Battle of Châteauguay

The Bataille of Châteauguay was held during the Guerre of 1812, more precisely the October 26th 1813. She is regarded as one of the important facts of weapon of the Canadian history. Indeed, on October 26th, 1813, 300 Militiamans and Canadian Fencibles pushed back an American invasion of which the troops were composed of approximately 2000 men.

One of the American strategies during the War of 1812-14 is to take the town of Montreal to cut the provisioning in the High-Canada. For this purpose, the Sergeant-General James Wilkinson and the Major-General Wade Hampton enpruntent two ways of invasion towards Montreal and had envisaged to meet in the Perrot island, close to Montreal.

Having to pass at the origin by the Lake Champlain and the River Richelieu with a force of 5.700 men, the M.G. Hampton over-estimates the forces Britanniques there being installed, and its requirement out of drinking water carries it to make a turning by the lake Upper Châteauguay, in the state of New York. Noticing the Rivière Châteauguay, which goes down towards the Low-Canada and Montreal, it urges 3000 of its men to follow it. The remainder, by their statute of militiamans, do not have the right to pass the border.

The Lieutenant-colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry, with the fact of the American movements, had sown obstacles along the Châteauguay River, slowing down the walk of American. Arrived at what will be later Allan' S Corner, it installs lines of defense there, always with an aim of slowing down the Americans in their walk towards Montreal.

Among his troops, made up as a majority of militiamans and volunteers, one notices the Canadian body of the Voltigeurs, the troop of volunteers whom it itself raised, in addition to the assistance appreciated of 22 Amerindians, coming from Kanawake, Akasasne and Old-Lorette. Fortifications that the L. - C. De Salaberry makes set up include/understand in particular a Abatis, which will be the frontline, four lines of defense according to 4 deep and natural gullies, where will be installed the men of the reserve, who will not take part in fact, to the Battle of Châteauguay. With the Morrisson farm, close to a ford of the same name, one installs the hospital of countryside, then with the farm Baker, the district-general for the reserve officers.

The Americans arrive on the battle field starting from October 21st, 1813, divided into 2 brigades to circumvent the obstacles left by Salaberry. Installed on the Spears farm, of the spies and the interrogation with the farmer the positions of the troops Canadian-British indicate to them. Strategy worked out by the M.G. Hampton is to send 1000 men, directed by Robert Purdy on the southern part of the Châteauguay River to circumvent the positions enemies by taking the Morrisson ford, whereas 1000 other men move of face towards the frontline. The 1000 men remaining will deal of the camping and the monitoring of the 2 guns which they transported until there.

The men ordered by Purdy leave on October 25th at the evening for southern bank. In the morning of October 26th, the second division takes its station in front of the frontline delimited by the abatti and exchanges some shots. They cease abruptly and wait. Unfortunately, the men on southern bank lost themselves in wood dense and on the marshy ground. Trying to move towards the Morrisson ford, the troops on southern bank meet the Canadian small group directed by Jean-Baptiste Brugière. The drawn shots and confusion reigns then on southern bank. Towards 14:00, Brugière, which received reinforcements of the company of Daly, carrying manpower on the southern part with approximately 90 men, orders a load with the bayonet, ammunition lack. Daly and Brugière are wounded, the Americans then try to circumvent the small company, by joining the bank of the River.

The L. - C. De Salaberry, with the catches with the American forces in front of the clearing, works out various tactics. Giving its French orders, ordering fire at will, asking to the Amerindians to shout and run in wood and bluffant by sounding the bugle to announce reinforcements, it gives the illusion to the Americans that there are not only 300 men on the frontline, but well 3000. When the Americans on southern bank pass on the bank of the river, of Salaberry an bracket orders, and the militiamans on northern bank intersect their shootings with the men of Daly and Brugière, Americans being then in a bad position.

Purdy then requires the withdrawal of its men and they turn over to the camping, whereas Hampton orders also sound with dimensions the return of the men in front of the abatti. This closed the engagement of the Battle of Châteauguay, and the Americans go back to the United States on October 29th, 1813.

The Battle of Châteauguay today

To commemorate this important fact of weapon, Parcs Canada has a national historic site reporting the exploits of this Canadian victory.

Located on the frontline of the battle field, the center of interpretation is open mid-May at the end of August, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 with 17:00; then all weekends until mid-October. Various activities emphasizing Battle-of-the-Châteauguay are proposed there.

For further information, to inform you on the site of Battle-in-the-Châteauguay, Parcs Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/chateauguay.

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