Battles, Bravery, and Berries at Round Island in 1812

Beware of temptation, and especially beware of raspberries. Such was the lesson learned by one unfortunate French soldier during the War of 1812, according to “Mackinac Region” author James Van Fleet in his 1882 account.

While Mackinac Island was involved in two military engagements during the war, Round Island was also seeing some action. In the opening days of the war, the British captured Fort Mackinac by surprising the small garrison from the heights above, now the site of Fort Holmes. When Americans tried to recapture the Island several years later, they put a landing party ashore at Round Island, hoping to plant an artillery battery there. Their activities were soon discovered by the British, who sent a large party of Indians across. The Americans quickly retreated from the oncoming attack, though clearly there wasn’t a sense of urgency.

The confrontation took place in August, and Round Island was covered in ripe raspberries. Several of the men loitered, picking raspberries as they retreated. One of them was captured by the Indians and taken back across the passage to Fort Mackinac.