Michael Dousman American The Capture of Fort Mackinac

Michael Dousman was a Pennsylvania fur trader who, like so many others of his profession, was more concerned with commerce than war. He was determined not to let military conflict disturb the lucrative fur trade that used the Great Lakes as its highway. Before the capture of Fort Mackinac, Dousman was sent out in his canoe by Porter Hanks to find out how many men were in the British invasion force. Dousman met Captain Roberts's longboat fleet of Natives and Voyageurs on their way to attack the island. Dousman had traded with many of the men and considered them friends. Like Captain Roberts, he was concerned that some over-eager Natives might hurt helpless civilians on the island in the heat of a battle. Accordingly then, Dousman told Roberts how many soldiers were on the island and where they were stationed. In return, Roberts agreed to postpone the attack long enough for Dousman to return and gather civilians in a central hiding spot. The British took the fort without taking a single life.