The initial volley killed the horses and Langy’s force pounced on Rogers and his 16 recruits. Recognizing Rogers in the first sled, Langy focused his attack there. In February 1760, as Rogers was en route to Crown Point from Albany, his convoy of sleds was ambushed by Langy. Despite the fall of Quebec in September 1759, Langy, operating from Îsle aux Noir (near Montreal), continued his aggressive raids. The second encounter was even more successful. The subsequent pursuit ended with 69 Rangers dead or captured and the others narrowly escaping with their lives. On the first, he discovered whaleboats that were used by Rogers and 142 Rangers for their raid on the Abenaki village of St. He also crossed swords with Major Rogers on two more occasions. Although outnumbered almost four to one, Montcalm went on to route Major-General James Abercromby’s army.Īs the tide of the war changed, Langy remained instrumental in harassing the English forces, particularly the British Rangers who had begun burning homesteads of les habitants during the siege of Quebec City. With his death the British suffered a critical loss of leadership that doomed their attack. Langy’s men killed Brigadier Lord Howe during the skirmish. In the bloody clash that followed, both sides suffered substantial casualties. On July 7 he had a chance encounter with the British advance guard. He deployed once again to monitor the British advance. As a result, Montcalm ordered his troops to take up defensive positions. On July 4, Montcalm, demonstrating his confidence in the Canadian partisan leader, trusted Langy “to go observe the location, number, and the movements of the enemy.” Langy’s force departed and returned the following night with news that the British invasion force was en route. Then, in June, Langy captured 17 Rangers, who revealed an impending attack against the strategic Fort Ticonderoga. Although seizing many prisoners, no useful information was discovered. Throughout the spring of 1758, Langy was constantly in the field attempting to determine the English intentions.
The information Langy brought back on enemy fortifications and/or their intentions (drawn from prisoners) kept the French well informed. His forays took him deep into enemy territory, where his attacks left the British unnerved and consistently on the defensive. He was continually raiding, scouting, and gathering intelligence.
Langy became a key player on the Lake Champlain–Lake George front. During this campaign his superiors identified him as “an extraordinarily brave officer.” He began his military career on Cape Breton Island, and in 1755, as an ensign, participated in the unsuccessful defence of Fort Beauséjour.
Langy was born in 1723 and followed in the footsteps of his father and three older brothers by serving in the colonial regular troops. Jean-Baptiste Levrault de Langis Montgeron (known as “Langy” in English) was considered the ideal French-Canadian leader, who allowed New France to defy the odds as long as it did.
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