Battle of Trois-Rivières

Battle of Trois-Rivières
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Detail of a 1759 map showing Trois-Rivières and Sorel.
Date June 8, 1776 Location Trois-Rivières, Quebec 46°21′N 72°33′W / 46.350°N 72.550°W / 46.350; -72.550Coordinates: 46°21′N 72°33′W / 46.350°N 72.550°W / 46.350; -72.550 Result British victory
Belligerents
Thirteen Colonies 1st Canadian Regiment	Great Britain Province of Quebec
Commanders and leaders
William Thompson (POW) Arthur St. Clair	Sir Guy Carleton Simon Fraser
Strength
2,000	1,000+
Casualties and losses
30–50 killed c.30 wounded 236 captured	8 dead, 9 wounded
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Battle of Trois-Rivières National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1920

8 dead,
9 wounded

The Battle of Trois-Rivières (Three Rivers in English) was fought on June 8, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. A British army under Quebec Governor Guy Carleton defeated an attempt by units from the Continental Army under the command of Brigadier General William Thompson to stop a British advance up the Saint Lawrence River valley. The battle occurred as a part of the American colonists' invasion of Quebec, which had begun in September 1775 with the goal of removing the province from British rule.

The crossing of the Saint Lawrence by the American troops was observed by Quebec militia, who alerted British troops at Trois-Rivières. A local farmer led the Americans into a swamp, enabling the British to land additional forces in the village, and to establish positions behind the American army. After a brief exchange between an established British line and American troops emerging from the swamp, the Americans broke into a somewhat disorganized retreat. As some avenues of retreat were cut off, the British took a sizable number of prisoners, including General Thompson and much of his staff.

This was the last major battle fought on Quebec soil. Following the defeat, the remainder of the American forces, under the command of John Sullivan, retreated, first to Fort Saint-Jean, and then to Fort Ticonderoga.

The Continental Army, which had invaded Quebec in September 1775, suffered a severe blow in the disastrous attack on Quebec City on New Year's Eve in 1775. Following that loss, Benedict Arnold and the remnants of the army besieged Quebec until May 1776.

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