DESALABERRY, CHARLES-MICHAELD’IRUMBERRY
de Salaberry, Charles-Michael d’Irumberry
(November 19, 1775–February 27, 1829)
Canadian Militia Officer
S
alaberry raised and
commanded the fa-
mous Voltigeurs Ca-
nadiens, a light infantry
battalion recruited en-
tirely from the French-
speaking inhabitants of
Quebec. With them he
fought and won the Bat-
tle of Chateauguay against
impossible odds and
staved off an invasion of
Lower Canada.
Charles-Michael d’Irum-
berry de Salaberry was
born in Beauport, Que-
bec, on November 19,
1775, into a French-
speaking family proud of
its long tradition of mili-
tary service. Having been
dominated by England
since 1763, many young
Canadians had no reservations about offering
their services to the English monarch. Sal-
aberry did so in 1792 at the age of 14 by join-
ing the 44th Regiment of Foot as a volunteer.
Shortly after, he received an ensign’s commis-
sion in the 60th Regiment (the Royal Ameri-
cans) through the influence of a family friend,
Prince Edward Augustus (the future Duke of
Kent). In 1794, he accompanied his regiment
to the West Indies and fought with distinction
during the captures of Guadeloupe and Mar-
tinique. Salaberry rose to captain in 1803 and,
three years later, transferred to the regiment’s
fifth battalion under Col. Francis de Rotten-
burg. Rottenburg was the British army’s fore-
most authority on light infantry tactics, and
he made an indelible impression upon all his
young officers. In contrast to the rigid tac-
tics—and thinking—of regular soldiers, light
infantry officers were expected to be flexible
and imaginative in their
tactics. The experience of
learning from such an ex-
pert would hold Sal-
aberry in good stead dur-
ing the War of 1812. He
also apparently made a
good impression upon his
superior, for in 1808 Rot-
tenburg appointed him
his brigade major. The
following year Salaberry
campaigned with Rotten-
burg during the disas-
trous Walcheren Expedi-
tion and, like most of the
troops, contracted a de-
habilitating fever. In 1810,
he next accompanied
Rottenburg to Canada as
his aide-de-camp, receiv-
ing a commission as lieu-
tenant colonel of militia.
While acting in this capacity Salaberry
emerged as one of Canada’s greatest military
heroes.
In the spring of 1812, war with the United
States seemed imminent, so the legislature of
Lower Canada authorized the recruitment of
a specialized light infantry militia outfit, the
soon-to-be-famous Voltigeurs Canadiens. In
contrast to the showy display of British regu-
lars troops, resplendent in their scarlet coats,
Voltigeurswere clad in somber gray uniforms
better adapted to forest fighting. They also
wore short, conical bearskin hats and black
shoulder wings (ornaments) and unit facings
(collars and cuffs). Salaberry was appointed
their lieutenant colonel in April 1812 and took
great care in matters of training and disci-
pline. He proved a harsh taskmaster, but his
men came to respect him. Thanks to Sal-
aberry’s excellent leadership, the VoltigeursCharles-Michael d’Irumberry de Salaberry
National Archives of Canada