Battle of New Orleans.

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Horrors of the River Raisin-- Part 8: Things Going Better for the Kentuckians

Over the course of two hours, the British regrouped and made two more frontal assaults, but the Kentuckians position was too strong --  British losses were perhaps four times greater than those suffered by the entrenched Kentuckians --  you know, being that puncheon fence they were behind.

As the British pulled back and evaluated their seemingly weakening situation, they received word about what was going on elsewhere on the battlefield.

American General James Winchester, now a prisoner of war and unable to give orders to those still engaged, arrived in the area.  When told that his men would otherwise be burned out of their position and attacked by a much larger force of Indians, he agreed to send a message encouraging the Kentuckians to surrender.

When they received this message, the Kentuckians balked, feeling that they could still carry the day.  As Private Elias Darnell later recalled, "Some plead[ed]  with officers not to surrender, saying they would rather die on the field."

--Brock-Perry


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