List soldiers and officers of the regiment of Meuron, who came to

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List soldiers and officers of the regiment
of Meuron, who came to defend Lower Canada
in 1813 against the American invaders
This list is constituted of the names of the soldiers and officers
of the regiment of Meuron present in Lower Canada between 1813 and 1816
exclusively. The spelling of the surnames varies according to the
handwriting. In the case of marked differences, the different spellings
were put in parentheses. This list was composed from the pay lists and
general check lists of the regiment or books of the regiment.
The number of soldiers during the course of the three studied years
fluctuated continuously. Certain soldiers' contracts expired and were
discharged, others died. Some enlisted or arrived from England. Some
were declared sick. Some had children and departed the regiment. Some
soldiers deserted, even officers. Several nationalities are
represented: Swiss, French, Italian, German, Belgian, British,
Austrian, Spanish, Russian, Hungarian, etc. Take your pick!
Partial list;
for full list see:
http://www.colba.net/~vallee/Meuliste.html#G
Cadiely (Gadeli), Antoine; native soldier of Switzerland; concession and
descent in the district of Wickham (Lower Canada)
Lambert, Jean; soldier
Le Meunier, Pierre; soldier
Massé, Pierre; soldier of Germany
Niederer, Jean-Thomas; native soldier of Switzerland; concession and
descent in the district of Grantham (Lower Canada);
Valet, Jean; native soldier of Belgium
Vallée, Clément; native soldier of Belgium
Pour me contacter:
[email protected]
http://www.regiments.org/milhist/ch/uk/meuron.htm#titles
1
The Swiss Regiment of Meuron in North America.
Of 1813 to 1815:
In 1813, the regiment leaves for Canada May 5 on board the vessels of
His Majesty: the Melpemone, the Regulus and the Dover, with an officer,
6 captains, 20 lieutenants and ensigns, 54 sergeants, 22 drums and 1001
troop men.
It is interesting to note that they also had officially 28 women
(married) and 28 recorded children on the role of the regiment.
The officers were not all on these vessels. A report of the grouping,
dated back to May 1814, indicates even more wives and children than this
accompanied the regiment. It can himself that meuron-bayard Henri paid
for their passage, as his own passage, besides, he was named in the
grouping without his being in the register of the transportation.
It is also very possible as several of the men found "wives" for
themselves in Canada to replace the ones they had left in Europe.
C’était l’habitude current of l’époque.
Concerning the officers, there were 28 Switzerland, 11 English and 5
Germans. Among Switzerland, 9 were Neuchâtelois and 2 were part of the
family of Meuron: François Henri the Lieutenant Colonel, and Charles
Caesar Lieutenant Second Class, who would later be promoted to full
Lieutenant.
It is certain that the whole regiment does not leave for Canada at this
time. Many of the officers and men remained in Europe. Of the
«transfer letters» were sent by the officers during the following
months. Several officers and soldiers doubtless were transferred in the
Legion of the King d’Allemagne for service in the European war against
Napoléon.
The regiment d’Amérique was in garrison at Montréal and Chambly for the
defense of Lower Canada. L’état officer of Quebec doubtless was very
satisfied to have received a regiment of the first line to support the
Canadian militia who were in dire straits. Due to the priorities of war
on the European Peninsula, there was in fact very few uniformed troops
armed in North America.
1813 and 1814:
The New York countries and Plattsburg:
Upon arriving in Canada, the regiment was welcomed by several of the
Switzerland that already had fought under order of the American Royal
Regiment of Great Britain.
The reputation of the Swiss was not unknown nor unrepresented on the
military rolls on this side of the Atlantic. These additional officers,
among the french-speaking ones, had more advantages as Protestants than
the big majority of Meuron that was Catholic.
Jacques Prevost (of Geneva), Henri Bouquiet (of Rolle) and Frederick
Holdimand (of Yverdon) had helped in the defense of Canada. These three
swiss officers had acted as instructors to the untested Canadian militia
2
in fighting principles. The captain C. Clais (of Fools), Swiss other,
inaugurated the liaisons between the Army and the Great British Navy.
The Canadians (Quebec aujourd’hui) refused to join in the war of
indépendance in America and rejected outright the principles of the
French Revolution. Remaining attached to the principles of the 18th
century, they demonstrated their loyalty to the British crown. The
people of Lower Canada gave up their right of freedom to the Dominion
during the war of 1812.
As early as the beginning of the hostilities, Canada was divided in
three military regions under the orders of the General Lieutenant Sir
George Prevost: Upper Canada, around the lake Ontario; Central Canada;
and Lower Canada, the province of Quebec. Prevost was Governor of
Canada and Officer Commander, even though his military competence was
not that of his father.
