Battle of Mackinac Island (1812)

Siege of Fort Mackinac
Part of the War of 1812
Fort Mackinac, Michigan
Date 17 July 1812 Location Mackinac Island, Michigan Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom Native Americans	United States
Commanders and leaders
Charles Roberts	Porter Hanks
Strength
About 600 regulars, fur traders, voyageurs and natives	61
Casualties and losses
None	61 surrendered

Coordinates: 45°51′11″N 84°37′03″W / 45.853056°N 84.6175°W / 45.853056; -84.6175

The Siege of Fort of Mackinac was one of the first engagements of the War of 1812. A British and Native American force captured the island soon after the outbreak of war between Britain and the United States. Encouraged by the easy British victory, more Native Americans rallied to their support. Their cooperation was an important factor in several British victories during the remainder of the war.

Mackinac Island was a U.S. fur trading post in the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Since the mid-seventeenth century, it had been important for its influence and control over the Indian tribes in the area. British and Canadian traders had resented it being ceded to the United States at the end of the American Revolutionary War. The United States Army maintained a small fort, named Fort Mackinac, on the island. About 40 miles (64 km) away was the British military post on St. Joseph Island and the (Canadian) North West Company's trading post at Sault Sainte Marie.

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