The Battle of Frenchtown (River Raisin): Triumph and Tragedy

The Battle of the River Raisin, which took place from January 18 to 23 in 1813, is also referred to as the Battle of Frenchtown or the River Raisin Massacre. This event was an important part of the War of 1812, where a US army faced defeat at Frenchtown, now known as Monroe, Michigan, along the River Raisin. Following their surrender, some of the US soldiers tragically experienced a massacre.

Background

On August 16, 1812, just a couple of months after the war began, the United States faced a significant setback when Fort Detroit was surrendered. Brigadier General William Hull, who was in charge of the fort and its 2,500 troops, was overwhelmed by fear of the Native American warriors allied with the British. Believing that his men would be slaughtered if the fort was attacked, Hull chose to surrender without putting up a fight. While this decision may have spared his soldiers’ lives, it resulted in the loss of US control over the Michigan Territory, allowing British Lt. Colonel Henry Procter to use Detroit as a launching point for further operations in the area. Additionally, the fall of Detroit encouraged more Native American tribes to join forces with the British, hoping to reclaim lands they had lost in the Treaty of Greenville (1795). Consequently, recapturing Detroit became a top priority for President James Madison and his team, who assigned Major General William Henry Harrison, a celebrated hero from the Battle of Tippecanoe, to lead the effort.

Harrison took command of the newly formed Army of the Northwest, primarily composed of volunteers from Kentucky. These frontiersmen were looked down upon by the British, who considered them to be uncivilized “savages” living on the outskirts of society. One British officer described them as wretched individuals, manipulated by the government and capable of heinous acts, labeling them as the most barbaric and uneducated people in America. The Kentuckians were known for being rowdy, resourceful, and argumentative; in their fights, biting, scratching, and gouging were all seen as acceptable tactics. They were both feared and despised by local Native Americans, who referred to them as ‘Big Knives’ due to the long scalping knives they often carried.

There was a long-standing animosity between the Native Americans of the northwest and the Kentucky frontiersmen, with both sides holding onto painful memories of past raids, killings, and brutalities inflicted by one another.After taking charge on October 2, 1812, Harrison made the decision to divide his army into two groups. The left column, led by his second-in-command Brigadier General James Winchester, would head north along the Maumee River, while Harrison himself took the right column, moving along the Upper Sandusky. The goal was for both columns to meet at the Maumee Rapids near Lake Erie to prepare for the final advance towards Fort Detroit. Unfortunately, the journey was tough. They faced challenges like bad weather, dwindling supplies, and the constant risk of Native American attacks, which caused each group to move at a painfully slow pace. Things took a turn for the worse in late November as winter set in quickly; one soldier, Kentucky rifleman William Atherton, grimly noted that all they faced was hunger, cold, and exposure (quoted in Berton, 291).

Harrison’s group lost many horses due to exhaustion while trying to transport their cannons to the Upper Sandusky, which forced him to leave behind several wagons filled with vital supplies. Meanwhile, Winchester’s group, which had only just started its slow trek up the Maumee, found themselves stuck near Fort Defiance waiting for fresh supplies. Poor sanitation and drainage in Winchester’s camp soon led to widespread illness among the men; hundreds fell ill, with several dying each day. One soldier lamented, “Our sufferings here have been worse than if we had been in a fierce battle, with over a hundred lives lost due to our terrible living conditions! The plight of about three hundred sick at once, exposed to the cold ground and lacking proper nourishment, clearly shows how dire our situation is!” (quoted in Berton, 292).

Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (Public Domain)By late December, it became increasingly clear that any plans to reclaim Detroit wouldn’t happen until spring. Nevertheless, Harrison instructed Winchester to continue his march to the Maumee Rapids so the army would be ready to act when the opportunity arose; Harrison, who was a few days behind, assured him he would join him there. On December 30, Winchester’s troops began the last stretch of their challenging journey—many of his soldiers were without proper coats or shoes and had to endure the harsh winter in the worn cotton shirts and pants they had been wearing since August. When Winchester arrived at the Maumee Rapids on January 11, 1813, his men were tired but still in good spirits. Most of them were Kentucky volunteers whose six-month enlistments were about to end, yet they were eager for some action before heading home, hoping to make their recent hardships worthwhile.

