Eastern Michigan University's Historic Preservation Program
is working to raise awareness about the importance of the
River Raisin Battlefield in Monroe.
"I think we have been able to open some eyes about the
importance of this site," said Ted Ligibel, director of
EMU's Historic Preservation Program.
Ligibel is part of a team that includes two EMU Historic
Preservation Program alumni working with the Heidelberg
College's Center for Historic and Military Archeology,
the Monroe County Historical Society and the National Park
Service.
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CHARTING HISTORY: Ted Ligibel, head of
Eastern
Michigan University's Historic Preservation Program,
reads a monument commemorating the Battle of the
River Raisin. Ligibel is part of a team that is
researching
and documenting the boundaries of the
battlefield. Photo
by Dave Laval |
The project team is researching and documenting the boundaries
of the battlefield. The project covers the routes taken
by both the American and British armies, and Native Americans
to and from the battle site at the tiny settlement of Frenchtown
(now Monroe) during the War of 1812.
Ligibel, project leader G. Michael Pratt of Heidelberg;
and EMU alumni Jeffrey Green, preservation planner for
the City of Monroe; and preservation consultant William
Rutter, recently had a rare opportunity to make a presentation
about the site to the Secretary of the Interior at a meeting
facilitated by Congressman John Dingell.
"Congressman Dingell invited our team to present the case
for National Park designation of the battlefield site to
Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne while he was in the
area for a ceremonial signing," said Ligibel, an EMU professor
of geography and geology. "Normally, the secretary wouldn't
hear about a project like this until they were ready to
sign the bill creating the park. Now, when the case is
presented, he'll know directly about the site and its significance."
The ultimate goal of the project is to get approval as
both a National Historic Landmark and possibly a national
park.
"How many communities have a national park within their
borders?" Ligibel said. "That translates into economic
development as well. So it's honorific and income generating,
and cultural interest generating, at the same time."
Ligibel,
who has been involved with the site for more than a decade,
said there is still plenty of research to be done before
a final report goes to the Secretary of Interior.
"We are reviewing war records from the British government
from 1812-1814; taking testimony from those with knowledge
of the site; reviewing newspaper accounts and reading first-hand
accounts from people who were there," said Ligibel. "We
are leaving no stone unturned."
Three grants are supporting the work: two from the American
Battlefield Protection Program (NPS) and a third from the
Monroe County Historical Society.
The Battle of the River Raisin, sometimes referred to
as the Battle of Frenchtown or the Massacre on the River
Raisin, was one of the largest military encounters during
the War of 1812. On Jan. 22, 1813, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers
and militia fought a force of about 1,000 British and Indian
forces. After taking Frenchtown from a small Canadian and
Indian force, the Americans were surprised by the main
British and Indian force. The British lost 24 men, compared
to the 397 Americans that were killed.
