Battle of Fort Mackinac
Part of the War of 1812
Fort Mackinac, Michigan (1761)
Date: July 26 – August 4, 1814 Location: Mackinac Island, Michigan Result: British victory
Combatants
British Empire	United States
Commanders
Robert McDouall	George Croghan Andrew Holmes†
Strength
about 300	700
Casualties
1 dead, 1 wounded	13 dead, 51 wounded

The Battle of Fort Mackinac was a British victory in the War of 1812. Fort Mackinac, was an important American trading post in the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It was important for its influence and control over the Indian tribes in the area, which was sometimes referred to in historical documents as "Michilimackinac". About forty miles away was the British military post on St. Joseph Island and the (Canadian) North West Company's trading post at Sault Sainte Marie. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and British Empire from 1812 to 1815, on land in North America and at sea around the world. ... Image File history File linksMetadata BtlMackinac. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Mackinac Island (pronounced , note the silent c) is a small island, 4. ... Official language(s) English de-facto Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  - Total   - Width   - Length   - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 11th 96,716 sq mi  250,494 km² 239 miles  385 km 491 miles  790 km 41. ... The British Empire was, at one time, the foremost global power, and the most extensive empire in the history of the world. ... Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall was a military officer during the War of 1812. ... George Croghan (15 November 1791 - 8 January 1849) was born in Locust Grove, Kentucky and died in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Andrew Holmes (died August 4, 1814) was an American army officer killed in the War of 1812 at the Battle of Mackinac. ... The Battle of Tippecanoe was a decisive victory by United States forces led by then-Governor of the Indiana Territory William Henry Harrison over the forces of Tecumsehs growing American Indian confederation. ... The Battle of Maguaga was a small battle fought between British troops, Canadian militia and Tecumsehs natives against a larger force of American troops in Maguaga, Michigan. ... Combatants Potawatomi United Kingdom United States Commanders Chief Blackbird Nathan Heald Strength 500+ 69 military + civilians Casualties 15 39 military + 27 civilians The Fort Dearborn massacre occurred on August 15, 1812 near Fort Dearborn in the United States during the War of 1812. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Isaac Brock William Hull Strength 100 regulars 300 militia 150 natives 2,500 Casualties None 2,500 captured For the 1763 action in Pontiacs Rebellion, see the Siege of Fort Detroit The Siege of Detroit, also known as the Surrender of Detroit or the... The Battle of Fort Harrison was a decisive victory for the United States against an Indian force which greatly outnumbered their own. ... The Siege of Fort Wayne took place during the War of 1812, between American and Indian forces in the wake of the successful British campaigns of 1812. ... The Battle of the Mississinewa also known as the Battle of Mississineway was an expedition ordered by William Henry Harrison against Miami villages in response to the attacks on Fort Wayne. ... Combatants Britain American Indians United States Commanders Henry Procter Tecumseh James Winchester Strength 200 regulars 300 militia 450 natives 1,000 regulars and militia Casualties 182 killed or wounded 958 killed, wounded or captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Frenchtown also known as the River Raisin massacre, was a severe defeat... The Siege of Fort Meigs took place during the War of 1812 in northwestern Ohio. ... The Battle of Fort Stephenson was an American victory during the War of 1812. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Commanders Robert Heriot Barclay Oliver Hazard Perry Strength 6 warships 9 small warships Casualties 41 dead 94 wounded 6 ships captured 27 dead 96 wounded 1 ship lost The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought... Combatants Britain Tecumsehs confederacy United States Commanders Henry Procter Tecumseh † William Henry Harrison Strength 800 regulars 500 natives1 2,380 militia 1,000 cavalry 120 regulars 260 natives1 Casualties 155 British dead or wounded 477 captured 33 natives dead 15 dead 30 wounded {{{notes}}} The Battle of the Thames... The Battle of Longwoods was a battle of the War of 1812 on March 4, 1814, fought near present-day Wardsville, Ontario. ... Combatants British Empire United States Commanders Robert McDouall George Croghan Andrew Holmes† Strength unknown 700 Casualties 1 dead, 1 wounded 13 dead, 51 wounded, 636 prisoners, 2 ships captured // Background to the battle In June, 1812, at the start of the War of 1812, the British General Isaac Brock sent... Combatants Great Britain United States Commanders Miller Worsley Arthur Sinclair George Croghan Casualties 3 killed 9 wounded 1 schooner destroyed 6 killed 6 wounded 2 gunboats captured The Engagement on Lake Huron was actually a series of minor engagements, which left the British in control of the Lake, and thus... The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and British Empire from 1812 to 1815, on land in North America and at sea around the world. ... Fort Mackinac painting Fort Mackinac was a military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Sunset on Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ... The Great Lakes from space; Lake Huron is the third from the left. ... St. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Naturally Gifted Established: {{{Established}}} Area: 715 km² Population:  - Total (2001 Census) 74,566 Ranked 59th Population density: 110. ...

