Benjamin Franklin Graves (soldier)

Graves was among the Americans known to be taken by the Potawatomi on a forced march to the British fort at Detroit, Michigan.

[1][6] During the War of 1812, Graves served under Colonel William Lewis as major in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Kentucky Volunteer regiment.

[2] In the fall of 1812 nearly one thousand Kentucky troops were sent to Michigan Territory in an American effort to take Fort Detroit, which was under the control of the British.

[10] After the death of Colonel John Allen,[11] Graves and Major George Madison had to take field command of the Americans.

[3][13] Upon General James Winchester's orders, Graves and hundreds of other survivors surrendered to British forces.

[2][14] After the surrender, British officer Captain William Elliott, a Loyalist, asked to borrow Graves' horse, saddle and bridle.

[14] The next day Graves was among the prisoners marched to Detroit despite their wounds, but his name subsequently disappears from written records.

[21][18] General Winchester wrote a February 11, 1813, letter about the battle to the US Secretary of War, which was widely published in American newspapers at that time.

[22][23] After Graves' disappearance while a prisoner, for years "his widow kept a light burning at the window of their home", in case he would return.