Upper Peninsula War

Federal troops march against heavy cannon-fire from the Michigan-controlled Fort L'Anse

### Participants

United States Federal Forces, Michigan Militia, Indiana Militia

### Casualties

US: 450 deaths, 1200+ InjuriesMM: 610 deaths, 2500+ Injuries, Entire force capturedIM: est. 200 deaths, 1000+ Injuries, Entire force captured

### Outcome

Decisive US victory, Upper Peninsula put under direct Federal control until given to Michigan in 1820.

The **Upper Peninsula War** was an inter-state illegal conflict between the competing territories of Michigan and Indiana. The war was primarily regarding control over the Upper Peninsula which had been mainly under the control of Indiana as assigned when the original borders were drafted. However, the small towns across the strait had often associated much more with the "Michiganers".

## Conflict

#### February 12th - 21st May

The war began after the newly former Michigan Militia, formed mainly of civilians, marched through the Indianan-controlled town of Munising. A small detail of local regiments did hold of the original militia assault, however a final offensive by the primary Michigan Army captured the town in its entirety on the night of the 14th of February.

Further to the East, Michigan Militias seized control of Fort L'Anse; the fort acted a base of operations for the invading army. The large town of Marquette was assaulted in a night attack, with the Mayor quickly surrendering on the 7th March. However, a large pocket of Indianan resistance remained in the town square, fighting to the bitter end causing the greatest single-day loss of life in the conflict, with 400 men dead.

The furious United States Government quickly dispatched the Federal Army to the area on the 21st May, rendezvousing with pro-Indianan militias in the West of the Peninsula.

#### 22nd May-3rd July

Their force, due to the long distance of travel, was highly exhausted and was not operational until the 1st of June, when a large counter-offensive was launched. A majority of the Indianan militia forces did not take part directly in the offensive, having had shattered supply lines and an embarrassing invasion on their hands.

The newly mobilized US force began to push back, taking many settlements such as St. Ignace and Crystal Falls by the 15th of June. Michigan, adopting a policy that would later be used during the Collapse War, quickly retreated back to Fort L'Anse, scorching fields and infrastructure along the way. With the Federal Army now pushing in, the invasion force that was not hold up at Fort L'Anse either turned themselves in or sailed back to the mainland. Behind the lines a similar scene was unfolding as Indianan Militias were being disarmed and arrested for conspiracy against the government.

On the first of July, a pre-emptive strike against the pro-Michiganer militias defending Fort L'Anse was launched, with cannon strikes crippling the East wall and damaging the South. The militias crudely patched the walls up and cannons placed in the gaps. On the second, the Federalist forces quickly marched across the gap under heavy artillery fire. The now three crippled walls were easy to breach as regiment after regiment entered the fort. At 6pm, after 2 days of intense fighting, the Fort fell and the conflict was officially halted.