Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: USS Ariel
• Type: Armed Schooner (4-gun warship)
• Built: 1813 by A & N Brown, Erie, Pennsylvania
• Dimensions: Not specified
• Armament: 4 guns
• Service: United States Navy, War of 1812
• Final Voyage Date: December 29, 1813
• Final Disposition: Burned by the British at Black Rock (present-day Buffalo, New York) after running aground during a squall.

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The USS Ariel was a schooner-rigged vessel built to serve the United States Navy during the War of 1812. As a schooner, it was designed for speed and agility, making it a suitable platform for both combat and patrolling duties on the Great Lakes. Its four guns provided it with modest firepower for engaging enemy vessels and supporting larger ships in the fleet.

HISTORY

Construction and Role

The USS Ariel was constructed in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1813 as part of a concerted effort to strengthen the U.S. Navy’s presence on the Great Lakes. Schooners like Ariel were vital to the American war effort, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities in contested waters.

The Battle of Lake Erie

The USS Ariel gained historical significance for its role in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Under the command of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the American fleet achieved a decisive victory over the British, capturing their entire squadron and securing American control over Lake Erie. The Ariel, though damaged, contributed significantly to this victory, cementing its place in naval history.

Final Loss

After the battle, Ariel continued its service with the U.S. Navy. However, on December 29, 1813, the ship ran aground during a squall at Black Rock, near modern-day Buffalo, New York. Seizing the opportunity, British forces set the grounded vessel ablaze, ensuring it would not return to American hands. This marked the end of Ariel’s service, a poignant reflection of the ongoing struggle for control of the Great Lakes during the War of 1812.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The USS Ariel was intentionally burned by the British after running aground. The destruction ensured the vessel would not be reclaimed by American forces. The remains of the ship likely deteriorated over time, with little physical evidence of the wreck surviving today.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

•Current Status: No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the USS Ariel. The site at Black Rock, New York, is of historical interest but does not pose a modern navigational hazard.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The USS Ariel’s final location has been documented in historical accounts. The ship was burned at Black Rock in 1813, but no detailed archaeological surveys or recoveries of the site have been reported.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Given the ship’s destruction by fire and the passage of over two centuries, the USS Ariel’s remains are likely in a severely deteriorated state, if they exist at all. Any remnants would likely be buried, submerged, or scattered in the Black Rock area of the Niagara River. Accessibility for exploration is uncertain but may be of interest to historians and archaeologists.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• USS Constitution: The War of 1812 in Four Minutes A quick visual overview of Old Ironsides vs HMS Guerriere.
• Famous Naval Battle War of 1812 USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere Detailed recounting of that iconic frigate duel.
• Frigate Duels of the War of 1812 – USS Constitution vs HMS Java An animated deep dive into another key engagement.
• War on the Great Lakes: War of 1812 Explores naval action on the lakes, ships, strategy, and outcomes.
• History Brief: the War of 1812 at Sea A concise recent summary of the naval theatre.
• War of 1812 – Old Ironsides Broader historical context and legacy of USS Constitution.
• HMS Sir Isaac Brock (1812): British sloop burned before launch at York (en.wikipedia.org).
• HMS Detroit (1812): US-built brig captured and recaptured on Lake Erie (en.wikipedia.org).
• USS Ontario (1812): US Navy lake schooner active under Chauncey (en.wikipedia.org).
• USS Madison (1812): US sloop-of-war on Lake Ontario (en.wikipedia.org).
• USS Asp (1812): Schooner captured and pressed into Lake Ontario service (en.wikipedia.org).
• Chasseur (1812): Baltimore clipper and privateer known as “Pride of Baltimore” (en.wikipedia.org).
• National Archives – War of 1812 materials: Pension files, naval records, ship logs (archives.gov).
• US Naval Institute – Growing Pains for the U.S. Navy: Context on early naval mobilization (usni.org).
• National Archives (UK) – Napoleonic & 1812 records: British naval documents (nationalarchives.gov.uk).

KEYWORDS

• USS Ariel
• Schooner
• War of 1812
• Commodore Perry
• Battle of Lake Erie
• Black Rock, New York
• Lake Erie Shipwreck
• Naval History

CONCLUSION

The USS Ariel is a significant piece of American naval history, remembered for its contribution to the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Its ultimate loss at Black Rock highlights the intense and often destructive nature of the conflict on the Great Lakes. While the physical wreck of the Ariel may have been lost to time, its legacy as part of Commodore Perry’s victorious fleet ensures its place in the annals of maritime history.

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