Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes

Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes (d. 8 May [Marsh, James. "Troyes, Pierre de", in "The Canadian Encyclopedia" (Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1988), Volume 4, p.2196.] 1688), a captain in the French army arrived at Quebec in August [Marsh, p.2196.] 1685 with reinforcements for the colony. On 20 March 1686, [Marsh, p.2196.] with a party of twenty Troupes de la Marine (colonial regulars) [Sutherland, Stuart. "Troupes de la Marine", in "The Canadian Encyclopedia" (Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1988), Volume 4, p.2196.] and sixty "Canadien" militiamen [Marsh, p.2196.] (selected for their canoeing skills) out of Montreal, he led mission to chase the English from James Bay (then known as the bottom of Hudson Bay). Among his officers were three Le Moyne brothers, Pierre, Jacques and Paul. They were divided into three groups and headed to their destination using the interior waterways.

The mission (called the Battle for James Bay) made audacious [Marsh, p.2196.] use of canoes for transportation in voyageur style, following the Ottawa River north, portaging [Marsh, p.2196.] by way of Lake Timiskaming and Lake Abitibi (on the Abitibi River). [Marsh, p.2196.] The assault caught the British entirely by surprise [Marsh, p.2196.] and captured Moose Fort with ease on 20 June. [Marsh, p.2196.] On 3 July, de Troyes took Rupert House [Also known as Fort Rupert and Fort Charles. Marsh, p.2196.] along with HMS "Craven", [Marsh, p.2196.] which he used to descend on Fort Albany, which fell 26 July. [Marsh, p.2196.]

Leaving Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in charge of the captured forts, de Troyes returned to Quebec.

In June 1687, de Troyes comanded a company [Marsh, p.2196.] under Governor Denonville for his famous attack against the Seneca. De Troyes' brilliant military career was cut short by his death the following year. When Denonville created Fort Denonville (now Fort Niagara) in his own honor, de Troyes was left in charge. He died during the winter of 1687-1688, along with most of the troups in his garrison, due to scurvy. [Marsh, p.2196.]

Sources

Notes

References

* KENYON, W.A. and TURNBULL, J.R.: The Battle for James Bay, 1971, Macmillan Company of Canada Limited, Toronto.
*Marsh, James. "Troyes, Pierre de", in "The Canadian Encyclopedia", Volume 4, p.2196. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1988.
*Sutherland, Stuart R. J.. "Troupes de la Marine", in "The Canadian Encyclopedia", Volume 4, p.2196. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1988.

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=568 The "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]