Downtown Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The War of 1812 in Detroit / War of 1812 Grave Site
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 2021
1. The War of 1812 in Detroit/ War of 1812 Grave Site Marker
Side 1
Inscription.
The War of 18 12 in Detroit, also, War of 18 12 Grave Site. .
The War of 18 12 in Detroit. On June 18, 1812, the United States Congress declared war on Great Britain. William Hull, Michigan’s first territorial governor, was selected to lead the U.S. army at Detroit. He invaded Canada on July 12, but soon lost battles south of Detroit and withdrew. On August 16, 1812, the British attacked Fort Detroit. Hull surrendered. Britain governed the city under martial law until Oliver Hazard Perry gained control of the upper Great Lakes in September 1813. American forces returned to Detroit and launched a successful invasion of Canada. The citizens of Detroit lived in an uneasy peace until they learned, on February 20, 1815, of the December 24, 1814, signing of the Treaty of Ghent. On March 29 they celebrated the war’s end with a “Grand Pacification Ball.”,
War of 18 12 Grave Site. In reaction to Oliver Hazard Perry’s Lake Erie victory, the British withdrew from Detroit on September 26, 1813, setting fire to the buildings within the fort and the Citadel. Three days later, United States troops returned to a city that lacked housing and food supplies. A disease, probably cholera, broke out among the soldiers. By December 1, 1813, an estimated 1,300 of them were ill. The medical supplies were soon depleted; conditions worsened. When coffins became unobtainable, many soldiers were buried in a common grave at this site. Some 700 may have died before the epidemic finally ran its course. This grave site was identified in 1987 during an archaeological survey for the People Mover that found four burials associated with the War of 18 12.
The War of 1812 in Detroit
On June 18, 1812, the United States Congress declared war on Great Britain. William Hull, Michigan’s first territorial governor, was selected to lead the U.S. army at Detroit. He invaded Canada on July 12, but soon lost battles south of Detroit and withdrew. On August 16, 1812, the British attacked Fort Detroit. Hull surrendered. Britain governed the city under martial law until Oliver Hazard Perry gained control of the upper Great Lakes in September 1813. American forces returned to Detroit and launched a successful invasion of Canada. The citizens of Detroit lived in an uneasy peace until they learned, on February 20, 1815, of the December 24, 1814, signing of the Treaty of Ghent. On March 29 they celebrated the war’s end with a “Grand Pacification Ball.”
War of 1812 Grave Site
In reaction to Oliver Hazard Perry’s Lake Erie victory, the British withdrew from Detroit on September 26, 1813, setting fire to the buildings within the fort and the Citadel. Three days later, United States troops returned to a city that lacked housing and food supplies. A disease, probably cholera, broke out among the soldiers. By December 1, 1813, an estimated 1,300 of them were ill. The medical supplies were soon depleted; conditions worsened. When coffins
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became unobtainable, many soldiers were buried in a common grave at this site. Some 700 may have died before the epidemic finally ran its course. This grave site was identified in 1987 during an archaeological survey for the People Mover that found four burials associated with the War of 1812.
Erected 2019 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan History Center. (Marker Number S0242.)
Location. 42° 19.928′ N, 83° 3.054′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Downtown Detroit. Marker is on Washington Boulevard north of Michigan Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Located in the median just north of the Alexander Macomb monument. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Detroit MI 48226, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker replaces marker number 21745, with the same Michigan site number and has been moved 200 feet NNE from its former location.
Also see . . . Siege of Detroit. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 20, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 2021
3. The War of 1812 in Detroit/ War of 1812 Grave Site Marker
Marker seen with The Westing Book Cadillac Detroit hotel in background.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 429 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
