Dashwood Painting 1814

We are grateful to the following donors who made this acquisition possible:
Anonymous (2)
Clark Bloswick
Jean Federico
Todd Harburn
Bart Huthwaite
Martin and Patricia Jahn
Mackinac Island Community Foundation
Carl Nold
Mark Schlussel

The painting was done by William Dashwood, likely commissioned by Col. Robert McDouall (1774-1848) in about 1820. It is signed by Dashwood and dated 182-[?]. It depicts Mackinac Island and Fort Mackinac following the battle of 1814.

Shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812 the British captured Mackinac Island. In May 1814 Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles took command of the British troops in the area. With help from Indian volunteers, he repulsed a determined assault on the island by American forces during the Battle of Mackinac Island on August 4th. Two United States schooners, Tigress and Scorpion were then ordered to blockade the British garrison at Fort Mackinac. In a daring and skillful exploit the British surprised and took both vessels.

The landscape painting depicts the two schooners being brought into Haldimand Bay while Fort Mackinac fires a salute. Apparently McDouall commissioned the work as a memorial of his victory. The painting is based on the print Michilimackinac on Lake Huron by Thomas Hall (published by Richard Dillon in Montreal in 1813). Dashwood added the captured prizes Tigress and Scorpion (with the British flag proudly flying above the American) and a number of native Americans derived from an 1807 published work, Colour Plates to accompany Heriot’s travel in the Canadas by G. Heriot. McDouall is shown in the left center ground, wearing his shako and distinctive green uniform.

Oil on canvas, 22” x 16” (2000.60.1)

The painting is on exhibit in Mackinac: An Island Famous In These Regions at Fort Mackinac.