1609
Sunday, June
18, 1609
Champlain left Quebec on board a pinnace accompanied by a small party
of followers, and ascended the St. Lawrence as far as the mouth of the
Richelieu, passed up that stream to the food of the rapids near Chambly.
During the winter he had learned from some Indians who had visited his
encampment, that they intended an inroad into the country of their enemy in the
course of the approaching summer and he had determined to accompany them, and by
that means, not only explore a river and large lake through which the war party
would pass, but by his powerful assistance strengthen the friendship which then
existed between French and the neighboring Indians. At Chambly a war party
of sixty Algonquians and Hurons joined him, and commenced preparations for the
incursion. Palmer's History
Saturday, July 1, 1609
On the first we reached St.
Croix, 15 leagues from Quebec, with a shallop equipped with all I needed. -Samuel
Champlain.
Brouage, abt. 1567-Quebec, Dec. 25, 1635.
Sunday, July 2, 1609
I left these rapids of the
Iroquois River. All the savages began to carry their canoes, arms and baggage by land
about half a league, in order to get by the swiftness and force of the rapids.-Then they
put them all in the water.-Champlain.
Monday, July 3, 1609
I left these rapids of the
Iroquois River. All the savages began to carry their canoes, arms and baggage by land
about half a league, in order to get by the swiftness and force of the rapids.-Then they
put them all in the water.-Champlain.
Tuesday, July 4, 1609
The next day we entered the lake, which is of great extent, perhaps 50 or 60
leagues long. There I saw four beautiful islands (Isle La Motte, Long
Island, Grand Isle, and Valcour) which formerly had been inhabited by savages.--Champl
The lake is calm, the sun is low,
The whippoorwill is chaunting slow.
**************
But hark! approaching paddles break
The stillness of that azure lake!
--Margaret Miller Davidson
Saturday, July 29, 1609
When evening came we embarked in our canoes to continue on our way; and, as we
were going along very quietly, and without making any noise-we med the Iroquois
at ten o'clock at night at the end of a cape that projects into the lake on the
west side and they were coming to war. Champlain
Sunday, July 30, 1609
Champlain's battle with the Iroquois took place in which several of the
savages were killed and ten or twelve taken prisoners. Thus was the first
blood shed by white me in the valley.
"This place, where this charge was made, is in latitude 43 degrees and some minutes, and I named the Lake, Lake Champlain."--Champlain