The regiment of Meuron was assigned to defend the valley of the river
Richelieu that flows from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence River.
There were several forts, constructed by the Canadians, alongside the
Richelieu.
One rediscovered William Henry at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence, the
forts of Chambly, St Jean, and l’Île to the Noix were located on the
ground in the center of the river.
The Americans had to have control of the valley, key to attain Lower
Canada. At the same time, a supremacy on the lakes and the rivers - the
only communication lines - was required for victory in the war in the
east. This territory already had been land of the battles of the Canada
against its enemies of the south: first the Iroquois, then the English
to the period of Montcalm, the Americans in the War of Indépendance and,
again, Americans in the War 1812.
Québec City was well fortified, but the Canadians had to protect
Montréal, capital of commerce. The security of Montréal depended on
maintenance of an impenetrable line between Chambly and Laprairie on the
Saint Lawrence, all while also being able to have access to the
important American shipping on Lake Champlain.
Reinforced by the troops of the English Canadian militia, the regiment
of Meuron defended this line. The headquarters and the Major General of
the regiment were located at the fort of Chambly. There was also strong
concentrations of military from St Jean (again aujourd’hui occupied by
the Canadian forces), through the Laprairie passage.
The Americans already had twice attacked The Glue (Fort Colleur?), to
break the Canadian defenses. In the second attack, in October 1813,
they had been undone by a inferior militia in number supported by only
two companies of uniform British troops.
Despite their superiority, their invasion had been pushed back to The
Glue (Fort Colleur?), to the fort of l’Île to the Noix, and to
Chateauguay. The Canadians ordered by the colonel Salaberry, numbering
only 500, to hold the line against a brigade of uniform American troops.
The Americans themselves retired to their headquarters at Plattsburg, on
Lake Champlain, which was their principal naval base. Their problem had
become not the conquest of Lower Canada; but, the defense of the whole
north of the United States.
3
Just as the valley of the river Richelieu was the key for Lower Canada,
it was also the entry-way to New York and the remainder of New England.
The Canadian militia had become a professional and competent armed
force. If the Americans had lost Plattsburg, they would have lost the
war. Despite the incompetence of the British commander George Prevost,
this was almost what happened.
The regiment of Meuron passed to the offensive in the spring of 1814.
During the winter 1813-14, the men of Meuron returned to Montréal.
Leaving on the spot a minimum of garrison, the troops enjoyed the
pleasures of the biggest city of Canada.
After twenty years in the tropics and in the Mediterranean, the regiment
passed Christmas in a land not very different from their home. December
23, 7 musicians of the regiment played at Our Lady of Montréal. They
received 3 Louis and 10 shillings for their work. Several of the hard
veterans began to enjoy Canada.
The rest of the soldiers' winter was interrupted by an urgent alarm.
The regiment undertook a forced march on frozen St Lawrence. The men
had to make their way under a cold piercing wind. When they reached
Chambly, they learned that the Americans were again advancing towards
the north.
Fortunately for them, the Americans were embarrassed by the same type of
incompetence that the Britisher had known. The general of the American
Forces hesitated and lost the advantage of the momentum of its troops.
He was afraid of repeating the same error as at the second battle of The
Glue (?) the preceeding October.
The country was a party of maneuvers: march and counter-march from one
town to another, each tried to win his advantage over the other. But,
this was the type of country Meuron knew, the preferred strategy of his
former commander Arthur Wellesley, then Duke of Wellington. All this
was nevertheless monotonous and tiring for the Canadians.
Prevost became impatient and felt probably his lack of progress in this
European style of warfare. Some of his soldiers were not of much use
and maybe he feared loss his army and reputation.
During the month of July, the Americans were consolidating their
positions on Niagara and around Lake Érié. The time had come for the
Canadians to attack Lake Champlain.
Prevost had access to 30 000 men in Upper and Lower Canada. This time
the Americans would have been surpassed in number and it was time for
the British Canadians to pass to the offensive. A maritime expedition
was prepared in August for Washington, preventing the American soldiers
to the south of the New England from defending the capital.
Prevost, with an army of 11 000 men between August 31 and the first days
of September, marched in two parallel roads alongside the river to west
of Lake Champlain. The first column was under the command of the
general officer Power and of Rottenburg while the other was under the
general officer Brisbane. This last one was formed by the regiment of
Meuron and by the regiment of the Quebec, second Infantrymen brigade of
the officer of the brigades G. Campbell.
4
September 4, the army reached the town of Chazy. From this place the
ways were covered with cut down trees while the bridges were destroyed
by the Americans in retreat. While there, they were often attacked by
the American light infantry.
