First Battle of Laprairie Memorial Plaque

La Prairie,
Type
Other

This plaque, originally unveiled in 1923 and replaced after June 1982 by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, commemorates the first battle of Laprairie in 1691 where the Governor of Montreal and a large detachment of soldiers were stationed. A New York militia company and some First Nations warriors attacked by surprise and caused many losses but, confronted by such a large number of defendants, they eventually retired.

Inscription

LA PREMIÈRE BATAILLE DE LAPRAIRIE
THE FIRST BATTLE OF LAPRAIRIE

De 1687 à 1713, le fort de Laprairie, une palissade protégeant certains bâtiments du village, servit de lieu de refuge aux colons et de poste de garde non loin de Montréal. En 1691, durant la longue guerre entre les Français et les Anglais d'Amérique, le gouverneur de Montréal, Louis-Hector de Callière, s'y posta avec un important contingent de soldats en prévision d'une attaque des colonies anglaises plus au sud. Néanmoins, une compagnie de la milice de New York et des Indiens menés par le major Peter Schuyler surprirent les Français et leur infligèrent de nombreuses pertes, mais ils battirent en retraite devant une force nombreuse.

Fort Laprairie, a palissade enclosing some of the village buildings, served as a refuge for settlers and a defensive outpost for Montréal from its inception in 1687 until 1713. In 1691, during the Anglo-French imperial struggle, the Governor of Montréal, Louis-Hector de Callière, waited here with a large contingent of soldiers for an expected attack from the English colonies to the south. Nevertheless, a company of New York militia and Indians led by Major Peter Schuyler managed to surprise the French and inflict many casualtie before retreating in the face of superior numbers.

Location
First Battle of Laprairie Memorial Plaque

Saint-Jean Road, Émilie-Gamelin Street
La Prairie
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 45.4211961
Long. -73.4963983

front view

Jacinthe Choinière
1 of 2 images

plaque (front)

1 of 2 images
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