Charles de salaberry biography of barack

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The professionalism and high expectations he held for his fellow Canadiens, was repaid by the respect and loyalty of his troops.

The War of 1812

In November 1812, during the War of 1812, de Salaberry commanded the advance guard of the force that turned away Henry Dearborn's northern attack at La Colle Mill. He even paid for some of their equipment out of his own pocket.

With regular reports from loyal farmers along the border, de Salaberry knew all of Hampton's movements and troop numbers as the Americans approached the Chateauguay River south-west of Montreal. The rest of de Salaberry's corps, 1500 men, remained in reserve.

On October 26, when Hampton encountered the barricades, he sent 1500 of his troops to surround the Canadiens.

The rest of de Salaberry's corps, 1500 men, remained in reserve.

On October 26, when Hampton encountered the barricades, he sent 1500 of his troops to surround the French Canadians. De Salaberry used the twilight and difficult terrain to confuse the enemy, ordering bugles to be blown from several locations and convincing Hampton that a much larger force was lurking in the darkness.

The professionalism and high expectations he held for his fellow French-Canadians was repaid by the respect and loyalty of his troops.

The War of 1812
In November of 1812, de Salaberry commanded the advance guard of the force that turned away Henry Dearborn's northern attack at La Colle Mill. He ordered the felling of trees to build tangled breastworks of "abatis" in the ravines where the Chateauguay met the English River, then dispersed his troops through the woods.

Later, some of his Voltigeurs took part in the decisive Battle of Crysler's Farm, described by some as the battle that "saved Canada."

De Salaberry's greatest claim to fame came at Chateauguay in October 1813, when he intercepted and turned the American troops advancing on Montreal under Gen. Hampton. De Salaberry used the twilight and difficult terrain to confuse the enemy, ordering bugles to be blown from several locations and convincing Hampton that a much larger force was lurking in the darkness.

He served as justice of the peace for various district courts, and in 1818 became a legislative councillor for Lower Canada. Les Volitgeurs were essentially militia men, but de Salaberry trained them as regulars similar to the Fencible units raised in Upper Canada. The last two families to bear his name now live in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and in Ontario.

Later, the Canadian corps under de Salaberry, including les Volitigeurs, took part in the decisive Battle of Chrysler's Farm, described by some as the battle that "saved Canada." His greatest claim to fame came at Chateauguay the next Fall, in October 1813, when he intercepted and turned the American troops advancing on Montreal under Gen. Wade Hampton.

Charles de Salaberry Biography

Lt. Col. Charles-Michel de Salaberry (1778 - 1829) was a French-Canadian nobleman who served as an officer of the British army in Lower Canada (now Quebec) and won distinction for repelling the American advance on Montreal during the War of 1812. Early years Born at the manor house of BeauFort in Lower Canada on November 19, 1778, Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry was one of four sons in family with a long tradition of military service. Failure would likely have meant court-martial for him and, possibly, the fall of Montreal. The gambit worked, however; Britain struck a gold medal to commemorate the Battle of Chateauguay and de Salaberry became a legendary figure in Quebec history. Following the victory at the Chateauguay, de Salaberry was appointed Inspecting Field Officer of Light Troops in Canada. Later years Statue of Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry at the Valiants Memorial, in Ottawa After the war of 1812,Charles de Salaberry became a folk hero in French Canada. Charles-Michel's father, Ignace de Salaberry, was Seigneur de Chambly et de Beaulac, and was also a British officer who had fought in the defence of Quebec during the American Revolutionary war and had served as a member died legislative council of Lower Canada for 30 years. At the age of 14, Charles-Michel followed his father's footsteps into the 44th Regiment of the British army. He even paid for some of their equipment out of his own pocket. He served as aide-de-camp to Major General Francis de Rottenburg, but in 1812 he was appointed to command a new corps of volunteers, the Canadian Voltigeurs (light infantry) and became a chief of staff for the militia. He was so convinced that victory would be his that he neglected to report the Americans' advance to his senior officers. After his father's death, he became Seigneur of St. Mathias. Charles de Salaberry died in Chambly, Quebec on February 26, 1829.

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