First Battle: 18 January

As Harrison’s split army made its way towards Michigan, British Lieutenant Colonel Henry Procter was gearing up to confront the invasion. He dispatched groups of troops to set fire to the areas surrounding Detroit and to capture any settlers in Michigan who might assist the Americans. On January 14, Canadian Major Ebenezer Reynolds arrived at the small community of Frenchtown, located on the River Raisin, accompanied by two companies of Essex militia and around 200 Potawatomi warriors. His mission was to destroy the village, seize its supplies, and take the French-speaking residents back to Canada. As Reynolds and his men entered Frenchtown to carry out these orders, a few townsfolk managed to escape and reached the US camp at the Maumee Rapids. Their desperate calls for help were met with enthusiasm from Winchester’s soldiers, who were eager for action and encouraged their leader to intervene. Although Winchester had been instructed by Harrison to remain where he was, he too recognized an opportunity for an easy win. After a quick war council on January 17, he decided to head to Frenchtown’s aid.

Winchester quickly sent Lt. Colonel William Lewis to Frenchtown with 550 men, supported by an additional 100 Kentuckians led by Lt. Colonel John Allen. At 3 p.m. on January 18, 1813, the Kentuckians crossed the icy River Raisin and positioned themselves a quarter mile from Frenchtown, where they came under fire from a solitary British howitzer stationed in the village. Despite the relentless gunfire, the Americans pressed forward and succeeded in driving the Canadian militia away from the cluster of homes where they had taken cover. The fighting continued until nightfall, with the Americans pushing the Canadians and Potawatomi back two miles from the village. While it was just a skirmish, the Americans took great pride in their victory, feeling they had saved Frenchtown and its people from ruin. Colonel Lewis reported back to Winchester, proudly noting that his troops represented both Americans and Kentuckians (quoted in Berton, 301).

After hearing about the victory, Winchester quickly packed up his camp and moved his remaining troops to join the victorious forces at Frenchtown. Just a few hours later, General Harrison arrived at the Maumee Rapids with the initial group of his own soldiers. Although Winchester had gone against his orders, Harrison was thrilled with the news of the win. To support Winchester’s position, he sent four companies of regulars to Frenchtown along with Captain Nathaniel Hart, who brought new instructions for Winchester to hold his ground. When the reinforcements got there, they discovered that Winchester hadn’t really taken the time to strengthen his new position. The general had set up his quarters in a cozy log cabin a mile away from his troops and neglected to post guards, organize his men, or improve the weak palisade wall surrounding the town. The soldiers had also become quite relaxed; for the first time in months, they enjoyed fresh food and warm beds, and after their minor success on the battlefield, they felt unbeatable. They ignored reports of a large British and Native American force preparing to counterattack and postponed any discussions about relocating to a more secure area.

Second Battle: 22 January

On January 19, British and Canadian soldiers in Amherstburg, located on the Canadian side of the Detroit River, were enjoying a celebration for Queen Charlotte’s birthday when they received alarming news about the battle at Frenchtown. Colonel Procter, acting quickly and unusually decisively, assembled a group of 567 British regulars and Canadian militiamen, along with nearly 800 Native American warriors. With Shawnee leader Tecumseh away recruiting more Indigenous nations for his confederacy, the Native American forces were commanded by Wyandot leaders Roundhead and Walk-in-the-Water. Many of these warriors had been displaced from their homes due to Harrison’s advancing army, fueling their desire for revenge. Procter led this combined force into Michigan, reaching the banks of the River Raisin near Frenchtown in the early morning hours of January 22, 1813.

Most of the Kentucky troops were asleep during Procter’s stealthy approach and were suddenly jolted awake by the booming cannons, gunfire, and the terrifying shouts of the Native Americans, as one soldier described it. Confused and startled, the Kentuckians rushed out of their quarters and hastily took up defensive positions on the left side of town, while the U.S. regulars organized on the right. The regulars, many of whom were inexperienced recruits, bore the brunt of the British assault; their lines were devastated by canister shots from Procter’s six 3-pounder cannons, while the Canadian militia and Roundhead’s Native Americans attacked from the sides. Within just 20 minutes, the regulars broke ranks and fled, with the Native American warriors chasing after them, tomahawking and scalping any soldier who lagged behind. General Winchester, having hurriedly ridden the mile from his quarters to the battlefield, attempted to rally the troops along the banks of the Raisin but was unable to restore order as the frightened men scrambled across the frozen river.

Winchester made a couple of attempts to rally his troops but ultimately found himself surrounded by Roundhead warriors. A group of 147 US soldiers quickly surrendered, tossing aside their weapons. Others scattered into the woods, where they were soon tracked down. Colonel John Allen, who had been injured in the thigh, managed to hobble two miles before being caught by two Potawatomi warriors; he was shot and scalped. Winchester was taken captive. The Native Americans stripped him of his uniform and brought him, trembling, to Colonel Procter, who insisted that he order his men to surrender. Winchester explained that as a prisoner, he no longer held command; however, after Procter warned him that he might not be able to prevent his Native American allies from committing violence, Winchester agreed to recommend that his remaining troops surrender.

