Battle of Mackinac Island (200 years ago during War of 1812 - 14): August events in Upper Peninsula Michigan

from Michigan Live! (www.mlive.com/): The Battle of Mackinac Island was fought on Aug. 4, 1814, and the Americans attempted to re-take Fort Mackinac, which it lost to the British in July of 1812. "The British and Native Americans knew they were coming, and they held the high ground," Olson said. A farm was located on the site, and because it's at the nearest high point of the Island, it wasn't much of a fight. "The Americans were outnumbered, out flanked, and it didn't go well," he said. It wasn't until the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, that American soldiers took possession of Fort Mackinac -- three years after the post had been captured. Phil Porter, the director of Mackinac State Historic Parks, said that's the beautiful thing about Mackinac Island -- it's "rich" history. British Landing, he said, is where the British troops came in "under the cover of darkness" and took over Fort Mackinac. "That road that leads to the Fort," he said, "it was there then, and it's still there today." "That's the wonderful thing about about Mackinac is that it has this deep and rich physical history," he added. "It's not like you have to imagine it, it's right in front of you." War of 1812 Events List August 1: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) August 2: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Fort Mackinac features 1812 theme (included with admission) 10:00 a.m., Bike Tour visiting War of 1812 historic sites, including battlefield ($5, must pre-register, limited) 5-8 p.m., Niagara cruise, re-enactment of first shots fired ($200, must pre-register, limited, call 906-847-3328) August 3: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Fort Mackinac features 1812 theme (included with admission) 10:00 a.m., Bike Tour visiting War of 1812 historic sites, including battlefield ($5, must pre-register, limited) 11:00 a.m., concert, Tittabawassee Valley Fife and Drum, Marquette Park (free) 1:00 p.m., concert (group TBD), Marquette Park (free) 3:00 p.m., main concert, Great Lakes groups, Fort Mackinac (included in admission) August 4: 9 a.m.-noon, dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) 9:30 a.m.-noon, Fort Mackinac features 1812 theme (included with admission) 3:00 p.m., Battle ceremony and re-enactment, narrated, Wawashkamo Golf Course (free) More info: www.mackinacparks.com or call 906-847-3328 On the weekend of August 1-4, 2014, a series of events are planned to transport Island visitors to 1814, when a month-long American military expedition was sent to recapture Fort Mackinac. The events include: • Special 1812-era demonstrations and tours inside Fort Mackinac, bike tours of battle-related sites across Mackinac Island. Visitors can interact with an international group of re-enactors and living historians representing the forces who fought over Mackinac in 1814.