From January 18 to January 23, 1813, Frenchtown, on the banks of the River Raisin, became a battleground where the military forces of the United States and Great Britain fought each other for control of the Lower Great Lakes. At stake were the destinies of Michigan, Upper Canada, and the Native-American alliance.Invaded on All Sides is a readable but detailed study of the largest field battle ever fought within the present confines of the state of Michigan. By the end of the fighting, General Winchester’s army of Kentuckians had been entirely destroyed, resulting in the largest total American casualties of any single day’s battle during the War of 1812.
The debacle at the River Raisin and the subsequent murder of some wounded Americans served to galvanize U.S. forces on the western frontier. “Remember the Raisin” became the battle cry by which a newly reformed army sought to avenge their countrymen and turn defeat into victory in the Old Northwest.
Once a polluted industrial site, the battleground itself is now being restored and preserved for the River Raisin National Battlefield Park. This is also part of the story.
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"Invaded On All Sides is the first-choice source on the Battles of the River Raisin. Author Ralph Naveaux has packaged years of excellent research into a creatively written book that is easy to read and captivating."
—Scott Bentley, River Raisin National Battlefield Park superintendent"Ralph Naveaux'
Invaded on all Sides is thoroughly grounded in his mastery of the sources and his respect for the participants in the Battle of the River Raisin. By allowing those source—the participants—to speak for themselves this book manages to immerse the reader "in the moments" leading up to, during and after the events of January, 1813. Here is a great reminder that comparing perspectives or cross-checking information, essential as they are to understanding the "big picture," are often luxuries not available to people on the ground, at the time, making the best of what they know."
—R. Bruce Way, PhD, Department of History, The University of Toledo, Retired, RIRA Special History Project, Principal Investigator"Invaded on All Sides is packed with detail and humanity, narrated by a gifted historian/storyteller."
—Dennis Moore, Interpretive Ranger, River Raisin National Battlefield Park"In this updated and expanded edition of
Invaded on All Sides, Ralph Naveaux provides a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the War of 1812 battles fought at Frenchtown (Monroe, Michigan) in January 1813. Though an unmitigated disaster for American forces, the Battle of the River Raisin nonetheless provided motivation and focus for United States efforts along the Detroit frontier throughout the remainder of the conflict.
Invaded on All Sides is essential reading for those seeking to understand Michigan’s contributions during the War of 1812." —
Dr. Larry L. Nelson, retired site manager at Fort Meigs State Memorial Invaded on All Sides is the first reference I turn to whenever I have a question regarding the Battles of the River Raisin. It will undoubtedly remain the leading narrative history of the battles for the foreseeable future. This well researched and compelling volume should be on the shelf of every student of the War of 1812 and Michigan history. —
Andrew Clark, Director, Monroe County Museum System
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Ralph Naveaux has earned degrees in history and institutional administration from Michigan State University, and in French from Eastern Michigan University. From 1975 to 1990, he was employed as a teacher of history and French in the Monroe Public School System. In 1990, Mr. Naveaux was hired as Assistant Director at the Monroe County Historical Museum, retiring as Director in January of 2007.
Ralph Naveaux has earned degrees in history and institutional administration from Michigan State University, and in French from Eastern Michigan University. He is also a graduate of the Seminar in Historic Administration at Historic Williamsburg, Virginia, and the Michigan Police Reserve Training Council Basic Law Enforcement Course at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan. From 1975 to 1990, he was employed as a teacher of history and French in the Monroe Public School System. In 1990, Mr. Naveaux was hired as Assistant Director at the Monroe County Historical Museum, retiring as Director in January of 2007. For 20 years, he served as co-chair of the Old French Town Days festival in Monroe, and then as chairman of Monroe's War of 1812 Bicentennial Steering Committee. Previous publications include Escape to Frenchtown, co-authored with Rachel Wilke, Women on the Raisin, co-authored with Mary Ellen VanWasshenova, "The Floral City," co-authored with Shana Gruber, and the old "River Raisin Battlefield Driving Tour." Of French and German ancestry, the author can trace his family line to an actual participant in the events of which he writes. That would be Joseph Neveu dit Francoeur, who served in Mack's artillery company of the Michigan Legionary Corps in 1812.
