Canadian Voltigeurs
Provincial Corps of Light Infantry | |
---|---|
Active | April 1812 – 24 May 1815 |
Disbanded | 1815 |
Country | Lower Canada |
Allegiance | British Empire |
Branch | Army |
Type | Light Infantry |
Size | Battalion |
Engagements | First Battle of Lacolle Mills Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor Battle of the Chateauguay Battle of Crysler's Farm Second Battle of Lacolle Mills Battle of Plattsburgh |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Charles de Salaberry Frederick Heriot |
The Canadian Voltigeurs were a light infantry unit, raised in Lower Canada (the present-day Province of Quebec) in 1812, that fought in the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States.
History
Formation
As war with the United States threatened, on 15 April 1812 Sir
The unit was officially part of the militia, and its enlisted personnel were subject to the Militia laws and ordinances, but for all practical purposes, it was administered on the same basis as the Fencible units, also raised in Canada as regular soldiers but liable for service in North America only.
De Salaberry selected members of the leading families of Lower Canada as officers, but their commissions were not confirmed until they had recruited their quota of volunteers (for example, 36 men for Captains, 14 for Lieutenants). Several other officers transferred from units of the British Army stationed in Canada, in the hope that they would gain rank or seniority by the transfer. Most of these officers remained with the Voltigeurs even when these ambitions were not fulfilled.
The ".. men to be enrolled in this corps to be between the age of 17 and 35 years and not below 5 feet 3 inches."[1] Recruiting was brisk; in addition to a bounty of £4, the recruits were promised a grant of 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land on discharge. Almost all the soldiers and most of the officers were French-speaking, which led to the unit being widely known as the Voltigeurs, a French word meaning "vaulter" or "leaper", and given to certain elite light infantry units in the French Army. However, all formal orders on the parade ground or in battle were given in English.
The Voltigeurs wore grey uniforms, with black facings and accoutrements. The coats were fitted with the padded "wings" worn by
The new unit mustered at
When the unit was formed, "... An additional Company formed of Indians will be allowed to be attached to this corps, consisting of six Chiefs and sixty Warriors. This Company will be armed, clothed (after their own manner) & victualled at the expence of Government; they will receive presents as a reward instead of Pay."[4]
Service in the War of 1812
Some of the Voltigeurs were in action at the Battle of Lacolle Mills (1812), in which a half-hearted invasion of Canada by the American General Henry Dearborn was turned back.
Early in 1813 three companies were detached under the unit's second-in-command, Major
The main body of the unit formed part of a light corps stationed to the south of Montreal, which was commanded by de Salaberry in person. Learning that an American division under Major General
Early in 1814, the entire unit concentrated at Montreal, and was built back up to strength. De Salaberry had been appointed Inspecting Field Officer of Militia, and Major Heriot became the Voltigeurs' acting Commanding Officer. A company of the Voltigeurs played a large part in repulsing an American army under Major General James Wilkinson at the Second Battle of Lacolle Mills in March 1814.
The Voltigeurs were brigaded with the Frontier Light Infantry, and another
At the end of the war, the unit was disbanded on 24 May 1815.
Legacy
The current Voltigeurs de Québec today perpetuate the history and traditions of the Canadian Voltigeurs within the Canadian Army. They also share a common link by the name, the province in which they are located and family ties since the founding commanding officer, Charles-René-Léonidas d'Irumberry de Salaberry is Charles de Salaberry's grandson, and named after him.
A junior
, takes their name from the unit.See also
- Canadian units of the War of 1812
- Les Voltigeurs de Québec
Notes
References
- Chartrand, Rene; Embleton Gerry (1998). British Forces in North America 1793–1815. Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-741-4.
- Benn, Carl (2002). The War of 1812 (Essential Histories 41). Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-466-3.
- Fryer, Mary Beacock (1986). Battlefields of Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 1-55002-007-2.
- Henderson, Robert. "The Battle of Lacolle Mills". War of 1812 Website. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2006.