Adam Dollard of Ormeaux

Adam Dollard, sior of Ormeaux (Dollard of Ormeaux) , is a hero of the News-France born in 1635 and deceased in May 1660. He is regarded as one of the savers of the News-France.

Biography

It is in 1658, at the 23 years age, that Dollard of Ormeaux arrived to News-France. He is officer of the garrison of the fort of City-Marie. Maisonneuve recruits it and also a ground concedes to him so that it is established in these places.

The name of Québécois bank holiday " Celebrates Dollard-of-Ormeaux" was changed for the " Celebrates of Patriotes" (Monday preceding on May 25th). In French Ontario, " Celebrates of Dollard" is always used by the Free-Ontarians in spite of the official name of this same Monday, " Celebrates of Reine" (" Victoria Day" in English), officially recognized by the government of Ontario.

The invasion of 1660

The whole started when a prisoner iroquois, tortured, acted as informer and entrusted to the French whom Iroquois planned an invasion of News-France from a point of view of revenge.

In front of the threat of an invasion iroquoise of News-France, Dollard started from City-Marie with at her sides 16 volunteers of modest condition (farmers, craftsmen) going in a place called the extremely of the sault of the boiler . It is in fact an old Huron outpost deserted for a long time and dilapidated composed of tree trunks. After having reinforced the palisade, it settled with his companions while waiting for the imminent attack. The latter were joined quickly by some 40 Huron.

Two boats of scouts iroquois, of which the number is dubious, but located between 4 and 15, were seen, Dollard planned a ambush a little further with the bearing of the river; this one was a success. On the other hand, this one was a premise with the increasingly imminent attack. It is then more than 50 boats iroquois which came, that is to say more than 200 Iroquois which attacked the fort, rifle with the hand.

In front of the danger the French and the Huron ones were tapirent in the fort with vivres and ammunition, but without water. Those pushed back the many waves of Iroquois which tried to destroy the fort. Vis-a-vis those the French dissociated themselves in supremacy.

Following the many attacks, Iroquois besieged the fort, rifle with the hand. They were joined soon (after 8 days) by 500 Agniers and 50 Oneiouts, all Iroquois. Certain Huron deserted to join Iroquois vis-a-vis the extent of the attack. The autochtones under the French mode not being entitled to rifles, those felt largely handicapped.

It is probably an artisanal grenade intended for Iroquois which made the defeat of the French, Dollard perishes at this time. The survivors, casualties, were tortured or led to roughing-hew (ancestral tradition for the warriors iroquois). Nevertheless, Iroquois having lost a so great number of men against if small number of French warriors gave up their invasion of News-France.

Dollard of Ormeaux is thus famous to have pushed back with a handle of men the invasion iroquoise of 1660.

As regards the historical version of this myth, work does not make it possible to corroborate these facts. Some other textual elements suppose besides that Dollard was not sent to defend the colony and that it left, on the contrary, of its own boss, with the head of an small group of French, with the meeting of a convoy of allied Amerindians of the French. This convoy transported goods (of the furs, especially) which had not been delivered for several months (one speaks of almost two years), because of the wars with Iroquois. Dollard would thus have decided to seize the spoils before the Amerindians did not go to the station of French draft. Unfortunately, a strong quota iroquois auraut have the same idea and the chance made that Dollard found Iroquois before the allied Amerindians of the French. Thus, cut off in a fort, it would have made fire on a member of Parliament iroquois come to negotiate their rendering (Iroquois sold the French prisoners, which were repurchased at ransom price by the colony), killing it, which would have started the hostilities, short and useless. Dollard would be thus makes of it a pirate unlucky person and, in addition, awkward with the powder barrels, but encensé by the religious authorities, avid heroes and martyrdoms suitable to stimulate the patriotic and religious feeling. A whole hero, if it were…

See too

Dollard-Of Ormeaux

External bonds

Biography of the biographical Dictionary of Canada in line

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