200th Anniversary of the River Raisin Massacre Today

This was the culmination of a series of battles that took place between January 18th and 23rd in 1813, involving British soldiers and their Indian allies versus American troops near Frenchtown, Michigan Territory, present day Monroe, Wisconsin.

On January 18th, a larger American force surprised the British and Indians and  forced them to retreat.  This was all part of an American effort to retake Detroit that had been lost the previous summer.

The British and Indians rallied and counterattacked four days later on the 22nd and this time chased off the Americans.  Some 397 U.S. troops lost their lives and hundreds were captured.  The next day, dozens of them were massacred by the Indians in what became known as the River Raisin Massacre.

This was the largest battle ever fought on Michigan soil and it was the highest number  of Americans killed in any War of 1812 action.

There Will Be More On the Battle.  --Brock-Perry