Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes
Encyclopedia
Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes (died 8 May 1688), a captain in the French army arrived at Quebec in August 1685 with reinforcements for the colony. On 20 March 1686, with a party of twenty Troupes de la Marine
(colonial regulars) and sixty Canadien militiamen (selected for their canoeing
skills) out of Montreal
, he led a 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 (Hudson Bay expedition (1686)
) made audacious use of canoes for transportation in voyageur
style, following the Ottawa River
north, portaging
by way of Lake Timiskaming
and Lake Abitibi
(on the Abitibi River
). The assault caught the British entirely by surprise and captured Moose Fort
with ease on 20 June. On 3 July, de Troyes took Rupert House
along with HMS Craven, which he used to descend on Fort Albany
, which fell 26 July.
Leaving Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
in charge of the captured forts, de Troyes returned to Quebec.
In June 1687, de Troyes commanded a company 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 troops in his garrison, due to scurvy
.
Troupes de la marine
See also Troupes de Marine for later history of same Corps.The Troupes de la Marine , also known as independent companies of the navy and colonial regulars, were under the authority of the French Minister of Marine, who was also responsible for the French navy, overseas trade, and French...
(colonial regulars) and sixty Canadien militiamen (selected for their canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
skills) out of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, he led a mission to chase the English from James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
(then known as the bottom of Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
). 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 (Hudson Bay expedition (1686)
Hudson Bay expedition (1686)
The Hudson Bay expedition of 1686 was one of the Anglo-French conflicts on Hudson Bay. It was the first several expeditions sent from New France against the trading outposts of the Hudson's Bay Company in the southern reaches of Hudson Bay...
) made audacious use of canoes for transportation in voyageur
Voyageurs
The Voyageurs were the persons who engaged in the transportation of furs by canoe during the fur trade era. Voyageur is a French word which literally translates to "traveler"...
style, following the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
north, portaging
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
by way of Lake Timiskaming
Lake Timiskaming
Lake Timiskaming is a large freshwater lake on the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The lake, which forms part of the Ottawa River, is in length and covers an area of almost . Its water level ranges between and above sea-level, with a mean annual average of . The lake is...
and Lake Abitibi
Lake Abitibi
Lake Abitibi is a lake in northeastern Ontario and western Quebec, Canada. The lake is separated in two distinct portions by a short narrows, making it actually 2 lakes. Its total area is 931 km², and net area 903 km². The lake is shallow and studded with islands...
(on the Abitibi River
Abitibi River
The Abitibi River is a river in northeastern Ontario, Canada, which flows northwest from Lake Abitibi to join the Moose River which empties into James Bay. This river is long.The river was an important fur trading route for the Hudson's Bay Company...
). The assault caught the British entirely by surprise and captured Moose Fort
Moose Factory, Ontario
Moose Factory is a community in the Cochrane District, Ontario, Canada. It is on Moose Factory Island, near the mouth of the Moose River, which is at the southern end of James Bay. It was the first English-speaking settlement in Ontario and the second Hudson's Bay Company post to be set up in North...
with ease on 20 June. On 3 July, de Troyes took Rupert House
Waskaganish, Quebec
Waskaganish is a Cree village of about 2000 people at the mouth of the Rupert River on the south-east shore of James Bay in the Eeyou Istchee territory in Northern Quebec, Canada...
along with HMS Craven, which he used to descend on Fort Albany
Fort Albany, Ontario
Fort Albany First Nation is a community in within the Cochrane District of Northern Ontario, Canada. Situated on the southern shore of the Albany River, Fort Albany First Nation is only accessible by air or by winter road....
, which fell 26 July.
Leaving Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1702 (probable)was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of...
in charge of the captured forts, de Troyes returned to Quebec.
In June 1687, de Troyes commanded a company under Governor Denonville
Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville
Jacques-Rene de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville was Governor General of New France from 1685 to 1689 and was a key figure in the Beaver Wars....
for his famous attack against the Seneca
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
. De Troyes' brilliant military career was cut short by his death the following year. When Denonville created Fort Denonville
Fort Denonville
Fort Denonville, built in 1687 at the current site of Fort Niagara, and replaced Fort Conti on the mouth of the Niagara River and the shore of Lake Ontario. In the summer of 1687 the Governor of New France, Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville, was on a military expedition...
(now Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
) in his own honor, de Troyes was left in charge. He died during the winter of 1687-1688, along with most of the troops in his garrison, due to scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
.