Anniversary of the River Raisin Massacre: 'Remember the Raisin'

From The Press (Toledo, Ohio)

JANUARY 22, 1813

The River Raisin Massacre takes place near Frenchtown Township in Michigan (Near Monroe).

Hundreds of American troops under the command of General Winchester are killed by the British and Indians.  The attack is led by Chief Tecumseh and the it became a rallying cry for American troops for the rest of the war.

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I'm not so sure that hundreds of American soldiers were massacred.  After Winchester's surrender to the British, Americans were taken by them and some sixty of the worst wounded were left behind.  When the Indians came on the 22nd, those that could travel were taken and those that couldn't were put to the tomahawk.

The cry "Remember the Raisin" was heard after this.

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Massacre-- Part 11: Was It an Orderly, Utilitarian Massacre?

As Dr. Gustavus Bower later described what transpired with the Indians:  "They did not molest any person or thing upon their first approach, but kept sauntering about until there were a large number collected (one or two hundred) at which time they began plundering the houses of the inhabitants and the massacre of the wounded prisoners."

Even then, the killings followed a method that -- however brutal -- might be described as utilitarian.  The wounded who could nottravel were the primary victims, and they were killed swiftly.  The looting, the taking of able-bodied and the burning of buildings and structures were done methodically --  Dr. John Todd, a surgeon with the Kentucky 5th Regiment Volunteer Militia later described these actions as a kind of "orderly conduct."

(By the way, seeing the name John Todd in the paragraph above and him being from Kentucky, I had to wonder if this man might be related to Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.  He was.  He was her uncle.  Small world.  For more on him in the War of 1812 click on the label below.)

(I am taking these last two paragraphs directly from the article and have a hard time accepting them.  There is no such a thing as a utilitarian or orderly conduct massacre.)

A Massacre Is a Massacre.   --Brock-Perry

Okay, So What Is a Puncheon Fence?

In the last post I mentioned that the Americans set up camp inside a puncheon fence.  I know what a fence is, but what is a puncheon fence?

I had to look it up.

According to "Remember the Raisin vocabulary,"  a puncheon fence is one that is made up of split logs with one side smooth and the other still naturally round.

OK. So You Learn Something Every Day.  -Brock-Perry

Reading the Names of the Fallen at the River Raisin National Battlefield Today to Honor the Veterans

From the November 8, 2020, Ionia (Michigan) Sentinel Standard "Reading of names of the fallen to highlight Veterans Day  ceremony at battlefield" by Dean Cousino.

The reading of about 450 names of men from Monroe County will highlight a special Veterans Day Ceremony at  the River Raisin National Battlefield (Monroe County, Michigan) that is decorated with more than 500 American flags until November 15.  This is part of a "Field of Honor" program.

The battlefield park preserves and commemorates the  January 1813 battles between Americans and the British, Canadians and their Indian allies.  The battles and the "Remember  the Raisin!" battle cry,  and helped inspire a major American victory at the River Thames and were a major turning point in the War of 1812.

The 450 men and women whose names will be read, were from the Civil War.

The "Field of Honor" has more than 500 U.S. 3-by-5- foot flags on ten foot poles and will be lighted at night.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on the River Raisin Commemoration: "Remember the Raisin"

From the January 17, 2020, Monroe (Michigan) News  "River Raisin  Battlefield hosting commemoration Saturday" by Tyler Eagle.

Unfortunately,the speakers for Saturday were cancelled because of the inclement weather.  (Must have been what hit us here in northeast Illinois on Friday.)

But I will tells about the speakers anyway as they sounded very interesting.

The battle occurred on January  18 and January 22, 1813 and resulted in several hundred Americans slaughtered in what became known as the River Raisin Massacre, which later inspired  the "Remember the Raisin" slogan in reference to those massacred.

At 9 am,  author and historian Dr. Mary Stockwell was to deliver her presentation "Unlikely General:  'Mad' Anthony  Wayne and the Battle for America."  Wayne was a prominent American revolution general.

At 2:30, the museum was to host "The Archaeology of the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812."

Ellen Kennedy of the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo was to deliver a speech on  Great Lakes naval archaeological sites related to the war.

"Mapping the War of 1812  and Its Legacy" will take place on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1 pm, given by former NPS ranger  Ron Jones on maps of the era.

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 18: Still Honoring the River Raisin Dead

The mayor continued talking to the men of Kentucky:

"Beside you  are the noble band of pioneers whose strong will and sturdy hands have caused this wilderness to blossom  into such rich profusion, and they from their hearts do welcome you.  And so as they and all of us in our daily round of life-cares, duties and memories, think of the past and  and of you we remember that the battle cry of Kentucky and Ohio, under Green Clay at Fort Meigs, the gallant Croghan at Sanduskey. Harrison at the Thames, Jackson at New Orleans and in every field was Remember the River Raisin.

"We, of Monroe,  all honor to him whose patriotic heart and liberal hand gave impulse, have caught up the slogan of your youth and day: we will remember the River Raisin and have resolved in your presence, over the graves of  fallen braves,  to pledge that veneration for your toils and sacrifices still lives with us,  that gratitude to you and all the fathers of the Republic is as strong, quick and deep a sentiment with us as with our fathers.

"And so remembering the River Raisin, and you and your dead in our care and keeping, we will build a monument."

Quite the Flowery Speech.  --Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky Flags-- Part 3:

"Remember the River Raisin" and "Remember the Raisin" became battle cries of American troops in subsequent battles.  The British held dominance along the Michigan Frontier until some months later the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of the Thames turned the tide in American favor.

The Kentucky state flag flies at several locations near the River Raisin National Battlefield which is operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

This is in honor of those Kentuckians who came to defend and those who died.

--Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies the Kentucky Flag-- Part 2: The Two Battles of the River Raisin

The hastily and poorly trained Kentucky  militia organized 2,000 for the relief of Detroit.  Then the winter months battered them.

On January 18, 1813, they fought the First Battle of the River Raisin which ended in an American victory.  The Kentuckians occupied Frenchtown.

Then, on January 22, the British returned with their Indian allies and ambushed the Americans who surrendered in what is called the Second Battle of the River Raisin/Battle of Frenchtown..

The next morning the Indians began their massacre of the Americans.  This horrified the whole United States.

Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky State Flags-- Part 1: "Remember the River Raisin"

From the March 6, 2018, River City News (Michigan)  "Why One Michigan City Always Flies Kentucky Flags."

That city is Monroe, Michigan.

The River Raisin flows 139 miles from Rollins Township in Michigan to Lake Erie.

And, the War of 1812 battle cry was "Remember the River Raisin."Monroe has immense gratitude for the large number of soldiers from Kentucky who marched from there after the 1812 Siege of Detroit.  Few would ever return home.

--Brock-Perry