While the regular US soldiers retreated from the battlefield, the Kentucky volunteers on the left flank continued to fight bravely. Led by Major George Madison, who would later become the governor of Kentucky, they defended a cluster of buildings. From these positions, the Kentucky sharpshooters caused significant damage, particularly targeting the British artillery crews and effectively neutralizing their cannons. Even though their ammunition was running low, the Kentuckians were eager to keep fighting. They were disheartened when they saw Procter approaching with a white flag of truce and the captured Winchester alongside him. Major Madison was shocked to learn that his commander had already surrendered and refused to do the same unless he received assurance that his men would be safe from the Native Americans. Procter, angered by Madison’s defiance, shouted, “Sir, do you mean to dictate for me?” Eventually, Procter conceded—though he didn’t put it in writing—and assured that no harm would come to the Kentuckians. Reluctantly, the frontiersmen laid down their arms, marking the end of the battle. It was a devastating defeat for the Americans, who suffered 397 killed, 80 wounded, and over 500 captured, while the British, Canadians, and Native Americans lost 24 killed and 158 wounded.

Massacre: 23 January

Even though Procter had won the battle, he realized he couldn’t stay in Frenchtown for too long. Harrison was still at the Maumee Rapids with a large army and would likely seek revenge soon. So, Procter made the decision to head back to Amherstburg as quickly as possible. He arranged for his own injured soldiers to be transported on sleds but struggled to find enough room for the 80 American soldiers who were too hurt to walk. He assured them that he would send more sleds for them in the morning. On the evening of the 22nd, Procter led his troops and able-bodied prisoners out of Frenchtown, leaving a few Canadian militiamen behind to watch over the wounded prisoners. About 200 Native American warriors stayed back to loot the town, which made the Canadian militiamen anxious. As night fell, they quietly left Frenchtown, telling the injured Americans that they were scared of the Native Americans too.

This left the wounded Kentuckians vulnerable. Late that night, a Native American chief entered one of the houses where the prisoners were held. He spoke fluent English and spent two hours talking with the injured men. However, as he was leaving, he said something that sent chills down the spine of one prisoner, William Atherton: “I am afraid that some of the mischievous boys will do some mischief before morning.” Unfortunately, before dawn broke, several Native Americans came into the houses, stealing personal belongings like blankets and clothing from the wounded. They then set fire to the two houses while many of the injured were still inside. A horrified British witness later described the terrifying sight of the flames, the collapsing roofs, and the desperate cries of those trapped inside. Any wounded man who managed to escape the inferno was met with a tomahawk and scalped.

Approximately 50 of the injured Kentuckians lost their lives in the fire. The remaining 30 were taken away by Native Americans, who intended to either ransom them or adopt them into their tribes—a common practice among some Native American nations to replace warriors who had fallen in battle. Those Kentuckians who were too hurt to keep up were unfortunately killed. Captain Nathaniel Hart, who was related to Kentucky politician Henry Clay, was dragged off his horse and attacked with a tomahawk while traveling from Frenchtown. Another soldier, Private Charles Searls, met his end when his captor became enraged at the mention of William Henry Harrison’s name. While some captives, like young Atherton, managed to survive, the route taken by the Native Americans soon became littered with bodies. Pigs quickly took advantage of the situation, with witnesses later recalling seeing them running around with human skulls, arms, legs, and other body parts in their mouths. This unusual feast seemed to have a strange effect on the hogs, making them appear quite mad after consuming so much human flesh.

Aftermath

The Battle of the River Raisin marked the third significant defeat for the United States in just six months since the war began, following the Siege of Detroit and the Battle of Queenston Heights. Once again, an army had been lost, a general taken prisoner, and a chance to change the course of the war was missed. Colonel Procter received a promotion to major general, and many of his fellow soldiers celebrated yet another win for the British. However, once news of the massacre reached Amherstburg, some British troops were less enthusiastic about the victory; as one military surgeon remarked, “We have not heard the last of this disgraceful event.” Congress quickly seized on the incident, portraying the River Raisin as a horrific massacre and labeling it a war crime committed by the British and their Native American allies. The phrase “Remember the Raisin!” became a rallying cry at recruitment events nationwide, inspiring Americans to seek revenge for their fallen comrades. This surge of anti-British and anti-Native American sentiment helped the US achieve victories later that year, including at the Battle of the Thames.