In 2015, a restored Fort Holmes was dedicated on Mackinac Island. The historic fort was originally constructed during the war of 1812 by British soldiers in 1814 while the United States and British forces battled for control of the Michigan peninsulas. Fort Holmes is a small, wood and earthen fort sitting on top of the highest ridge of Mackinac Island. It was originally named Fort George in honor of Britain's King George III, but when the Untied States soldiers reoccupied the the fort after the war, it was renamed Fort Holmes in honor of American Major Andrew Hunter Holmes who was killed in the 1814 battle of Mackinac Island.
Major Andrew Hunter Holmes was promoted to Major after the Battle of Longwoods in March of 1814. In this battle, Captain Holmes was urged by some of his subordinates to retreat, but he was determined to hold his position and in the end partly defeated an attempt by British Regulars, Canadian militia and Native Americans to intercept them near present-day Southwest Middlesex, Ontario. Several months later that year, Major Holmes participated in an attempt by the Americans to retake the island of Mackinac to sever the fur trading alliance between the British and the Natives in the Northwest. After a failed attempt to bombard Fort George on the Island from American ships, Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall advanced the main body of his force to advance on the fort though the surrounding woods. When his men emerged through the woods into a clearing they became easy targets for the British guns. An attempt was made to outflank the British, but this failed and the American regulars were ambushed by the Indians. Thirteen Americans were killed including Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. The attempt ultimately failed, and the British maintained the Fort until the end of the War.
President Madison, saved a few words in his annual address that year to address this defeat and mention the loss of a few men including "an officer justly distinguished for his gallant exploits". While Madison did not identify the man by name, the renaming of Fort George after the war suggests that Major Andrew Hunter Holmes was this brave officer.
"A part of the squadron on Lake Erie has been extended into Lake Huron, and has produced the advantage of displaying our command on that lake also. One object of the expedition was the reduction of Mackinaw, which filed with the loss of a few brave men, among whom was an officer justly distinguished for his gallant exploits. The expedition, ably conducted by both the land and the naval commanders, was otherwise highly valuable in its effects."http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/08/fort_holmes_mackinac_island.html
http://www.mackinacparks.com/fort-holmes-3/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Longwoods
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mackinac_Island_(1814)
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