Background to the battle

British capture of Mackinac

In June 1812, the British General Isaac Brock sent a canoe party 1200 miles (1900 km) to confirm that a state of war existed. This party returned with an order to attack Fort Mackinac. By contrast, the American Secretary of War, William Eustis, sent word of the declaration of war by ordinary rate post. This article refers to the British general. ... William Eustis (June 10, 1753–February 6, 1825) was an early American statesman. ...

The American fort's commander, Lieutenant Porter Hanks, while a diligent officer, had received no communication from his superiors for months. His garrison consisted of 61 artillerymen, with seven guns. Hanks did hear rumours of unusual activity at St. Joseph Island and sent a militia officer named Michael Dousman to investigate. Unfortunately, Dousman's boat was captured by the advancing British force.

This was under Captain Charles Roberts, and consisted of seventy war canoes and ten bateaux, containing 47 British soldiers of the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion (described as being "worn down by an unconquerable drunkenness"), 150 Canadian traders and voyageurs, and 400 Indians, with more Indians joining the expedition as it proceeded. Charles Roberts is a 56, 170 pound running back out of Sacramento State University, where he was a shining star on a beleaguered football team. ...

Having learned from Dousman that the Americans were unaware of the outbreak of war, Robert's force landed on the north end of the island, 2 miles (3.2 km) away from the fort, early on the morning of July 17, 1812. They quietly removed the village's inhabitants from their homes, dragged two cannon through the woods to a ridge above the fort, and fired a single round before demanding the Americans' surrender. July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Fearing a massacre by the Native Americans on the British side, Hanks capitulated without a fight. The American force was taken prisoner and the island's inhabitants were made to swear an oath of allegiance as subjects of the United Kingdom.

The loss of Mackinac resulted in large numbers of Indians rallying to the British cause, which influenced the American surrender at Detroit shortly afterwards. The Battle of Detroit, also known as the Battle of Fort Detroit or the Surrender of Fort Detroit, was a humiliating loss for the Americans early in the War of 1812. ...

Winter 1813 - 1814

For the rest of the year and through much of 1813, the British hold on Mackinac was secure since they also held Detroit, which the Americans would have to take before attacking Mackinac. Then on September 10, 1813, the Americans won the Battle of Lake Erie, which allowed them to recover Detroit and win the subsequent Battle of the Thames. Although it was too late in the year to allow them to mount an expedition to Mackinac, they had nevertheless cut the British supply lines to the post. The British garrison were placed on half rations but were suffering severe shortages by the end of the winter. 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nickname: Motor City Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (Latin for, We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) Official website: www. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Commanders Robert Heriot Barclay Oliver Hazard Perry Strength 6 warships 9 small warships Casualties 41 dead 94 wounded 6 ships captured 27 dead 96 wounded 1 ship lost The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought... Combatants Britain Tecumsehs confederacy United States Commanders Henry Procter Tecumseh † William Henry Harrison Strength 800 regulars 500 natives1 2,380 militia 1,000 cavalry 120 regulars 260 natives1 Casualties 155 British dead or wounded 477 captured 33 natives dead 15 dead 30 wounded {{{notes}}} The Battle of the Thames...