September 6, the two columns approached Plattsburg. The first column
attacked the town follow by little by the other. Facing the
overwhelming number of Canadian troops, the 330 Americans, that had
suffered under General Alexander Macomb's volunteers and the Canadian
militia, refused to fight. They destroyed the bridge Saranac that
divides the town in the middle and withdrew themselves into the citadel
of Plattsburg. In reality, this citadel consisted of three little
islands of protected houses by strong places: Moreau, Scott and Brown.
The Canadian army surrounded Plattsburg: Power and Rottenburg with
their hunters to the northwest and Prevost to the center. When the
column of Brisbane arrived to the left, Plattsburg had only one avenue
of escape, the bay of Cumberland. Four American ships and ten
canonnières (gunboats) was all that opposed the British.
(Réf.[link was out-of-order]) « The regiment of Meuron does not follow
the way taken by the foot soldiers, they went to the left, expecting the
cannon of Plattsburg in that direction to fire on the foot road along
the shore of Lake Ontario (in reality, the Lake Champlain), which was
occupied by the American fleet. The regiment of Meuron meanwhile
received gun-fire from the American fleet, goal non-hit, goal two shots
of cannon left the strong of Plattsburg, to send two balls that ricochet
upon the column without touching any personal; than all the regiment
without command one to the right for themselves to repay into the forest
to one not at all one the town;... » Charles of Goumoens, Lieutenant,
HM Regiment of Meuron. [This was written in Swiss and translated
(poorly) by computer]
Five battalions of the officer Wauchope participated in the attack on
the lower part of the town.
(Réf. [link was out-of-order]) « The town of Plattsburg, be divided in
two parts by a brook; one wooden bridge connects these two parts; the
regiment located in the part of the town which we have the bridge of
wood hectares been destroyed,... » Charles of Goumoens, Lieutenant, HM
Regiment of Meuron
In his report to the Minister of the War, the American general Macomb
mentioned light infantry of Meuron that had given him a hard fight,
drawing fire from it without stop from the windows and balconies, trying
continually to occupy the bridge.
In despair, Macomb had ordered, during the shooting, to burn the houses,
hoping to oblige Meuron to withdraw. It failed.
The anglo-canadiennes troops prepared themselves for a combined attack.
Prevost order the British ships to the attack. Without wind of the
north, the royal navy found itself very disadvantaged. Since four days
the men of Meuron had taken enemy fire enemy from the citadel. All came
from companies of the flank that awaited to launch the land assault.
In the morning of September 11, finally, a frigate, three smaller boats
and a dozen of canonnières (gunboats) of the royal navy began to
5
penetrate Cumberland Bay. This was a disaster. The commander of the
royal navy, Downie, was killed during the first minutes of the attack.
The English ships, with little wind, had to maneuver in a narrow,
incapable entry to direct its canons without entering in the harbor.
The American boats were moored in a protected half moon stance, all
their cannons directed on the entrance of the bay. The royal navy tried
in vain during more than two hours and half to penetrate the harbor.
(Réf. [link was out-of-order]) «Sunday 12 September arrives the English
fleet coming to attack the American fleet, they form a half moon
line to wait... After a two hour combat, the English fleet fell back and
lowered their colors, it is scattered. This action passes before the
eyes of the Regiment De Meuron that will mount the frontal assault
pending the [victorious] naval combat, ... » Charles de Goumoens,
Lieutenant, HM Regiment de Meuron.
Meuron-bayard, sees that to his advantage all the canons of the American
forts are directed towards the harbor, wanted to order his regiment to
advance. Prevost, hesitated, kept the regiment in reserve. He wanted
the navy to penetrate into in the harbor. It was evident, even for a
young officer as Charles of Goumoens, that this would be a fatal error.
Prevost finally, but too late, was ordered to break the defenses of the
American citadel. The ships destroyed, the canons of the fortress
returned their fire against the assailants. Now unable to take the lake
Champlain. Prevost had lacked timely energie and decision d’esprit. By
limiting his experienced swiss officers, he had lost the country.
Fearing a rumor of American reinforcements, Prevost changed his orders
while beginning a costly retreat that commenced in the night of the 11th
and 12th of September. The American canons were directed towards the
troops holding parts of the town and surrounding neighborhoods. This
was the position held by the regiment of Meuron. The 12th and 13th, the
artillery was withdrawn. Without the fire of the battery, the regiment
of Meuron were able to hold. The remainder of the anglo-canadienne army
retreated, abandoning big quantities of munitions and articles, as well
as the wounded. During the night of the 13th and 14th, the last British
unit, the men of the regiment of Meuron of His Majesty, were the only
ones holding the city of Plattsburg.
