Samuel Champlain was a key figure in the European conquest of North America. He visited Panama and suggested the idea of a canal. But most of his time was spent in Canada (or New France as the French called it). He established Quebec in 1608. The French established ties to Hurons, Algonquins, and other tribes. These tribes were at war with the Iroquois. There was a neutral region around Lake Champlain that saw many clashes between the two sides. Champlain decided to take sides and went on an expedition to the area with 24 canoes and 60 Huron Indians. They ran into 200 Iroquois. On July 29, 1609, when the enemy approached, the Iroquois were very confident since they outnumbered their foe. But they had not taken into account of an armored man with a thunder stick. The Hurons described Champlain as the “hurler of thunder” because of his arquebus. Here is how Champlain described what happened:
I marched on until I was within some thirty yards of the enemy, who as soon as they caught sight of me halted and gazed at me and I at them. When I saw them make a move to draw their bows upon us, I took aim with my arquebus and shot straight at one of the three chiefs, and with this shot two fell to the ground and one of their companions was wounded who died thereof a little later. I had put four bullets into my arquebus. As soon as our people saw this shot so favourable for them, they began to shout so loudly that one could not have heard it thunder, and meanwhile the arrows flew thick on both sides. The Iroquois were much astonished that two men should have been killed so quickly, although they were provided with shields made of cotton thread woven together and wood, which were proof against their arrows. This frightened them greatly. As I was reloading my arquebus, one of my companions fired a shot from within the woods, which astonished them again so much that, seeing their chiefs dead, they lost courage and took to flight…
http://nyindependencetrail.org/stories-champlains-battle.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois_War_(1609)
https://hollandsociety.org/2024/04/the-battle-of-lake-champlain-champlain-vs-the-iroquois/
1 Comment
Anonymous · July 29, 2025 at 7:29 pm
Great story! Unfortunately for the French, the Iroquois never forgot the encounter & this incident would eventually lead to roughly 160 years of enmity & warfare between the French & the Iroquois League, one of the most powerful confederations of Indians in North America. Eventually the Iroquois would gain access to firearms (thunder sticks) from the Dutch in New York & later ally themselves with the British & both would drive France out of most of North America in 1763 after a series of wars. (French & Indian Wars)