Capitaine d'infanterie CLAUDE-PIERRE PÉCAUDY SIEUR du Contrecoeur
A Biography
Claude-Pierre Pécaudy, Sieur du Contrecoeur was the son of Francois-Antoine Pécaudy-Pécody & Jeanne de St. Ours, born at Contrecoeur, New France, in 1706. On 10 jan. 1729 he was married to Marie-Madeleine Boucher de La Perriere (daughter of Rene Boucher de Laperriers & Francoise Mailhot) and later he married a second time to, Marguerite-Barbe Puygibault (daughter of Louis Hingue-Puygibault & Marguerite Gauthier de Varennes) (Marguerite was the window of Etienne Rocbert-Marandiere) at Montreal in 1768.
Claude-Pierre received a commission as a 2nd Ensign in Compagnies franches de la Marine in 1742 and in 1745 he was given the "seigneurie of St. Denis". In 1749 he was serving as a 2nd Lieutenant d'infanterie.
Claude-Pierre Pécaudy Sieur du Contrecoeur served as second in Command to Capitaine Pierre-Joseph Céloron, sieur de Blainville during his famous expedition of 1749,to the Ohio Country to map La Belle Riviere (the Allegheny & Ohio Rivers) and take formal possession of the Ohio Country region for the King of France. Later in 1749 Claude-Pierre was promoted to Capitaine. |
Above: French troops of Compagnies franches de la Marine assemble at Fort Niagara, in preparation for Celeron's expedition to La Belle Riviere.
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Above: The Castle at Fort Niagara, the French
stronghold that controlled all movement on the Great Lakes. It was also the staging area for the Ohio campaign. (Photo is of the French Castle at Fort Niagara, with Lynne Washlaski and Jessica Stiles in the doorway, ca.1990) |
"With a detachment composed of one Captain, eight subaltern officers, six Cadets, one Chaplain, twenty soldiers, one hundred and eighty Canadians and about thirty Indians," Captain Pierre-Joseph Céloron, sieur de Blainville, left La Chine at the head of the rapids of the St. Lawrence above Montreal, on June 15, 1749.
By July 6th he had reached Fort Niagara, and the next day men, supplies, and canoes began to move over the Niagara portage to Lake Erie, under the direction of Sieur du Contrecoeur. The expedition down La Belle Riviere, was also used to impress the Indians with French Military power. Céloron's expedition descended the Ohio River as far as the Miami River, where it turned northward, finally reaching Fort Detroit early in October of 1749. Sieur du Contrecoeur played an important part in the success of Céloron's expedition, and was a key figure in the later Ohio Country Campaigns of New France. |
Captain Contrecoeur was later appointed commandant of Fort Niagara, the French stronghold on Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Niagara River, and served there from the summer of 1752 through the winter of 1753.
Right: Capitaine & Madam Contrecoeur entertain visitors. Jim and Helen Newell protray Capitaine & Madam Contrecoeur, in their quarters in the French Castle at Fort Niagara, during a French & Indian War Event at the fort. |
With the beginning of the Ohio Country Campaign of 1754, all the men, all the supplies, all the equipment for the new forts that were to be built on the La Belle Riviere had to reach their destination by way of Fort Niagara and the Niagara portage road. As Commander of Fort Niagara it was Contrecoeur's responsibility to see that this huge movement of troops and material was carried out properly. Contrecoeur was to build many boats and pirogues for the expedition, and also to construct warehouses to protect the supplies on the way, for the 2200 men that were to transport them and construct the four forts on La Belle Riviere.
In the spring of 1754, Sieur du Contrecoeur and his Compagnies franches de la Marine troops started out from Fort Niagara for La Belle Riviere (the Ohio River).
In the spring of 1754, Sieur du Contrecoeur and his Compagnies franches de la Marine troops started out from Fort Niagara for La Belle Riviere (the Ohio River).
Where, on April 16th of 1754, with colours flying and drums beating they marched on the little fort at the forks of the Ohio. By threat of force, they captured Captain Trent's Company of Virginians and Trent's Fort (Fort Prince George), which they were building in an effort to fortify the forks of the Ohio for Virginia.
