Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-01-31
THE BLOODY RAISTN.
Massacre at Frenchtown CNow Mon
roe), Michigan, Seventy
Years Ago
THE BONES OF THE VICTIMS.
From the Detroit Evening News, Jan. 22,l

Michigan. AS soon as possible after
the surrender Of Detroit in August, 1912,
another army was organized by Gen.
Harrison, to retrieve the disaster. Its
left wing consisted almost exclusively
of Kentucky volunteers, under Gen.
James Winchester. 1t advanced with
great difficulty through the wilderness
of western Ono, but reached the rapids
of the Maumee on the 10th of January.
Here Winchester was advised of the oc-
cupation of FrenchtOwn, now Monroe,
by two companies of Canadian militia
and about 400 Indians. The Kentuck-
ians, strengthened by Wells small regi-
ment of regulars, finding the foe but 80
miles distant, were eager to march at
once against him; and although Fae
Americans had no reserve within sup
porting distance except the few hundred
that would be left at the Rapids, while
the British at Maiden, only Is miles
from Frenchtown, could march 1000
men straight ACROSS the ice to reinforce
their comrades, it was determined to
move at once to the attack, and that with
but $50 of the brave Kentucky border
ers. Col. Lewis commanded the little
detachment, with Col. Allen, Major
Graves and Madison as his next suboT-
dinates. They advanced rapidly upon
the enemY's position, marching part
OF the way upon the ice of the lake and
RIVER, attacked briskly on the 18th, and
drove the British and Indians more than
two miles, with loss to themselves of
Il killed and 30 wounded.
The picketed enclosures and few
dwellings, of Frenchtown stood upon the
north bank Of the Raisin. Gen. Win
chester arrived on the evening Of the
doth with a reinforcement of $50
regulars, moved across on the ice and
encamped In the square to the right Of
Lewis, who occupied large stockade III
the village, sufficient against musketry,
but worthless against artillery. Lewis
had space on his left, within the en-
closure. for the whole of the regulars;
but Winchester Weuld not put them
there from point of military etiquette
which entities regulars to the post of
honor on the right. As he was, his new
camp was wholly exposed, and he even
neglected to occupy some outlying
houses and enclosures which commanded
his flank. The next day he did not in
trench, but postponed the work to the
22d, and himself took quarters at the
house of Col. Navarro, nearly a mile
distant, on the other side of the river.
The mistake III position and the delay
IN fortifying was fatal. During the
night of the 21st The infamous Proctor
swiftly marched /, 100 Indians and whites
upon the sleeping Americans. The
weather was intensely cold; not picket
was thrown out upon the road by which
the enemy was advancing; and his
blo0dthirsty savages were almost upon
the camp before its occupants, aroused
by the roar of cannon and rattle of mus
kerry, could stand to arms. They were
thoroughly surprised, but soon got
Gourageously at work, stood their
grounds temporarily, and rapidly
thinned the ranks Of the assailants. The
brunt of the first attack naturally fell
upon the exposed regulars, and they had
Co give way IN few minutes under the
murderous fire rained upon them at short
range. Winchester met them as he
came up from his distant lodgings, and
tried to reform them within the stock
ade on the left of Lewis; but they were
deaf TO his appeals and fled through the
deep snow to the southwark, along the
road by which they had come from the
Rapids. Winchester and Lewis were
taken and Allen killed, in the effort to
rally the fugitives. The Indians pur-
sued IN large numbers and cut them
down remorselessly. A similar fate
soon overlook the left of the volunteers,
which was broken, many of the men
shot from behind the stout garden fences
as they fed, and others tomahawked and
scaiped IN the woods west of the village.
One party of 20 surrendered; but all
were butchered at once except the neH-
tenant III command. Forty others had
gone three miles before they were taken,
when more than half of them were killed
OH the spot. Winchester and Lewis fell
into the hands Of the Indians, but were
saved by Proctor with some difficulty.
Only the Kentuckiaus in the center,
under Major Madison, were now left.
They were well protected, at least
against small arms, and for four hours
held the enemy at bay. So des tructive
was their fire that they killed outright
- Of the Is men handling a British gun.
Even Proctor was appalled, at his losses,
and suspended the attack while flag of
truce was sent to Madison. 1t bore an
order to surrender from Winchester; but
the fearless defender, recognizing him
now as merely prisoner Ia the hands of
the enemy, refused to obey it. Proctor
threatened general massacre, butin vain.
Madison still stood to his front, when
the enemy finally guaranteed him safety
and protection, and he, too, surrendered.
The Indians at once began to plumber
the captives, who resumed their arms
for a moment, made a spirited bayonet
charge, and drove off the pillagers.
On the 23d the British returned TO
Maiden, with all prisoners able to
march. None were left 30 guard the
badly wounded save a major and some
Interpreters. Two American surgeons
were attending them. Early in the day
200 Indians, who had gone with Proctor
to Stony Creek and there stopped for a
brief carOuse, came back to Frenchtown,
and IN ferOcious, drunken council de-
cided TO murder the helpless captives.
With the utmost rapidity, and amid saw
age yells and taunts, they were toma-
hawked and scalped, and the buildings
they occunied Numbered and Hra5