HISTORY

Fall of Fort Mackinac July 17, 1812

The United States garrison of Fort Mackinac consisted of 57 men under the command of Lieutenant Porter Hanks who had been out of communication from his superiors for months.

British Captain Roberts, with 625 regulars and Native Americans allies, trained two cannons at the fort. The Americans, taken by surprise and fearing that the Native Americans on the British side would massacre his men and allies, Hanks accepted the British offer of surrender without a fight.

Shortly after the British captured the fort several American vessels sailed up, unaware of the commencement of the War of 1812, or the fort's capture. The British hoisted the American flag and when the vessels tied up at the pier the British captured them. The British captured two schooners, Chippewa and Friends Good Will.