War of 1812

Lou Schultz speaks about the U.S. invasion of Canada after winning the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie

. Area historian and Vice-President of the Erie County Historical Society, Lou Schultz, was the October 2019 speaker in the Catawba Island Historical Society’s Cultural Lecture Series. He shares seldom told tales about preparing for and launching the U.S. amphibious invasion of Canada following Oliver Hazard Perry’s 1813 naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.


Schultz was born and raised in Sandusky. A 3rd grade field trip to Fort Stephenson in Fremont sparked his initial interest in history and ultimately led to his in-depth study of the War of 1812. As a member of the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, he has lectured frequently on the subject. The Hayes Presidential Center displayed his extensive collection of related artifacts during the 2013 Bicentennial celebration of the War.


The presentation primarily focuses on events that took place in what are currently Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties, Ohio. Topics will include the Siege of Fort Stephenson, arrival of Isaac Shelby’s troops at the mouth of the Portage River from Kentucky, embarkation of the army on Perry’s ships, and the Battle of the Thames in today’s Provence of Ontario, Canada.





“Most people know about Admiral Perry’s brilliant success at the Battle of Lake Erie,” said Schultz, “But use of his ships to transport the troops of General William Henry Harrison across the lake was equally important for defeating the British and Tecumseh’s Tribal Confederacy, and for reestablishing American control over the Northwestern frontier.”

Included in the presentation will be passages from original, unpublished documents Schultz has in his personal collection. He describes many of the recorded comments made by participants in the Siege of Fort Stephenson and embarkation for Canada from near Port Clinton as “quite colorful”!