Battle of Longue-Pointe

Battle of Longue-Pointe
Part of the American Revolutionary War

The Isle of Montreal in 1764. Longue Pointe is opposite Longueuil, which is on the right side of the map.
DateSeptember 25, 1775
Location
Montreal, Quebec
45°33′45″N 73°31′51″W / 45.56250°N 73.53083°W / 45.56250; -73.53083
Result British victory
Belligerents
United States United Colonies

 Great Britain

Commanders and leaders
Ethan Allen (POW) Guy Carleton
John Campbell
Strength
37 Americans
60 Canadians[1]
34 regulars
80 British militia
120 Canadian militia
20 Indian agents
A few natives[2]
Casualties and losses
6 killed
10 wounded
20 Americans, 11 Canadians surrendered
Remaining force scattered[3]
5–8 casualties[4]

The Battle of Longue-Pointe (French: Bataille de Longue-Pointe) was an attempt by Ethan Allen and a small force of American and Quebec militia to capture Montreal from British forces on September 25, 1775, early in the American Revolutionary War. Allen, who had been instructed only to raise militia forces among the local inhabitants, had long had thoughts of taking the lightly defended city. When he reached the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River with about 110 men, he seized the opportunity to try. Major John Brown, whom Allen claimed was supposed to provide additional forces, did not appear as they had planned, isolating Allen and his men on the north side of the river.

British General Guy Carleton sent a force composed mostly of Quebec militia in response to news of Allen's crossing of the St. Lawrence. This force cut off Allen's escape route, and eventually surrounded and captured Allen and a number of his men. Carleton eventually abandoned Montreal, which fell without battle to Continental Army forces on November 13. Allen was sent first to England and then New York City as a prisoner, and was eventually exchanged in 1778.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lanctot78 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Numbers from Stanley, p. 46. Lanctot, p. 78 reports 30 regulars, 30 British, 300 Canadians. Smith, p. 389 reports number similar to Lanctot, but has the number of Canadians at about 120.
  3. ^ These numbers are from Lanctot, p. 78. Smith, p. 390 reports that "the raiders" had a dozen killed, and the defenders about half that. Atherton, p. 73 claims 12 killed and "half that" wounded, with 40 surrendered. Stanley, p. 47 reports 10 wounded.
  4. ^ Atherton, p. 73 claims 6–8 "losses". Lanctot and Smith are silent on British casualties. Stanley, p. 46 reports 3 dead and two wounded.