Last updated: August 12, 2024
Place
General Winchester's Headquarters
NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
320 East Front Street, Monroe, MI.
Significance:
General's Headquarters
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
City of Monroe, Michigan
General James Winchester arrived at the River Raisin with reinforcements on January 20, 1813 after his Kentuckians forced the British and Native warriors out of the River Raisin settlement. Upon his arrival, Winchester was unable to establish his headquarters close to his troops as the nearby houses were full of the wounded from the January 18th battle. Deciding against displacing the wounded, Winchester established his headquarters further down and across the frozen river in the home of Francois Navarre.
Winchester was faulted for storing the munitions at his headquarters, about ¾ mile away from his troops. The explanation Winchester gave for this decision was that his militia, the Kentuckians in particular, were inclined to waste their ammunition shooting at anything they could find. This decision later played into the surrender of the American army at Frenchtown. Awakened by gunfire on the of January 22nd, Winchester hastily rode towards the battle and was attempting to reorganize his routed U.S. Infantry when he was captured along with elements of his staff by Native Warriors some 3 miles south of the River Raisin.
The Navarre House, that existed at the time of the battles, was demolished in 1873 to make way for the current Italianate style structure known as The Sawyer House. Walnut timbers from the original Navarre House were used to create the inside stair banister.
Winchester was faulted for storing the munitions at his headquarters, about ¾ mile away from his troops. The explanation Winchester gave for this decision was that his militia, the Kentuckians in particular, were inclined to waste their ammunition shooting at anything they could find. This decision later played into the surrender of the American army at Frenchtown. Awakened by gunfire on the of January 22nd, Winchester hastily rode towards the battle and was attempting to reorganize his routed U.S. Infantry when he was captured along with elements of his staff by Native Warriors some 3 miles south of the River Raisin.
The Navarre House, that existed at the time of the battles, was demolished in 1873 to make way for the current Italianate style structure known as The Sawyer House. Walnut timbers from the original Navarre House were used to create the inside stair banister.