Out of the battle of the River Raisin, came one of the great American rallying cries of the War of 1812, "Remember the Raisin!”
The 1812 War - MEMORIAL PLACE - historic marker placed by the Monroe Historical Society, reads as follows':
"MEMORIAL PLACE"
Here were buried unidentified remains of victims of the River Raisin massacre of 1813.
In 1872 surviving veterans of that War gathered in Monroe from Ohio and Kentucky. They headed a colorful civic pageant which halted solemnly at this spot while the old soldiers paid military honor to their fallen comrades.
General George A Custer, a member of the local welcoming committee, read the roll call of the veterans.
In 1904 - 05 the ladies of the Monroe Civic improvement Society induced city officials to establish the old burial ground as a park.
Appropriation was made by the State of Michigan for the monument which stands as a permanent tribute to Kentucky and her militiamen."
The monument referred to in the text is the 'MICHIGAN'S TRIBUTE TO KENTUCKY' Stone monument in the background of the listing photos.
Text below from the following Web Site: (
visit link)
"The brownish waters of the River Raisin flow sometimes peacefully, sometimes violently, over the flood control dams in downtown Monroe, Michigan, formerly known as Frenchtown, and continue on until they mix with the green waves of Lake Erie. Looking at the homes, businesses, and industries crowded along the river's banks, there is little to suggest that this place was once the central point of a terrible struggle between rival nations.
However, from January 18th to January 23rd, 1813, the north bank of the River Raisin became a battleground where the forces of the United States and Great Britain fought each other for the control of all of Michigan and the Lower Great Lakes. At stake was the destiny not only of the 2 countries (United State and Great Britain), but also the future of Frenchtown, (known today as Monroe Michigan) and of Canada, and of Tecumseh's alliance of Native-American tribes.
The British and Indian victory at the River Raisin destroyed an entire American army and upset their campaign to recapture Detroit, which had fallen to the enemy early in the war. It raised Native-American hopes that their alliance with the British would result in the preservation of their lands, while it brought grief to hundreds of families in Kentucky who had lost their sons during the bloody battle and its aftermath.
While not a decisive turning point of the war, the Battle of the River Raisin had a significant effect on the campaign for the Great Lakes. It would take a full 9 months for U.S. forces to regain their momentum. In the meantime, Frenchtown was laid waste, and the Ohio frontier was exposed to invasion and raids by the British and Indians." Text Source: (
visit link)
Marker placed by Monroe Historical society
Location/Address:
Michigan Historic Marker -
500 S.Monroe St.
Monroe, MI USA
48162
Visit Instructions:Take a photo of your GPS at the marker. We'd prefer a photo of you with your GPS, but we realize that sometimes that's just not possible or preferable.
Also include a bit about your visit to the marker.
NEW: Instructions for logging Missing Marker Visits.
If the Marker is missing, but still listed here, you must provide a photo of you at the actual item historically honored. (This should be the waymark's "default" image). Indicate in your log that you took your photo at the Historical Location instead of the marker, because the marker was missing. Please also still include a bit about your visit to the site.