Notable Victories
Despite such weaknesses, the American forces were able to secure a few victories. In the Battle of Thames in October, 1813, William Henry Harrison led a campaign in which his men defeated the British and Native Americans, including Tecumseh’s forces.
Another notable achievement came in March of 1814, when Andrew Jackson led his men in victory against the Creek Native Americans at Horseshoe Bend in Alabama.
Although completely outnumbered by the British navy by about twenty to one, the United States led several victorious campaigns at sea. Frigates, or medium-sized warships, such as the Constitution (or Old Ironsides, as it was dubbed), the Wasp, and the USS United States, launched successful attacks against the British. Probably the most significant victory came in the summer of 1813, when Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry led his crew to victory over a small British fleet on Lake Erie. In doing so, Perry enabled the United States to maintain control of the area while protecting a vast portion of the northern border. Additionally, privateers met with success by capturing thousands of British vessels.
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