The Battles of Frenchtown, also known as the Battle of the River Raisin and the River Raisin Massacre, were a series of conflicts in Michigan Territory that took place from January 18–23, 1813, during the War of 1812. It was fought between the United States of America and a joint force of British and Native Americans near the River Raisin in Frenchtown.
General Winchester's Headquarters on the River Raisin during the Battles of Frenchtown in 1813
A historic marker indicates where Lt Col William Lewis and his troops crossed the frozen River Raisin on January 18.
Maj Gen William Harrison (pictured) told Brig Gen James Winchester to hold his ground following the first battle. Harrison and his troops did not arrive in time to participate in the battle.
Tecumseh commanded native forces that fought in the battle, although he was not present at the time of the battle or massacre.
The River Raisin is a river in southeastern Michigan, United States, that flows through glacial sediments into Lake Erie. The area today is an agricultural and industrial center of Michigan. The river flows for almost 139 miles (224 km), draining an area of 1,072 square miles (2,780 km2) in the Michigan counties of Lenawee, Washtenaw, Jackson, Hillsdale, and Monroe County, where its mouth at Lake Erie is located. French settlers named it as La Rivière aux Raisins because of the wild grapes growing along its banks, the French word for grape being raisin. The French term for "raisin" is raisin sec.
The River Raisin flowing through Monroe
River Raisin through Sharon Township
Boats docked near the mouth of River Raisin
Red Millpond, Tecumseh