You think things are tough in Detroit now? 200 years ago war clouds were gathering over the Straits of Detroit as tensions were building between the young republic and its former colonial master. The end result would be positive in that we have enjoyed a 200 year reign of peace. But, in the following years war, death, enemy occupations, destruction, massacres, cholera epidemics would stalk Detroit and the Great Lakes region.



It is also an opportunity for us to discuss and discover the sites and history of those times of trouble. Where were they? What are they today? How did it shape our international metropolis? Here are some local timeline highlights to kick things off.

The first shots of this tragedy happened here.

June 18, 1812 -President James Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain.
July 2, 1812 - British Capture of the Cuyahoga Packet on the Detroit River
July 4/5 1812 - Fort Detroit cannons began shelling Sandwich [[Windsor, Ontario)
July 12, 1812 - U.S. General William Hull invades Southern Ontario
July 16, 1812 - Skirmish at Canard River [Amherstburg], Upper Canada Two British soldiers are killed - the first casualties of the War of 1812.
July 17, 1812 - British & Native American forces capture Fort Mackinac in first battle on U.S. soil
July 5, 1812 - Bombardment of Sandwich
July 17, 1812 - British Capture Fort Mackinac
August 5, 1812 - Battle of Brownstown [Ecorse River]
August 15, 1812 - Fort Dearborn [Chicago] Massacre
August 16, 1812 - Detroit surrendered by William Hull to the British under Isaac Brock
Jan. 18 & 22/23, 1813 - Battle of Frenchtown & River Raisin Massacre - American relief column from KY attempts to re-take Detroit and is massacred near Monroe
April 27, 1813 Battle of York - Americans sack Toronto
April/May 9, 1813 Siege of Fort Meigs [Toledo] by Henry Proctor & Tecumseh
May 25 - 27, 1813 Capture of Fort George [Niagara]
June 6, 1813 Battle of Stoney Creek [Hamilton]
July 1813 Second unsuccessful British siege of Fort Meigs
August 2, 1813 Unsuccessful British attack on Fort Stephenson [[Fremont, Ohio))
September 10, 1813 Battle of Lake Erie [Put-in-Bay] opens way for recapture of Detroit
September 29, 1813 Americans, under Harrison, reclaim Detroit
October 5, 1813 Battle of the Thames [[Battle of Moraviantown) Death of Tecumseh [near Chatham]
December 10, 1813 Burning of Niagara,[[Ontario)
December 19, 1813 Capture of Fort Niagara, New York
December 19, 1813 Burning of Lewiston, New York,
December 31, 1813 Burning of Buffalo & Black Rock
March 4, 1814 Longwood Battle [between Sarnia-Chatham-London triangle]
July 3, 1814 Capture of Fort Erie [[Niagara area)
July 5, 1814 Battle of Chippewa [[Niagara area)
December 24, 1814 Treaty of Ghent signed