In my historical research I sometimes glimpse a unique location which I weave into my story. Readers of Nelson’s Lost Son may remember Josiah’s mission to ‘HMS’ Diamond Rock, the 500 foot pinnacle captured by the British 1804 until June 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars in the Caribbean near Martinique. In my forthcoming novel, The Nelson Inheritance readers will visit another very unique place - Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA.
Historic Mackinac Island Shares its Secrets
Mackinac Island (pronounced “Mackinaw”) lies a few miles offshore, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. It’s formally named Michilimackinac - its native Odawa name. I spent a few days on the small turtle shaped island which rises at its centre to a few hundred feet above the lake and is crowned by an old Fort.
When I was there, it was late July 2024, so the island was over-run by “yachtsmen” participating in the renowned “Mac” race. There are actually two separate races which arrive at Mackinac at the same time. One starts in Port Huron (near Detroit) and the other in Chicago. The 536 km annual race from Chicago dates back to 1898 and is the oldest freshwater distance race in the world. When the yachts arrive at Mackinac, 3000 crew transform the island into a lively hub, filling the hotels, bars and restaurants in the evenings and spending their days racing against teams from different yacht clubs including Canadians and Australians.
After they had gone the island was very quiet, returning to its historic charm. There are no cars allowed on the island so tourists ride bicycles and horse drawn carts serve as delivery vans and taxis. It’s a quaint place with houses more than two hundred years old, many with beautiful English gardens. There are still families living year round on the island who trace their ancestry back to an era before the American Revolution.
Sights of Mackinac
There is plenty for the visitor to see - first the Fort and then many sites of Odawa Native Americans throughout the island. There is an iconic hotel (pictured) in the style of the roaring twenties as well shops and restaurants, the harbour.
The ancient general store and warehouse of the American Fur Company are also popular attractions. (The fur trade was the reason why this part of the world was so important commercially in its early years).
Mackinac Island's Strategic Position
The charm and the romance of Mackinac understates its importance at one time in its history. This little island was an important player in the War of American Independence and the War of 1812. The latter war between Britain and America occurred thirty years after the end of the American War of Independence.
What happened at Mackinac Island was key to the history of that war and to Canada’s subsequent survival as a country independent of a rapidly growing and bellicose United States.
Above the town built atop a rocky bluff is the 300 year old Fort with British and American flags fluttering over its stockaded walls and blockhouses. Its position dominates the strategically important narrow strait linking Lake Huron to the east with Lake Michigan and Lake Superior to the West.
The British saw the war approaching and when it began in 1812 – America declared war on Britain – they hastened to retake the fort they had handed over to the Americans three decades before as part of the peace treaty which ended the earlier war. The American garrison at the fort surrendered to a force of British and Native Americans. The British then went on to take control of Fort Detroit and all the Great Lakes. Later on, a counter attack by the Americans was repulsed although the Americans reached Toronto and burned its Parliament building.
The climate played an important role in the war. When I visited the island it was in mid-summer and the weather was perfect. It was hard to imagine what it would be like in December and January. The winters in this part of the world are bitterly cold and the lakes freeze. Even today ferries stop operating in the winter months and the island may be reached only by planes landing on its small airstrip. The islanders stock up on food and necessities and hunker down. In 1813-14 supplies were so low that the garrison nearly starved to death.
Exploring the Complexities of War and Survival
In The Nelson Inheritance, the approach of the war is viewed through Josiah’s eyes given a fictional rendering to expand the story firmly rooted in the history currently known. The stakes are high for Josiah, for his friends and both sides in the forthcoming conflict. Will they endure the island’s harsh winter and survive the war’s brutality?
As I delve deeper into the rich tapestry of history, I find that each location I explore adds a unique layer to my storytelling. Through the eyes of characters like Josiah Nisbet, readers can experience the tension, bravery, and resilience that defined these historical moments, where personal decisions changed the course of nations.
I hope this journey through my research and the stories it inspires has piqued your interest. Stay tuned for the release of The Nelson Inheritance which I anticipate will be in April 2025, and join Josiah on his latest adventure.
To find out more about my novels and sign up to ‘stay in touch’, visit my author home page. My first novel in the trilogy, Nelson's Folly, is also available as an audiobook.
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