The Price of Command (Nate Lawton's War of 1812)

The battle of Lake Erie took place a little more than three months after the Shannon/Chesapeake battle.

In this follow-up novel to Key To Honor, Midshipman Nate Lawton is sent to Lake Erie to help man the rough frontier fleet built by Oliver Hazard Perry. Historically, the novel is set in the middle of the Perry/Elliot contoversy.

To his initial delight, Nate finds that a shortage of officers places him in a much higher position than his limited experience would normally bring. The fortunes of war catapult him to an even higher rank...the acting first lieutenant of a Brig Of War.

But command has its price. Nates captain is unwilling to pay it, and uses Nate as his scapegoat for the dirty work. Now Nate is caught between the rocks of naval discipline and the shoals of his superior officers unbending ambition. His captain thinks nothing of bending the truth to glorify his own career and ruining Nate, if he speaks out.