Battle of Frenchtown (Battle of the River Raisin) during the War of 1812

Background. Following the surrender of Detroit in August 1812, British forces held the Detroit area, commanded by Colonel Henry Procter. In January 1813, American Brigadier General James Winchester advanced toward Frenchtown on the River Raisin after habitants reported the village occupied by militia and Indigenous warriors, though they wrongly claimed the British intended to burn it. His forces, including regulars and Kentucky militia, moved to confront the British-Indigenous detachment occupying the village, setting the stage for the first engagement.

First Engagement. On January 18, American militia forced the retreat of a British-Indigenous detachment occupying Frenchtown, with Lewis and Allen leading the advance column to the River Raisin. Winchester subsequently arrived with reinforcements, increasing his effective force to 934 men. After learning of the defeat on January 19, Procter advanced his combined force to Stony Creek on January 21, preparing for a counterattack against the American position.

Second Engagement. On January 22, Procter launched a surprise counterattack. American forces failed to make a stand, fleeing across the frozen River Raisin. Pursuers included Wyandot, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwe warriors. The battle resulted in significant American casualties and the capture of 522 prisoners, marking the deadliest conflict recorded on Michigan soil during the War of 1812.

Massacre. On January 23, Indigenous warriors returned to Frenchtown and killed wounded American prisoners left behind by the British. Reports of the slaughter were exaggerated in wartime propaganda. The event, known as the River Raisin Massacre, led to political cartoons and recruitment broadsides depicting the violence, influencing historical narratives and later commemorations.