William Atherton

Massacre on the River Raisin: Three Accounts of the Disastrous Michigan Campaign During the War of 1812 William Atherton

The defeat of the Army of the Northwest in Michigan

The Battle of Frenchtown (which was also known as the Battle of the River Raisin and subsequently the River Raisin Massacre) was a particularly disastrous episode for American forces during the War of 1812. It took place near to modern day Monroe in Michigan in January 1813. Advancing American forces under Winchester, deputy commander of the Army of the Northwest, forced British forces and their Indian allies out of Frenchtown after light skirmishing as part of an initiative intended to eventually recapture Detroit. The incidents described in this book took place over a four day period that encompassed several engagements. After an initial retreat the British forces rallied, counter attacked and inflicted a decisive defeat on the Americans, killing almost 400 of them. Subsequently the Indian allies of the British fell upon large numbers of American wounded and prisoners, including Kentucky Volunteers, and slaughtered them-the event that gave the engagement its notoriety. The battlefield saw more Americans killed than in any other single combat of the War of 1812 and holds the unfortunate record of being the deadliest conflict fought upon the soil of Michigan. This unique Leonaur edition contains three pieces about the battles in the River Raisin region, among them several valuable first-hand accounts by participants and survivors that provide the modern student with a comprehensive overview of the times from several perspectives. A valuable addition to the libraries of all those interested in the War of 1812.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.