(Réf. [link was out-of-order]) «Pending the night (of 13th and 14th), we
withdrew and our Regiment rests at last by covering the retreat... »
Charles of Goumoens, Lieutenant, Regiment of Meuron
Covered by the light company of the captain Frederic Matthey, brother of
the killed lieutenant to Deringapatam, and by the remainder of the other
companies of the regiment of Meuron, Great Britain quit the field. One
says that Matthey had defended the city to allow the army to withdraw
itself, and that he had received an order to order the difficult
operations to protect the rear keep during the retreat.
Under a terrible rain, the soaked army retreated along the muddy road
that they had taken so easily the preceding week. The biggest party of
the army was tired and discouraged. Also, the American ships, now free
of the royal navy, lay for them and bombarded the Canadians on their
road of retreat: 22 men of the regiment were thus lost.
Finally, outside the American zone, the exhausted soldiers collapsed and
did not rise even when General Prevost passed in front of them. Some
Canadians began mocking him and even booing. Only the regiment of
6
Meuron was the exception. Dressed to the ordre of the day, in assembly,
their conduct and behavior was without reproach: the men held themselves
up and presented themselves. The colors of the regiment, under the
order of his majesté George III, received the honneur of this country.
their standard was engraved: « 7-14 Septembers 1814 to Plattsburg,
covering the retirement of English Army ». It was the only British
regiment to receive this battle honor.
The country of Plattsburg stopped the British advance toward New York.
Prevost never attacked and this was the last major battle of the country
of the east. This was the single most important event in the war 1812
that led to the end of his career.
Sir George Prevost received harsh criticism for not showing enough
strength during the course of the country, particularly to have ordered
an accelerated retirement. This was his end.
The war ended in North America, but not before the Britisher and the
Americans fought again, in the delta of the Mississippi. Peace had been
signed at Ghent December 24 1814. The battle of New Orleans took place
the first day of the year, 1815.
At the end of the war between the United States and Angleterre, Canada
survived, the important consequence: to confirm itself of its desire not
to be integrated into the United States.
With peace coming to Canada in the middle of February 1815, the regiment
returned to its old garrisons at St Jean, Chambly and Montréal. Some
men also were sent to the region of Burtonville.
The British Army was reduced and the Meuron regiment did not receive
more orders. It had to be disbanded. Offers were made to the officers
and to their men of becoming established as a settlers to Canada.
The regiment already had received, January 9 1814, the offer to enlist
in the Canadian militia.
(Réf. [link was out-of-order]) « We must thank you Lieutenant Colonel
Meuron-bayard, for your assistance and good wishes we bestow to the noncommissioned officers of his regiment, for presiding over your
instructions,...» P. of Boucherville Lieutenant Colonel
Finally, May 11 1816, the orders of débarquement (« debarkation »)
regiment were received.
(Réf. [link was out-of-order]) «The officers, non-commissioned officers
and soldiers that desire can settle in Canada,...»
343 officers, officers without being able and soldiers, accepted the
offer to settle in Canada, at the heart of the « Colony of the Curtain
to St Thomas ». Those not returning to Switzerland were guaranteed a
plot of land: 1200 arpents for the lieutenant colonel, 1000 for an
officer, 600 for a captain, 200 for a sergeant and 100 for a soldier,
with recognition of two months in salary.
To the 343 discharged soldiers, 79 spouses and almost 30 children were
added to the picture of the regiment, probably brought from Europe to
rejoin their husbands in Canada.
7
The others, 27 officers, 37 sergeants, 32 corporals, 7 drums and 232
soldiers according to the official lists, quit Quebec July 31 1816,
aboard the naval vessel on duty, Alexia. They arrived at Spithead
September 9, then to Harwich the 15th following.
The regiment of Meuron of Its Majestés was dissolved September 24 1816,
under presence of the Lieutenant Colonel F.H. of Meuron-bayard,
lieutenant Chs. -C. of Meuron, and other officers.
The disabled persons were transferred to the Royal Hôspital of Chelsea
and the east while the regiment was driven to Lymington where the men
embarked for Europe. The officers received two months' pay. The
disabled officers and soldiers received a free passage and 28 shillings,
their uniforms, and gear.
The documents indicate that the officers of the regiment that elected
retirement, receiving half pay, were to the number of 38 in 1817, 32 in
1830, 11 in 1840 and 7 in 1850. The last one recorded was the captain
HAS. Dardel that received his half pay to his death, in 1863, 82 years
after the birth of the regiment of Henri of Meuron.

List soldiers and officers of the regiment of Meuron, who came to

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