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The First Battle
against the Iroquois
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Lake Champlain battle,
1609
Illustration by Francis Back
Collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization
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In 1609, a war party took Champlain as far as the lake that would
later be named after him. The battle that took place had a significant
effect on relations between the French and the Iroquois: the French allied
themselves with the Montagnais, the Algonquins and the Hurons, turning the
Iroquois into formidable enemies.
Champlain’s Battle Story
. . . we went to the mouth of the river of the Iroquois, (The Richelieu)
where we stayed two days and refreshed ourselves with choice game, birds,
and fish which the Indians gave us. Here there broke out amongst them some
difference of opinion regarding the war, the result of which was that only a
part of them decided to come with me, whilst the rest went back to their own
country with their wives and the goods they had bartered.
Setting out from the mouth of that river, . . . and very beautiful, . . .
The whole of this river from its mouth to the first rapid, (The St. Louis
rapids) a distance of fifteen leagues, is very level and bordered with
woods, . . . There are nine or ten beautiful islands as far as the first
rapid of the river of the Iroquois, . . . covered with oaks and butternuts.
The river is in places nearly half a league wide and full of fish. We did
not find anywhere less than four feet of water. The approach to the rapid is
a sort of lake (The Chambly basin) into which the water flows down, . . .
Near by are meadows where no Indians live, by reason of the wars . . . At
the rapids there is very little water, but it flows with great swiftness,
and there are many rocks and boulders, so that the Indians cannot go up by
water; but on the way back they run them very nicely. All this region is
very level and full of forests, vines and butternut trees. No Christians but
ourselves had ever penetrated to this place; and we had difficulty enough in
getting up the river by rowing.
Burgonet, circa 1600
Made in Germany
Musée de l’Armée, Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-641
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[...]
" . . . realizing the small prospect there was of getting our shallop
past the rapid, I was distressed, and I was particularly sorry to return
without seeing a very large lake, filled with beautiful islands, and a
large, beautiful region near the lake, where they had represented to me
their enemies lived. . . . I decided to proceed thither in order to carry
out my promise and also to fulfil my desire. And I embarked with the Indians
in their canoes and took with me two men who were eager to go.
. . . I should not force any of my companions to embark, and should take
with me only two whom I had found eager to go.
[...]
I set out then from the rapid of the river of the Iroquois on the second of
July (Probably July 12, 1609). All the Indians began to carry their canoes,
arms and baggage about half a league by land, to avoid the swiftness and
force of the rapid. This they soon accomplished.
Then they put all the canoes into the water . . .
[...]
Armour with breastplate, back-plate and
tassets, circa 1615
Iron
Made in Germany
Musée de l’Armée, Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-642
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[...]
Evening having come, we embarked in our canoes in order to proceed on our
way, and as we were paddling along very quietly, and without making any
noise, about ten o’clock at night on the twenty-ninth of the month, (July)
at the extremity of a cape (Crown Point) which projects into the lake
on the west side, we met the Iroquois on the war-path. Both they and we
began to utter loud shouts and each got his arms ready. We drew out into the
lake and the Iroquois landed and arranged all their canoes near one another.
Then they began to fell trees with the poor axes which they sometimes win in
war, or with stone axes; and they barricaded themselves well.
Our Indians all nigh long also kept their canoes close to one another and
tied to poles in order not to get separated, but to fight all together in
case of need. We were on the water within bowshot of their barricades.
Buff coat, circa 1650
Leather
Made in France
Musée de l’Armée,
Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-644
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And when they were armed, and everything in order, they sent two canoes
which they had separated from the rest, to learn from their enemies whether
they wished to fight, and these replied that they had no other desire, but
that for the moment nothing could be seen and that it was necessary to wait
for daylight in order to distinguish one another. They said that as soon as
the sun should rise, they would attack us, and to this our Indians agreed.
Meanwhile the whole night was spent in dances and songs on both sides, with
many insults and other remarks, such as the lack of courage of our side, how
little we could resist or do against them, and that when daylight came our
people would learn all this to their ruin. Our side too was not lacking in
retort, telling the enemy that they would see such deeds of arms as they had
never seen, and a great deal of other talk, such as is usual at the siege of
a city. Having sung, danced, and flung words at one another for some time,
when daylight came, my companions and I were still hidden, lest the enemy
should see us, getting our fire-arms ready as best we could, being however
still separated, each in a canoe of the Montagnais Indians.
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Swords (1600)
and dagger (1590)
Made in Germany
Musée de l’Armée, Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-649
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After we were armed with light weapons, we took, each of us, an arquebus
and went ashore. I saw the enemy come out of their barricade to the number
of two hundred, in appearance strong, robust men. They came slowly to meet
us with a gravity and calm which I admired; and at their head were three
chiefs. Our Indians likewise advanced in similar order, and told me that
those who had the three big plumes were the chiefs, and that there were only
these three, whom you could recognize by these plumes, which were larger
than those of their companions; and I was to do what I could to kill them. I
promised them to do all in my power, and told them that I was very sorry
they could not understand me, so that I might direct their method of
attacking the enemy, all of whom undoubtedly we should thus defeat; but that
there was no help for it, and that I was very glad to show them, as soon as
the engagement began, the courage and readiness which were in me.
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Defeat of the Iroquois at
Lake Champlain
Engraving
Champlain,
The Voyages, 1613
National Library of Canada
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As soon as we landed, our Indians began to run some two hundred yards
towards their enemies, who stood firm and had not yet noticed my white
companions who went off into the woods with some Indians. Our Indians began
to call to me with loud cries; and to make way for me they divided into two
groups, and put me ahead some twenty yards, and I marched on until I was
within some thirty yards of the enemy, who as soon as they caught sight of
me halted and gazed at me and I at them. When I saw them make a move to draw
their bows upon us, I took aim with my arquebus and shot straight at one of
the three chiefs, and with this shot two fell to the ground and one of their
companions was wounded who died thereof a little later. I had put four
bullets into my arquebus.
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Matchlock musket, 1630
Musée de l’Armée,
Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-645
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As soon as our people saw this shot so favourable for them, they began to
shout so loudly that one could not have heard it thunder, and meanwhile the
arrows flew thick on both sides. The Iroquois were much astonished that two
men should have been killed so quickly, although they were provided with
shields made of cotton thread woven together and wood, which were proof
against their arrows. This frightened them greatly. As I was reloading my
arquebus, one of my companions fired a shot from within the woods, which
astonished them again so much that, seeing their chiefs dead, they lost
courage and took to flight, abandoning the field and their fort, and fleeing
into the depth of the forest, whither I pursued them and laid low still more
of them. Our Indians also killed several and took ten or twelve prisoners.
The remainder fled with the wounded. Of our Indians fifteen or sixteen were
wounded with arrows, but these were quickly healed.
After we had gained the victory, our Indians wasted time in taking a large
quantity of Indian corn and meal belonging to the enemy, as well as their
shields, which they had left behind, the better to run. Having feasted,
danced, and sung, we three hours later set off for home with the prisoners.
The place where this attack took place is in 43° and some minutes of
latitude, and was named Lake Champlain.
Champlain, The Voyages, 1613
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