Battle of Pointe-aux-Trembles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Pointe-aux-Trembles(Part of the Siege of Quebec) |
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| Part of Seven Years' War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Great Britain |
 France |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Robert Swanton |
Jean Vauquelin (POW) |
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| Strength | |||||||
| Ship of the line 2 frigates |
2 frigates 2 schooners 2 armed ships |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 frigate damaged (later wrecked) | All sunk, captured or burnt | ||||||
The Battle of Pointe-aux-Trembles was a sea and land battle. It happened on May 16, 1760, during the French and Indian War. The fight took place on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, near what is now Neuville.
This battle was part of the French siege of Quebec City. A British Royal Navy fleet sailed up the Saint Lawrence River. They managed to destroy the French ships led by Jean Vauquelin. These French ships were helping with the siege. The British win made the French, led by Chevalier de Lévis, stop their attack on Quebec City. They had to give up trying to take it back.
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Why Did the Battle of Pointe-aux-Trembles Happen?
After the British captured Quebec City in 1759, the French army moved west. They set up camp near the Jacques-Cartier River. Winter ice had forced the British Royal Navy to leave the Saint Lawrence River.
The Chevalier de Lévis took over as the French commander. He marched his 7,000 soldiers to Quebec and began to surround the city. The British commander, James Murray, had a very hard winter. Scurvy, a disease caused by lack of vitamin C, had made his army much smaller. Only 4,000 soldiers were left.
The French Attack on Quebec City
On April 28, 1760, Lévis's forces fought the British at the Battle of Sainte-Foy. This battle happened just west of Quebec City. The French won, but the British were able to get back inside the city walls.
The British had also made their forts stronger. The French did not have enough heavy cannons or ammunition. This meant they could not take the city quickly. Lévis started a siege. However, the French army needed a new fleet to arrive with fresh troops and supplies. The British also wanted their own ships to reach the Saint Lawrence River first. They hoped to get supplies and soldiers before France could send theirs.
British Ships Arrive
On May 9, a ship arrived near Pointe-Lévis. The French shouted "Vive le roi!" (Long live the king!) because they thought it was one of their own ships. The British were worried it was a French ship.
But the ship was actually HMS Lowestoffe. It was part of a British fleet led by Lord Colville. His ships were waiting outside the Saint Lawrence River. They were ready to sail in. A 21-gun salute and the raising of the Union flag turned British fear into sudden happiness.
Lévis and the French army were very upset. They knew they had to bombard Quebec quickly before more British ships arrived. The French fired many cannons at the city walls, causing some damage. But not many people were hurt. This was mostly Lévis showing his frustration. Lord Colville's ships soon sailed up the Saint Lawrence. James Cook had mapped the river the year before, which made it easier.
What Happened During the Battle?
On the night of May 15, Lévis learned that two British ships were between Île d'Orléans and Pointe-Lévis. This was bad news for him. He quickly ordered his French supply ships to leave. He also told his two frigates to be ready to retreat. But bad weather delayed his orders.
On May 16, at dawn, Commodore Robert Swanton gave orders. He told HMS Diana and Lowestoffe, and then HMS Vanguard, to sail past Quebec City. Their mission was to attack the French ships further up the river.
French Ships Try to Escape
At 5:00 AM, the six French ships started to sail. These included two frigates, two smaller armed ships, and two schooners. Captain Jean Vauquelin commanded them. When the British ships appeared, the French ships quickly cut their anchor ropes.
In the confusion, the French frigate Pomone sailed too close to shore and got stuck. The two British frigates sailed past, firing at her. But they did not stop. Instead, they chased Atalante. Atalante joined the French transport ships at Cap-Rouge.
The commander of Atalante saw that the British frigates were catching up to the French supply ships. He ordered the supply ships to run aground (beach themselves). This way, Lévis could try to save the food and supplies they carried. Atalante then sailed further upstream. But it was also forced to run aground at Neuville, which was then called Pointe-aux-Trembles.
A Brave Fight
Captain Vauquelin managed to turn Atalante so its side faced the enemy. He nailed his ship's flag to the mast, showing he would not surrender. He then fought the two British frigates that had chased him. Vauquelin was known for his bravery, and he proved it again. He fought his ship for two hours until he ran out of ammunition.
He still refused to lower his flag. He was only captured when his ship was burning and had lost its mast. The British treated him with great respect. Meanwhile, Vanguard did not sail as far as the other British ships. It returned to Anse-au-Foulon. As it did, it fired grapeshot (small iron balls) into the French trenches. This forced the French soldiers to leave their positions. Vanguard then sailed back to Quebec, gathering the beached French ships, taking prisoners, and seizing their supplies. After the battle, the two British frigates stayed at Neuville.
What Happened After the Battle?
The destruction of the French ships was a huge blow to Lévis's hopes. He lost all his food and ammunition. Lévis decided to wait until night before leaving. He then quickly ended the siege. He left behind all his siege equipment and his sick and wounded soldiers. He also ordered his artillery to be thrown down a cliff near Anse-au-Foulon. He told his troops to share any remaining food.
At 10:00 PM, the French army marched away. Deserters from Lévis's camp told Murray that the French were retreating. All the British cannons then fired into the darkness. Cannonballs rolled across the Plains of Abraham, chasing the retreating French army.
More British ships arrived on May 18 when Lord Colville's fleet joined them. A few days later, Lowestoffe ran aground because of strong currents. The damage it took in the battle made it a wreck.
Earlier, at the Battle of Quiberon Bay off the coast of France, the Royal Navy had destroyed the main French fleet. This meant France could not send many more soldiers or supplies to help New France. A small French relief fleet, led by François-Chenard Giraudais, did manage to get past the British blockade. But he did not try to sail up the Saint Lawrence River when he learned the British were already there. Giraudais was later defeated in the Chaleur Bay at the Battle of Restigouche.
With Quebec City now safe, it became a base for the British to conquer the rest of French Canada. Montreal was the last major French stronghold. Lévis's forces had retreated there. On September 8, 1760, British forces led by Jeffery Amherst approached Montreal. Governor Marquis de Vaudreuil ordered Lévis to surrender the city, which he soon did.
