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Born in
Quebec in 1778, Salaberry enlisted at 14 in the 44th Regiment
in 1792, and two years later was commissioned in the 60th
Regiment for bravery in the West Indies. Promoted Captain-Lieutenant in
1799, he was given his company in 1803 and continued to serve with
the 60th Regiment in the West Indies,
England
and
Ireland. Returning to
Canada
in 1810 he raised and trained a corps of volunteers, Les
Voltigeurs canadiens, which he led in the War of 1812. At
Chateauguay
in 1813 Salaberry commanded a corps of 1700 Canadian militiamen
including 250 Voltigeurs which forced 3000 American troops to
retreat from the field, thus preventing a large-scale attack on Montréal
and saving
Lower Canada. The Battle of Chateauguay has had a legendary character ever
since. Salaberry died in 1829.
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