MONROE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The National Park Service awarded the University of Michigan-Dearborn a $169,121 grant to advance an archaeological project at Monroe’s River Raisin National Battlefield Park. Announced on July 10, this funding is part of a national initiative to unearth and protect America’s battlefields and conflict sites.

The River Raisin National Battlefield Park, a 40-acre site, commemorates the Battles of Frenchtown, where American forces faced a devastating defeat at the hands of British and Native American troops in January 1813. This battle, the bloodiest on Michigan soil, saw nearly 1,000 American soldiers overwhelmed, with only 33 escaping death or capture, according to HOUR Detroit.

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The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s ongoing archaeological initiative, “A More Complete Story of the River Raisin: Phase II of The River Raisin Archaeological Project,” aims to increase public understanding of this historical event. This project seeks to uncover artifacts and features that can provide insights into the lives of those who fought and perished on these grounds. The grant will support excavation, research, and preservation efforts, in particular. 

To fully appreciate the significance of the River Raisin Battlefield, it helps to understand the historical tensions that preceded the conflict.

In April 1808, President Thomas Jefferson made a proclamation to Native American tribes, stating that any tribe lifting a hatchet against the United States would face extermination or be driven beyond the Mississippi. Chief Tecumseh, of the Shawnee tribe, responded in 1810, emphasizing the unity and shared rights of Native peoples to their land. 

By the time the War of 1812 broke out, alliances had formed, and conflicts were inevitable. In January 1813, American forces, led by General James Winchester, attempted to reclaim the Michigan Territory. They temporarily succeeded in liberating Frenchtown but faced a brutal counterattack. The subsequent Battle of the River Raisin resulted in significant American casualties and is remembered for its fierce skirmishes and the tragic massacre of wounded soldiers.

While the River Raisin battlefield is a focal point, the grant is part of a broader effort by the National Park Service to preserve sites of armed conflict across the United States. Similar awards have been granted to sites from the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and other lesser-known conflicts in states such as Alabama, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. 

“The diverse grant opportunities provided through the American Battlefield Protection Program help our preservation partners study and protect almost 400 years of conflict history,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “By supporting these localized efforts, all Americans gain the opportunity to learn from these conflicts and understand their impact on the foundation and growth of this country.”