Mississinewa: Aftermath

In all, even though the battle of Mississinewa itself was an American victory, the campaign as a whole basically failed. The hostile Indians did lose men and lost a few smaller villages, but the main town of Mississenaway had been defended successfully. The end result of the campaign was that the Americans had shown themselves active and saved themselves from a potential disaster, but the situation in the North-west was still to be determined. Gen. Harrison busied himself in making plans for the invasion of Canada, fixing his eyes on the rapids of the Maumee near Lake Erie, which would become Fort Meigs.

In January Gen. Winchester, who was still short of supplies, moved to the Maumee river, awaiting Gen. Harrison. But despite Harrison's orders to stay put, Gen. Winchester sent about 900 regulars and Kentucky militia to Frenchtown (now Monroe, MI), along the Raisin River, to capture supplies and protect friendly Indians in that area. But a larger force of Canadian militia and Indians were sent to attack them and Gen. Winchester was unprepared for their attack. The Americans were completely defeated, about one-third of them were killed. After the battle the British did not control the Indians, and the Indians massacred the many wounded Kentuckians. One report said, "The savages were suffered to commit every depredation upon our wounded. Many were tomahawked, and many were burned alive in the houses." Afterwards the battle cry of "Remember the Raisin!" rallied the troops of the West. It would not be until later in 1813 that the U.S. would be victorious in the Northwest at Fort Meigs, Fort Stephenson, Put-in-Bay (Lake Erie), and the Thames.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!