Left: A detachment of Compagnies franches de la Marine du Contrecoeur leave Fort Niagara, on their long journal, to drive the English from the French lands on La Belle Riviere (the Allegheny & Ohio Rivers). (photo ca.1990) |
Duquesne in a letter to Contrecoeur from Montreal, July 25, 1754 mentions the taking of Trent's Fort at the Forks of the Ohio. "Nothing could be better, Sir, than the pretty action which has just taken place in the upper reaches of the Riviere Mal Engueulée, since it combines courage, caution, and humaneness. As far as I am concerned, it is the finest blow that has been struck in Canada, because combats with colors flying have rarely been seen in this country, and because it is usually only by surprise that the enemy is attacked; all of which is due to the right steps you took in a circumstance where there was not a moment to lose. I am informing the Court about it on a ship that was awaiting my dispatch."
In July of 1754 while building Fort du Quesne (Present day Pittsburgh), Contrecoeur sent Coulon de Jumonville, an officer of the Compagnies franches de la Marine, with a small detachment as an ambassador to demand that Colonial GeorgeWashington and his Virginian Troops, which then were pressing towards the forks of the Ohio to support their new fort, leave French Territory. This action resulted in the infamous "Jumonville Incident." On the morning of May 28, 1754 while Coulon de Jumonville and his men were camped in a small glen on the top of Laurel Mountain, they were attacked in the early morning hours and Coulon de Jumonville assassinated by Washington and his troops. Thus in effect starting what is now called "The French & Indian War."
In July of 1754 while building Fort du Quesne (Present day Pittsburgh), Contrecoeur sent Coulon de Jumonville, an officer of the Compagnies franches de la Marine, with a small detachment as an ambassador to demand that Colonial GeorgeWashington and his Virginian Troops, which then were pressing towards the forks of the Ohio to support their new fort, leave French Territory. This action resulted in the infamous "Jumonville Incident." On the morning of May 28, 1754 while Coulon de Jumonville and his men were camped in a small glen on the top of Laurel Mountain, they were attacked in the early morning hours and Coulon de Jumonville assassinated by Washington and his troops. Thus in effect starting what is now called "The French & Indian War."
On July 4, 1754, Capitaine Contrecoeur's Marines, Militia and Indians under Louis Coulon de Villiers attacked and defeated young George Washington and his Virginia Troops at his Fort Necessity, avenging the death of his brother.
The British Virginian Provincial Army under Col. George Washington was captured and sent back to Virginia in total defeat. In the resulting war between France and England, each of the mother countries would sent regular army troops to its colonies. |
By July, 1755, Contrecoeur commanded 500 Marines or about 8 compagnies of Compagnies franches de la Marine at Fort du Quesne. The British sent General Braddock with a Force of some 2,000 men including the 44th and 48th Regiments of Foot, and Provincial Virginian Troops, against Fort du Quesne.Contrecoeur's Compagnies franches de la Marine compagnies met Braddock's Army on the bank's of the Monongahela River in a head-on incounter.
Right: The French Drummers beat a parley, to ask Washington to surrender Fort Necessity. |
(Abovet: Photo of Compagnies franches de la Marines du Contrecoeur at Fort Ligonier, ca.1996)
On July 9, 1755, elements of at least three companies of Compagnies franches de la Marine, led the destruction of General Braddock's British Force on the banks of the Monogahela. General Braddock, and a great many of his Officers and soldiers were killed. His artillery, arms and supplies were lost in this engagement and transported to Fort du Quesne. General Braddock's army was defeated by 13 officers, 20 cadets, and 72 soldiers of the colonial Compagnies franches de la Marine, along with 146 Canadian militiamen and about 600 Indians of the various nations.
After this great victory over the British Forces Capitaine Claude-Pierre Pécaudy, Sieur du Contrecoeur, now in poor health from his years of service in the wilderness of New France, retired from his post at Fort du Quesne on November 15, 1755, and started on the long journal back to Montreal to recover his health.
Capitaine Claude-Pierre Pécaudy, Sieur du Contrecoeur retired from French Military service in 1759-60 to St. Denis, Claude-Pierre died in 1775.
After this great victory over the British Forces Capitaine Claude-Pierre Pécaudy, Sieur du Contrecoeur, now in poor health from his years of service in the wilderness of New France, retired from his post at Fort du Quesne on November 15, 1755, and started on the long journal back to Montreal to recover his health.
Capitaine Claude-Pierre Pécaudy, Sieur du Contrecoeur retired from French Military service in 1759-60 to St. Denis, Claude-Pierre died in 1775.
Information compiled by Ryan P. Washlaski & Raymond A. Washlaski