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Battle Of Frenchtown | colspan=2 bgcolor=#ffcccc|Battle Frenchtown | | onflict | War of 1812 | | ate | January 2, 1813 | | lace | Frenchtown, Michigan | | esult | Decisive British victory | | olspan=2| {| border=1 width=300 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 | | olspan=2 bgcolor=#ffcccc|Combatants | width=50%|Britain
Shawnee | width=50%|United States | | olspan=2|Commanders | a href="/encyclopedia/Henry-Proctor" title="Henry Proctor">Henry Proctor
Tecumseh | James Winchester | | olspan=2|Strength | 00 regulars and militia
700 natives | 1,000 | | olspan=2|Casualties | 4 dead
158 wounded | 300 dead
97 wounded
536 captured | } | The Battle of Frenchtown also known as the River Raisin Massacre was a severe defeat for the Americans during the War of 1812, in an attempt to retake Detroit early in 1813. After General William Hull had surrendered Detroit in 1812, General William Henry Harrison had been given command of the Army of the Northwest, winning the position over the unpopular General James Winchester. Winchester was instead made second-in-command to Harrison. Harrison's first plan of action was to retake Detroit and split his army into two columns, personally leading one column and placing Winchester in command of the other column. Colonel Henry Proctor had assumed command of British troops around Detroit after its surrender. Proctor gathered all the British troops in the area together along with about 500 First Nations Indians under the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh. Winchester had received orders to stay within supporting distance of Harrison's column. Instead Winchester moved far ahead of Harrison to Frenchtown along the River Raisin and on January 18 he routed a small Canadian and Indian force there and captured the town. On January 22 the main British/Indian force arrived at Frenchtown. Winchester's headquarters were far away from the main American lines and was no where near his troops when the British attacked. The British/Indian attack surprised the American camp but they took their positions quickly and returned fire. However, when the right flank gave way the main line began to retreat, even though the left flank anchored in a fort still held. Winchester, attempting to join the front lines, was captured enroute by Chief Roundhead. The American retreat quickly became a rout and only 33 of the 400 engaged escaped the battlefield. Proctor feared that Harrison's force might close in on him and made a hasty withdrawal to Brownstown on January 23. Proctor did not have enough sleighs to carry the wounded American prisoners and left them behind under the guard of the First Nations Indians along the River Raisin. The Indians then proceeded to execute 60 American prisoners (mostly Kentucky Militia) and ransom off the few unharmed prisoners in Detroit. This action became known as the River Raisin Massacre. The defeat at the Battle of Frenchtown ended Harrison's campaign against Detroit. He instead assumed a defensive position in Ohio and built Fort Meigs. The phrase "Remember the River Raisin" became a rallying cry for Kentucky militiamen. Frenchtown
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