Battle of Châteauguay: 26 October 1813.
On the 25th and 26th of October 1813, one of the most important battles to repulse American invaders and save Canada took place.
However, although a critical battle in the history of Canada, it is largely forgotten by most Canadians. In fact, fought by a force largely composed of French Canadians, and in Quebec, which was then known “Lower Canada”, it is even unknown to most of today’s Francophones in the province where the battle occurred not far from the major city of Montreal.
On the 25th, a Canadian force of about 1600, French-Canadian militia, English regulars, and local French volunteers, led by Lt-Col Charles-Michel de Salaberry, dug in to face a force of about 3,000 Americans led by Maj,-General Wade Hampton along the Chateauguay River, about 56 km south of Montreal.
Hampton was tasked with the capture of Montreal. His force was to move in from the south after meeting up with another American division that was to move in from the west, from much further down the St Lawrence. The two groups were to meet up at the western tip of the island of Montreal with the combined force attacking the city.
But Hampton’s force stalled on the Chateuguay while waiting for the other division, led by Maj-Gen,James Wilkinson, to form up and move down the St Lawrence in a variety of boats from Sacketts Harbour on the U.S. side
But Salaberry moved first intercepting Hampton’s force. The other American division would be stopped about 35 km west of Cornwall in a fight known as the Battle of Crysler’s Farm in what is now the province of Ontario, and took place two weeks later on November 11th, (a fight which also saw the much larger American force repulsed).
The Battle of Chateauguay actually began on the 26th, with a great deal of noise from the Canadian side which confused the Americans as to the size of the force they were facing.
Hampton sent half his army to outflank the defenders, but they got lost and were soon taking fire from snipers
In spite of various thrusts during a series of skirmishes that lasted about 4 hours, and with men scattered, Hampton realized the venture was lost and retreated.
In terms of loss of life, the Battle of Chateauguay was the least destructive of the War of 1812, especially considering the size of the forces involved.
Some 23 Americans were killed, 33 wounded,29 missing. On the Canadian side, only 2 were killed, 16 wounded, and 4 missing
In spite of the light casualties, the significance of the battle was enormous as the Americans never again were able to threaten Lower Canada. The approximate site of the battle was marked with a stone obelisk erected in 1895 and was declared a national historic site in 1920. In 1964 a parcel of 1,5 hectares of land was purchased (from the original 200 hectare battleground which stretched for about 15km along the river) for the purpose of creating an interpretation centre which opened in 1978.
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