Battle of Saint-Pierre

Detail from a 1780 map. Saint-Pierre, labelled St. Peter, is on the South River.

Date	March 25, 1776
Location	near Saint-Pierre, Quebec Coordinates: 46°55′12″N 70°37′46″W / 46.92°N 70.6294°W / 46.92; -70.6294
Result	Colonial sympathizer Victory

Belligerents

Canadian sympathizers

United Colonies

Province of Quebec

Commanders and leaders

John Dubois
Clément Gosselin

Michel Blais
Ignace Aubert de Gaspé
Seigneur Couillard

Strength

150 Canadian militia
80 Americans

46 Canadian militia

Casualties and losses

6 killed
unknown wounded

3-6 killed
10 wounded
21-38 prisoners

The Battle of Saint-Pierre was a military confrontation on March 25, 1776, near the Quebec village of Saint-Pierre, south of Quebec City. This confrontation, which occurred during the Continental Army's siege of Quebec following its defeat at the Battle of Quebec, was between forces that were both largely composed of Canadian militia, including individuals on both sides of the conflict that had been recruited in the same communities. The Patriot forces routed the Loyalist forces, killing at least 3 and capturing more than 30.

Early in the American Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress had invited the citizens of the Province of Quebec to join them, first by addressing letters to them, and then by invading the province with the goal of ousting the British government of General Guy Carleton. The invasion reached a peak on December 31, 1775, when the Continental Army, under the command of General Richard Montgomery, was defeated before the gates of the city of Quebec. The battle resulted in the death of Montgomery and the capture of over 400 men.

Following the defeat, the remnants of the Army, now under the command of General Benedict Arnold, besieged the city. During this time, they worked to recruit French-speaking Canadians to support their efforts toward independence, while Carleton and the British worked to build Loyalist support among the Canadiens.

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