06/06/2026
There will be a flag raising ceremony today (Saturday) at 11am at the Point au Fer Historic Site (despite the rain). The ceremony is sponsored by the Town of Champlain America 250 committee.
On this day, June 6, in 1760, Rogers' Rangers engaged a French force at Point au Fer. The battle occurred on the south shore where the road passes through the swamp near the campground. After a battle of several hours the French retreated north into Quebec. The battle ended when a fierce rainstorm (just like today) started and both sides were unable to fire their muskets. The British later took Montreal and gained control of Quebec. The war ended in 1763.
In 1774, the British army built a garrison at today's Scales Point on Point au Fer. In 1775 and 1776, Continental Army troops occupied Point au Fer during their campaign into Quebec. American general Sullivan fortified the garrison and built a 12ft high wooden stockade and moat. The moat is now the gully and tree line at the corner of Scales Road and Point au Fer Road. The white limestone garrison was known as the "White House."
While the Continental Army occupied Quebec, they enlisted a small number of citizens to help fight the British. In mid-1776, the soldiers and their families traveled back to New York State when the army was forced out of Quebec. Some of these soldiers would become the Canadian and Nova Scotia refugees ten years later.
Many notable people in American history would have passed by or been present at Point au Fer. Benjamin Franklin likely stopped here on his short visit to Montreal in April and May of 1776 when he tried to persuade citizens in Montreal to fight for the Americans. Charles Carroll, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was here with Franklin. His cousin John Carroll was also present. He was the first Catholic bishop in the U.S. Many famous British generals were also at Point au Fer.
The American forces lost control of Point au Fer after the Battle of Valcour on October 11, 1776. In June of 1777, British general John Burgoyne camped with half of his army at Point au Fer on this way to Saratoga. This is often overlooked in the history books. His troops also camped on Isle la Motte and Cumberland Head. His army was defeated in October.
After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, the British claimed that Point au Fer and land south to Chazy was part of their territory. They occupied the Point until the Jay Treaty (signed in 1794) went into effect in 1796, 23 years after the war ended. Despite the British occupation, New York State awarded land to former soldiers in the Town of Champlain starting in 1785, including to Pliny Moore who received 11,600 acres for his fellow soldiers. This was land earned for their military service during the war. The land of Point au Fer was excluded from balloting in 1787. Additional land in the Town of Champlain, as well as in the towns of Mooers, Beekmantown, Chazy and other areas, was allocated to the Canadian and Nova Scotia refugee soldiers. This includes present day Rouses Point.
In 1805, Point au Fer was finally surveyed by Champlain settler William Beaumont (uncle of the famous future doctor of the same name who lived and taught school in Champlain Village, c1807) and the lots were sold starting in 1809.
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