| Finally! British Landing, a Michigan registered historic site, is a patch of land near the north end of Maniboajo Bay. According to the sign: "Here, during the night of July 16-17, 1812, a small force of British regulars and several hundred voyageurs and Indian allies from St. Joseph Island landed. They occupied a height that overlooked Fort Mackinac and demanded its surrender. Lt. Porter Hanks, commander of the American garrison of 57 soldiers, had not known that war had been declared. Realizing that resistance was hopeless and might provoke an Indian massacre, Hanks capitulated without a fight." This was also the site where American forces landed to try to retake the island in 1814, though we lost out then, too. (See the 2004 tour for photos of the Battlefield of 1814.) British Landing is also a good spot along the tour to take a break, eat something, and USE THE BATHROOM! >_< |
