During the later years of the American Revolution, the British feared that the American colonists, especially George Rogers Clark, might attack Michigan. Although the Americans never attacked the British outposts at Detroit and the Straits of Mackinac, these fears led the British to build new, stronger forts at both settlements.

In late 1778, Captain Richard Lernoult, the British commandant of Fort Detroit, realized his settlement needed a new fort. The fort was falling down and from the higher ground north of the fort the Americans could easily bombard the British fort. The new fort was built throughout the winter. By April 1779 the new fort was finished and named Lernoult in honor of the Detroit commander. The fort's earthen walls (called ramparts) were 26 feet thick at their base and narrowed to 12 feet wide at the top. The ramparts stood 11 feet high. Pickets (sharpened stakes) were placed along the exterior walls. A wide, deep ditch ran outside the ramparts. Tall pickets were placed in the ditch. The land surrounding the fort was cleared so an attacking enemy would have no cover to hide behind. Today, Fort Lernoult no longer exists.

At the same time much further to the north, Major Patrick Sinclair, the British commandant at Fort Michilimackinac, worried his fort at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula could not withstand an American attack. Sinclair chose nearby Mackinac Island to build a new fort. The island's high limestone bluffs and deep harbor seemed perfect. The British bought the island from the local Ojibwas for a dozen canoes loaded with goods and merchandise. Then, the British took apart the mainland fort and shipped it to the island. Sinclair placed the fort on the bluff overlooking the harbor. The British burned what remained of Fort Michilimackinac when the transfer was completed in mid-1781. In the 1950s, the state of Michigan rebuilt Fort Michilimackinac at Mackinaw City. Today, both the mainland fort and the island fort are among Michigan's most popular tourist attractions.

For more great stories on Michigan's past, look to Michigan History magazine. For more information or a free trial issue, call (800) 366-3703 or visit http://www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/.

Photo Credit: The Library of Congress: Old fort, Mackinac Island, Mich.

Colonial Michilimackinac-Michigan State Historic Parks