake Erie is critical for both the United States and Great Britain.
Narrator 2: Twenty-seven-year-old Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry leads the American fleet near Put-in-Bay, Ohio. His flagship is named the Lawrence, in honor of a brave captain who recently fell in battle.
Commodore Perry: (Pointing to his blue battle flag) Look at these words stitched in white letters: "Don't Give Up the Ship!" Today, men, we carry Captain Lawrence’s memory into battle!
Sailor James: Look on the horizon, Commodore! The British fleet is approaching! Six heavy warships are heading straight toward us.
Narrator 1: Cannon fire erupts across the water. Thick black smoke fills the air over Lake Erie as the British ships focus their heavy fire directly upon the Lawrence.
Sailor James: (Coughing through the smoke) Commodore! Our ship is taking severe damage! Most of our cannons are destroyed, and the ship is sinking!
Commodore Perry: We will not surrender! Hand me that blue battle flag!
Narrator 2: Perry makes a daring decision that will go down in naval history. With his flagship nearly ruined, he lowers a small wooden rowboat directly into the middle of the raging battle.
Narrator 1: Cannonballs splash violently all around them. Perry and four sailors row through a hail of gunfire toward another American vessel, the Niagara.
Sailor James: Row, men, row! Keep your heads down and pull hard!
Commodore Perry: (Standing tall in the rowboat, holding his flag) Steady, boys! Keep rowing! We will reach the Niagara!
Narrator 2: Miraculously, Perry reaches the Niagara unharmed. He climbs aboard, raises his blue battle flag to the mast, and takes command of the fresh ship.
Commodore Perry: Turn the Niagara directly toward the British line! Full sail ahead!
Narrator 1: Perry sails the Niagara straight through the center of the British line, firing cannons from both sides of the ship at close range.
Sailor James: The enemy fleet is overwhelmed! They are lowering their flags to surrender!
Narrator 2: For the first time in history, an entire British naval squadron surrenders. Commodore Perry takes an old envelope and writes a brief, famous message to General William Henry Harrison.
Commodore Perry: "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
Narrator 1: Perry's heroics on Lake Erie secured American control of the Great Lakes and protected the nation's northern border.
Narrator 2: Today, Perry’s bravery and famous flag remain enduring symbols of courage and determination.
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Glossary
- fleet:
- A group of ships sailing together or operating under one military command.
- flagship:
- The main ship in a fleet that carries the commanding officer.
- surrender:
- To stop fighting and admit defeat to an enemy force.
- vessel:
- A large boat or ship used for traveling on water.
- squadron:
- A group of warships assigned to a specific naval mission.
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About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“Don't Give Up the Ship: The Battle of Lake Erie” is a reader's theater reading passage about Battle of Lake Erie, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (422 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.
Is this passage free?
Yes. You can read “Don't Give Up the Ship: The Battle of Lake Erie” online for free and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.
What reading level is “Don't Give Up the Ship: The Battle of Lake Erie”?
It’s written for Upper Elementary — a reader's theater text about Battle of Lake Erie, about a 3-minute read (422 words).
What’s included with this passage?
An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.
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