HAUNTED PLACE: River Raisin Battlefield
River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center Museum
1403 East Elm Avenue
River Raisin Battlefield is located in what is now called the city of Monroe on land near the lovely
River Raisin, behind the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor
Center Museum. The Monroe area is nationally known as the site of
the Battles and Massacre of the River Raisin, among the largest engagements
of the War of 1812.
The War of 1812 was often called the
second War of American Independence, which lasted 3 years. The British
tried to retake the colonies, and even burned down the White House at
one point, much to their shame and embarrassment today! Americans fought
for their right to remain a free country with the right of not having
the British shanghai Americans off merchant ships for their own military.
The American goal of freeing Canada didn't happen, and the fears of the
fur trading companies came true. As a result of the war, the flow of settlers
to the Michigan area continued, the education of the Indians continued
and the fur trading industry as they knew it irrevocably changed.
River Raisin (or Frenchtown) was
a settlement established by early pioneers on the north bank of the River
Raisin. After the war, Monroe was eventually built on the ruins of this
One of the biggest battles, which
caused the biggest loss of American lives, happened near River Raisin
settlement (Frenchtown), on ground near and around the River Raisin on
January 22nd, 1813. The British Forces were lead by Col. Henry Procter,
with around 500 British soldiers. Fighting with the British troops were
Indians who preferred having the British in charge rather than Americans.
Wyandot Chief Roundhead with 500 first nation warriors joined the British
on this surprise attack at dawn on the 850 American troops, lead by Brigadier
General James Winchester.
During the initial attack, 300 American
troops were killed, more were wounded and Brigadier General James Winchester
was captured. He quickly surrendered his entire army. Col. Henry Procter,
fearing a strong counter attack from American reinforcements, retreated
north to Brownstone with his own wounded and his American prisoners, leaving
the American wounded left behind in the homes of the settlers, guarded
/protected by British guards, as agreed to as a condition for the town
militia, who had beaten back the British and Indians earlier, to surrender
as well. However, the British guards left in the morning, which allowed
the Indians to come into town. UH OH ... BAD IDEA.
The Indians had other ideas of what
to do with all these wounded, and the people living here. Not being trained
with British military discipline, they proceeded to do what they traditionally
did with prisoners, and captured places. "They plundered homes and
the wounded for valuables, and then killed and scalped Americans who could
not walk. Bodies were tossed into burning houses that the Indians had
set aflame. Those able to walk were claimed by the Indians and taken to
Detroit where they were ransomed. Over 60 unarmed American wounded were
killed. This was later known as the 'Massacre of the River Raisin'."
The people who could, fled to Detroit,
abandoning the settlement, River Raison. For 8 months, the Indians used
this abandoned place as a base of operations and supply depot. Even after
the town of River Raison was finally liberated on September 27, 1813,
the town was in such a bad state that it took 5 years after the battles
to even begin to recover.
This bloody massacre produced so much
anger that it became a rallying cry - Remember
the River Raisin!
They are remembered: American
Even today, the men who died here
are remembered and honored on the Saturday closest to Jan. 22nd of each
year at the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center. The noon memorial
includes Raising of the Flag, Reading the Names of the Fallen, Laying
the Wreath and Firing a Salute. A speaker is scheduled for the afternoon.
River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center Museum can be found in front of the battle area where
one can find out what happened during and after this battle. Their summer
hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, 7 days a week. Their winter hours are 10 AM to
5 PM, Sat. and Sun only.
Battlefields always have entities
haunting the area, because of the nature of war; people are killed who
are not ready to die yet. More American casualties occurred here than
in any other single battle in 1812, because of the total victory of the
British and the unauthorized killing of the wounded by the Indians. Besides
the usual casualty entities, wounded men painfully killed by the Indians
are added to the mix, with the total effect of creating a dream come true
for paranormal investigators.
1) Apparitions of American soldiers
/militia, dressed in 1813 military attire are seen visually at night
2) Pictures taken by ghost hunters
and paranormal researchers sometimes have as many as 20 orbs in them.
Soldiers are still on patrol, reliving their deaths, and the horror
of it all.
3) Voices of entities have been
recorded via EVPS.
4) I bet there are entities haunting
the town of Monroe as well; the place where so many were slaughtered.
Research and observations from the
living say that it is definitely the place of many hauntings.
PSYCHIC RESEARCH -
HUNTERS OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN have done an investigation and are really
happy with their successes.
RIVER RAISIN BATTLEFIELD EVPS: One
voice says the word, HOME.
Another voice says MAMA and a few other words not understandable. A third voice says, BREATHE,
perhaps talking to another wounded.
Sources include: Photos