The Battle of Three Rivers (Trois Rivières)
In a bold attempt to regain some lost ground in Canada, an American force of less than 1,500 men marched to attack the town of Three Rivers (Trois Rivières), on the northern bank of the St. Lawrence River, in the early morning of June 8, 1776. Their plan depended on surprise, but some of the locals alerted the British that they were coming, and others, acting as guides, delayed the Americans by leading them the wrong way. As they marched along the riverbank, British warships began firing at them, and they turned aside into a swamp for safety. Forcing their way through the swamp was harder and took longer than anticipated. When they finally reached the town, they were the ones surprised: they had expected to find an enemy force much weaker than their own; instead, they found that the British outnumbered them by far — and they had cannons (which the Americans did not) and were sheltered behind fortifications. Despite all that, the Americans attacked. They fought bravely, but it was a hopeless situation, and they were soon forced to retreat. They left behind many casualties — about 200 Americans had been taken prisoner, and perhaps as many had been killed or wounded — and all hope of holding on to Canada.
Captain Henry Harvey of the British Royal Navy commanded the sloop Martin, which was anchored in the river Trois Rivières. He reported to his superior
A little before three oClock in the morning, of the 8th I received intelligence by a Canadian Canoe, that a great number of Batteaus, had cross’d the river from Nicolet, and landed a great Body of the rebels, at the Point of the lake, & were on their march towards Three rivers…about 5 OClock, a large body of the rebels appear’d opposite to the Ship, at the edge of the woods, marching towards the Town; I immediately fir’d on them which oblig’d them, to take shelter in the Woods, til they had passed our line of Fire; about six oClock they attack’d the advance guard, of our Troops and appear’d to do it, with much resolution, but on receiving the fire from a line of infantry, posted to advantage, they gave way with the loss of some kill’d and wounded; they then appear’d to be forming again, but very soon went off, in hast & confusion.
Anthony Wayne, a Pennsylvania colonel, helped lead the American attack. He described the battle to Benjamin Franklin:
About 2 in the Morning we landed Nine Miles above the town, and after an Hours March day began to Appear, our Guides had mistook the road, the Enemy Discoverd and Cannonaded us from their ships. A Surprise was out of the Question. We therefore put our best face on and Continued our line of March thro’ a thick deep Swamp three Miles wide and after four Hours Arrived at a more Open piece of Ground, amidst the thickest firing of the Shipping when all of a Sudden a large Body of Regulars Marched down in good Order Immediately in front of me… I Ordered my Light Infantry together with Capt. Hay’s Company of Rifle men to Advance and amuse them whilst I was forming, they began and Continued the Attack with great Spirit until I advanced to Support when I Orderd them to wheel to the Right and left and flank the Enemy at the same time we poured in a well Aimed and heavy fire in front… They Attempted to Retreat in good Order at first but in a few Minutes broke and run in the Utmost Confusion. About this time the Other Divisions began to Immerge from the Swamp…. At this Instant we Recd. [received] a heavy fire in flank from Muskettry field pieces Howitzers &ca. &ca. which threw us into some Confusion, but was Instantly Remedied. We Advanced in Colums up to their breast Work’s which till then we had not Discovered. At this time Genl. Thompson with Cols. St. Clair Ervine and Hartly were Marching in full view to our Support, Col. Maxwell now began to Engage on the left of me, the fire was so hot he cou’d not mantain his post. The Other troops had Also fired off to the left. My Small Battalion Composed of my own and two Companis of Jersey men under Major Ray amounting in the Whole to About 200 were left exposed to the Whole fire of the Shipping in flank and full three thousand men in front with all their Artilry under the Command of Genl. Burgoine. Our people taking example by others gave way. Indeed it was Imposible for them to stand it longer.
Sources
Faden, William, and Claude Joseph Sauthier. A map of the inhabited part of Canada from the French surveys, with the frontiers of New York and New England. London, 1777. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/73695741/.
Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 5:467.
“To Benjamin Franklin from [Anthony Wayne], 13 June 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0279 [last update: 2015-03-20]). Source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 474–479.