Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry , CB - 1778 1829 - Ottawa, Ontario
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The statue of Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry
is located adjacent to the War Memorial on Wellington Street, in Ottawa, Ontario.
Waymark Code: WMDCZE
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 12/27/2011
Views: 57
"Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry (November 19, 1778 - February 27, 1829) was a French-Canadian of the seigneurial class 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.
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. 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. 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. 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. Facing Hampton's force of 4000 troops and 10 cannon, de Salaberry led an advance guard of 250 Voltigeurs plus 50 allied warriors of the Kaunawakee Mohawk nation. 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. 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. Les Voltigeurs then launched a withering fire down into the ravine, inflicting numerous casualties. Unable to outflank de Salaberry, Hampton elected to withdraw back to the American border."
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The text on the plaque reads as follows:
"Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, CB - A skilful professional soldier, Salaberry formed the celebrated Voltigeurs Canadiens. In 1813, he outwitted and defeated a vastly superior American Force at the Battle of Chateauguay, helping to save Lower Canada from Invasion".
The statue of Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry is installed around the Sappers Staircase, an underpass on the northeastern corner of Confederation Square, adjacent to the National War Memorial.