Battle of Mackinac Island (1814)
The Battle of Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackinaw) was a British victory in the War of 1812. Before the war, Fort Mackinac had been an important American trading post in the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It was important for its influence and control over the Native American tribes in the area, which was sometimes referred to in historical documents as "Michilimackinac".
| Battle of Mackinac Island | |||||||
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| Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
Topographic map of Mackinac Island. Crossed swords pinpoint the location of the battle in 1814 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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United Kingdom Native Americans | United States | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Robert McDouall Robert Dickson |
George Croghan, Andrew Holmes† Arthur Sinclair | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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150 Native Americans, 140 regulars, 25 militia (untrained) | 700 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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1 dead, 1 wounded |
13 dead, 55 wounded | ||||||
| Battlefield of 1814 Informational Site | |
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| Location | British Landing Road Mackinac Island, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 45°52′25″N 84°38′03″W |
Michigan State Historic Site | |
| Designated | March 19, 1958 |
A scratch British, Canadian and Native American force had captured the island in the early days of the war. An American expedition was mounted in 1814 to recover the island. The American force advertised its presence by attempting to attack British outposts elsewhere on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, so when they eventually landed on Mackinac Island, the garrison was prepared to meet them. As the Americans advanced on the fort from the north, they were ambushed by Native Americans, and forced to re-embark with heavy casualties.