Battle of Frenchtown - First Battle of The River Raisin

James Winchester, the second-in-command of the Army of the Northwest, led a column consisting of approximately 1,000 untrained regulars and volunteers, most of whom came from Kentucky. Major General William Henry Harrison had ordered him to remain within supporting distance of Harrison's column near the Maumee River (in present-day Perrysburg, Ohio) about 30 miles (48 km) south of Frenchtown. Instead, Winchester ignored his orders and sent a small relief detachment north to Frenchtown along the River Raisin.

Lieutenant Colonel William Lewis led these men across the frozen Maumee River and along the coast of Lake Erie to the River Raisin. His force consisted of 667 Kentuckians and about 100 local French militiamen. On January 18, 1813, Lewis charged across the frozen River Raisin to attack the British and Indian camp, which contained 63 soldiers of the Essex Militia, accompanied by a 3-pounder cannon, and about 200 Potawatomies. A brisk battle took place before the Americans forced the British and their allies to retreat. The Canadians charged the American lines several times, supported by the gunfire of the Indians. Fighting continued sporadically for several hours, after which Lewis successfully reclaimed Frenchtown. This skirmish would later be known as the First Battle of the River Raisin.

During their retreat from Frenchtown, the Native Americans looted the small settlement of Sandy Creek about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the River Raisin, which had been settled in 1780. All 16 houses were burned to the ground, and at least two of the residents were killed. Sandy Creek was never rebuilt.