What Is River Raisin National Battlefield Park?
This park preserves the site of Frenchtown, where the two battles of River Raisin took place in 1813!
What Makes It Historical?
In August of 1812, British forces took control of the city of Detroit, which General William Henry Harrison vowed to reclaim! He sent General James Winchester north with 667 Kentucky militia, but they got sidetracked by calls for help in Frenchtown, about 40 miles south of Detroit.
Joined by 100 local militia, this group attacked the British occupying Frenchtown on January 18, 1813 and drove them out. The Americans got to celebrating, a bit too hard, figuring they’d beaten the British for good and didn’t need to build up any defenses. Boy, was that a blunder!
Four days later, just before dawn, 1,200 British, Canadian, and Native troops counterattacked, overwhelming the complacent Americans and capturing General Winchester. Only 33 escaped from imprisonment or death! Those that did not escape met with horror the next morning when Native warriors under Tecumseh returned to loot the town, capture those they could enslave, and massacre those who were too wounded to travel!
The stories told to the American reinforcements when they arrived in September gave rise to a new rallying cry: Remember the Raisin! This was from the nearby River Raisin (Riviere aux Raisins), which was named after wild grapes. This was America’s first wartime rallying cry, and it carried with General Harrison’s campaign all the way north into Canada!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at River Raisin National Battlefield Park!
- Donate to River Raisin National Battlefield Park!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
333 N. Dixie Hwy.
Monroe, MI 48162
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
The visitor center is open daily from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM (6:00 PM in summer)!
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