Battles of January 18 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.
Song of the day: Bring Me Some Darkness (Blues Rock)
1. First Battle of Frenchtown
Date: January 18, 1813
War: War of 1812
Cause: American forces, comprised of Kentucky militiamen and regulars under Lieutenant Colonel William Lewis, advanced across the frozen ice of Lake Erie to the settlement of Frenchtown (modern-day Monroe, Michigan). Their objective was to drive out the British and Canadian militia and their Native American allies who were occupying the village, thereby protecting the French-Canadian residents and establishing a forward position for the campaign to retake Detroit.
Result: American Victory. The Americans successfully routed the British and Native American forces in a sharp engagement, forcing them to retreat into the woods. However, this tactical success lured the American commander, General James Winchester, to move his reinforcements into the town without adequate defensive preparations, leading to the disastrous Second Battle of Frenchtown (the “River Raisin Massacre”) just four days later on January 22.
Paintings & Art
- Painting: The American Attack at Frenchtown on the River Raisin, January 18, 1813
- Artist: Robert Henderson
- Year: 2010 (Modern historical interpretation)
- Painting: Sunrise at the River Raisin
- Artist: Patrick Doherty
- Year: 2010s
- Painting: Remember the River Raisin! (Depicts the battle cry inspired by these events)
- Artist: Ken Riley
- Year: c. 1960s
Museums & Artifacts
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park (Monroe, Michigan, USA): The actual site of the conflict. The visitor center houses musket balls, uniforms, and archeological finds from the battlefield.
- Kentucky Historical Society (Frankfort, Kentucky, USA): Holds artifacts, diaries, and letters related to the Kentucky volunteers who made up the bulk of the American force.
Location
- General: Monroe, Michigan, United States
- Coordinates: 41.9134° N, 83.3703° W
Recommended Book
2. Battle of Hayes Pond
Date: January 18, 1958
War: Civil Rights / Indigenous Resistance (Domestic Conflict)
Cause: The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), led by Grand Dragon James “Catfish” Cole, organized a rally at Hayes Pond near Maxton, North Carolina, intending to intimidate the Lumbee Native American tribe, whom the Klan felt were “forgetting their place.” The Lumbee people, many of whom were veterans of WWII, decided to confront the Klan rather than be intimidated.
Result: Lumbee Victory. Roughly 500 Lumbee men, armed with guns and sticks, surrounded the 50 Klansmen. They shot out the single light bulb the Klan was using, fired shots into the air, and routed the Klansmen, who fled into the swamps. There were no fatalities, and the event (often called “The Night the Klan retreated”) is celebrated as a major victory against racism and for Indigenous sovereignty.
Paintings & Art
- Photograph: The Klan Routine (Famous photo of the Klan retreating/Lumbee celebrating)
- Photographer: Life Magazine Staff (Charles Moore or colleagues)
- Year: 1958
- Mural: Battle of Hayes Pond (Various community murals in Pembroke)
- Artist: Local Community Artists
- Year: Various (Commemorative)
Museums & Artifacts
- Museum of the Southeast American Indian (Pembroke, North Carolina, USA): Located at UNC Pembroke, this museum holds oral histories, photographs, and the KKK banner that was captured by the Lumbee during the battle.
Location
- General: Maxton, North Carolina, United States
- Coordinates: 34.7290° N, 79.3585° W
Recommended Book
Books for sale
Contact Information
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