In February, 1814, a British party under Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall of the Glengarry Light Infantry, opened a new supply line from York via Lake Simcoe to the Nottawasaga River on Georgian Bay. On April 19, McDouall began descending the river, and arrived at Mackinac on May 18, with twenty-nine batteaux containing provisions. He took command of the post, and built a stockade and blockhouse on the island's highest point, naming it Fort George. 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... York was the original name of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Lake Simcoe is a lake in central Ontario, Canada, the fourth largest lake in the province. ... The Nottawasaga River is a river in southern Ontario, Canada. ... Georgian Bay (French: baie Georgienne) is a large bay of Lake Huron, located in Ontario, Canada. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... May 18 the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ...

The battle

In the July, 1814 the Americans attempted to retake the island as part of a larger campaign designed by Colonel George Croghan and his superior General William Henry Harrison to regain control of the Great Lakes and sever the fur trade alliance between the British and the tribes of the region. The two-pronged campaign included an assault on Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi River. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Prairie du Chien is the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin. ... This article is about the river in the United States. ...

On July 26, a squadron of five U.S. ships under Commodore Arthur Sinclair arrived off Mackinac Island carrying a landing force of 700 soldiers under the command of Croghan. The force was made of an ad hoc battalion of regular infantry (made up of detached companies of the 17th, 19th and 24th U.S. Infantry, under Major Andrew Holmes) and a battalion of volunteers from the Ohio Militia, with detachments of artillery. July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Commodore Arthur Sinclair (died 1831) was an early American naval hero, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Quasi-War with France and in the War of 1812. ... Andrew Holmes (died August 4, 1814) was an American army officer killed in the War of 1812 at the Battle of Mackinac. ...

To his dismay, Croghan discovered that the new British blockhouse stood too high for the naval guns to reach, forcing an unprotected assault on the fort's wall. The Americans shelled the fort for two days, with most of the shells falling harmlessly in vegetable gardens around the fort.

A dense fog forced the Americans back from the island for a week. Upon their return the Americans, led by Holmes, assaulted the north end of the island, near the location of the 1812 British assault. The Americans worked their way to the fort through dense woods which were protected by Native American allies of the British, finally emerging into a clearing below the fort.

McDouall, in the meantime, had placed a force of 140 men of the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles and Michigan Fencibles, with 150 Menomonee Indians from the Wisconsin River and two field guns, behind low breastworks at the opposite end of the clearing. A false report of a landing west of the fort caused him to withdraw his redcoated infantry, but when the Americans emerged from the woods into the clearing, they were easy targets for the British guns. The Americans attempted to work through the woods to outflank the guns but were ambushed by the Indians. Thirteen Americans, including Major Holmes and two other officers, were killed, and 51 were wounded. Because of the heavy losses and confusion, Croghan was forced to order his men to retreat back through the woods to the beach. The Americans rowed back to their ships, leaving the fort in the hands of the British until the end of the war. The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. ...

Aftermath

The United States attempted, unsuccessfully, to blockade the British on Mackinac Island with the gunboats USS Tigress and USS Scorpion. In the Engagement on Lake Huron, both vessels fell into British hands, securing the British hold on the entire region. USS Scorpion was a schooner of the United States Navy during the War of 1812. ... Combatants Great Britain United States Commanders Miller Worsley Arthur Sinclair George Croghan Casualties 3 killed 9 wounded 1 schooner destroyed 6 killed 6 wounded 2 gunboats captured The Engagement on Lake Huron was actually a series of minor engagements, which left the British in control of the Lake, and thus...

External links

• http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/batmac1814.html

Sources

• Amateurs to Arms, John R. Elting, Da Capo Press, New York, 1995, ISBN 0306806533