Adam Dollard des Ormeaux

Dollard Des Ormeaux, Adam
Adam Dollard Des Ormeaux, soldier (b in France 1635; d at Long Sault May 1660). In late April 1660, 17 Frenchmen with Dollard in command left Montréal to ambush Iroquois hunters returning by the Ottawa River. They were joined by 44 Hurons and Algonquins. At the foot of the Long Sault rapids (near present day Carillon, Que), they were soon discovered by the advance guard of 200-300 Iroquois. The allies took refuge in a derelict enclosure, where they were besieged for a week while the Iroquois summoned reinforcements. The Hurons deserted, water failed and when a gunpowder keg exploded within the palisade, the defenders were overwhelmed. Nine survived to be ritually tortured and eaten.

Nineteenth-century historians converted the battle into a religious and nationalistic epic in which zealous Roman Catholics deliberately sacrificed themselves to fend off an attack on New France. Revenge, trophies and captives were the traditional goals of Iroquoian warfare and the Iroquois probably returned home well satisfied.

Author PETER N. MOOGK