12 July 1812
Hull invades Canada.
The American plan for the war calls for invading Canada. On July 12, General William Hull moves his
force of about 2,000 men across the Detroit River to present-day Windsor. After fighting a few small
skirmishes and hearing the news of the surrender of Mackinac to the British, Hull retreats back to Detroit on
August 8.
17 July 1812
The British capture Fort Mackinac
With a force of 200 Canadian voyageurs, 400 Indians and 46 British soldiers, Captain Charles Roberts, the
British commander at Fort St. Joseph sets out for Mackinac Island in canoes. The British drag their cannon
to the highest point on the island where they can fire down into the fort. The Americans, numbering about
30, surrender immediately.
5 and 9 August 1812
Battles at Brownstown and Maguaga
Captain Henry Brush with 90 men, 70 packhorses loaded with flour and 300 cattle is in Frenchtown,
present-day Monroe. The British and their Indian allies are blocking the road to Detroit. Hull sends
expeditions to open the road. The first is defeated at Brownstown by Indians led by Tecumseh. The second
is successful, but fearing another ambush, it retreats to Detroit
15 August 1812
Brock attacks Detroit
British General Isaac Brock gathers reinforcements at Amherstburg. He crosses the Detroit River with
more than 700 British soldiers and militia, as well as many Indians. As Tecumseh’s Indian warriors spread
out to surround the town, Brock demands that the fort surrender. Low on supplies and facing British
bombardment, as well as the threat of Indian attack, Hull surrenders Detroit on August 16.
20 January 1813
Americans take Frenchtown
As American General William Henry Harrison prepares his army to recapture Detroit, he sends General
James Winchester to build a base in northern Ohio. Winchester responds to calls for help from the
inhabitants of Frenchtown, present-day Monroe, on the River Raisin. Nearly 700 Kentucky militiamen
succeed in driving the British away from Frenchtown.
22 January 1813
“Remember the Raisin”
The British return to Frenchtown with 597 militia and regulars, and 600-800 Indians. The Indians
outflanked some of Winchester’s soldiers, who break formation and run. Winchester and several other
American officers are captured. The British commander, Colonel Procter, persuades Winchester to order the
American troops to surrender. Procter returns to the British base at Fort Malden. The next morning,
victorious Indian warriors kill thirty wounded Americans and take the remainder captive. Outraged
Americans coin the rallying cry, “Remember the Raisin!”
10 September 1813
Perry fights the British fleet
Commander Oliver Hazard Perry defeats the British fleet at Put In Bay on Lake Erie. Perry tells General
Harrison: “We have met the enemy and they are ours, two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.”
America now controls the Great Lakes that surround Michigan. On September 24, the British under
General Procter abandon Amherstburg and begin moving east. The Americans under General Harrison
invade Canada on September 26.
30 September 1813
Detroit reoccupied
As American troops sail across Lake Erie to Canada, 1,200 mounted Kentucky militiamen ride around the
western end of the lake to Detroit, which is once again American.
5 October 1813
Battle of the Thames (Moraviantown).
The Americans catch up with the British near Moraviantown, where 850 British soldiers and militiamen are
spread in two thin lines stretching north from the Thames River. About 800 Indian warriors take up
positions in a swampy area to the right of the British line. After the American forces break the British line
and the Shawnee leader Tecumseh is killed in combat, the British and the Indians retreat. This American
victory opens western Canada to U.S. raids for the rest of the war.
26 July- 4 August 1814 Americans attack Fort Mackinac
After destroying British supplies at Nottawasaga Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, American invasion forces arrive
at Mackinac Island. Five ships make up the American fleet, which lands soldiers and cannon at the
northwest corner of the island. The British gather 140 soldiers, 350 Indians and two cannon to the center of
the island to block the American advance. The two sides trade cannon fire at Dousman’s Farm, and the
Americans are driven back. The British start to withdraw to the fort. Americans who try to attack are
themselves attacked by Menominee warriors. The Americans then retreat to their ships and leave.
3-6 September 1814
Tigress and Scorpion captured
After their failure to take Mackinac Island, the Americans return to Detroit, leaving two ships, the Tigress
and the Scorpion to patrol the water routes used by the British to resupply Mackinac. A British raiding party
finds the Tigress near Detour Passage. The British surprise the crew and take the ship. The British then sail
the Tigress over to the Scorpion, surprising and overpowering her crew. With the capture of the two American
ships, the British reopen their supply line to Mackinac.
18 July 1815
Fort Mackinac returned to the United States
The war ends with the Treaty of Ghent. When news of the peace treaty reaches the British commander at
Mackinac, he immediately begins planning to remove British troops and supplies. On 18 July 1815, the
British peacefully turn over Fort Mackinac to American Colonel Anthony Butler, then leave for Drummond
Island.