On 10 September, both fleets got underway. "Detroit" fired the first shot around noon, while still out of range. Perry formed the fleet into a line, with the larger ships each being assigned a target: "Lawrence" to "Detroit", "Niagara" to "Queen Charlotte", and "Caledonia" to . As the line moved to engage, "Niagara", under the command of Elliott, lagged behind the fleet. The cause of the failure of "Niagara" to maintain formation is unknown, either deliberate on the part of Elliott, or because it was . After a couple of hours, all of the cannons on "Lawrence" that were facing the British were out of commission and the brig could no longer be maneuvered. Perry lowered his battle flag, emblazoned with the last words of Captain James Lawrence, "Don't Give Up The Ship", and transferred to the still-intact "Niagara" via a small rowboat. Perry took command of "Niagara" and crossed the British line perpendicularly in a tactic called crossing the "T". "Queen Charlotte", while attempting to prevent "Niagara" from breaking through the line, collided with "Detroit" and became entangled. "Niagara" opened fire with both broadsides: the starboard broadside hitting "Queen Charlotte" and "Detroit", and the port into "Lady Prevost". After several broadsides, "Queen Charlotte" surrendered, followed shortly after by "Detroit" and the rest of the British fleet.