Jean-Baptiste Hamelin [SEP] conflict
Jean-Baptiste Hamelin
Jean-Baptiste Hamelin (August 9, 1733 – September 23, 1804) was a French Canadian soldier who fought on the U.S. side of the American Revolutionary War, serving in Moses Hazen's 2nd Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army.
Hamelin participated in the battle of the Congress Own Regiment until 1779 where he was sent in the west to help George Rogers Clark in his campaigns. He was sent by Augustin de la Balme to attack Fort St. Joseph (modern-day Niles, Michigan)
of Australia (New Holland). He had two ships, and captained by Hamelin, and a suite of nine zoologists and botanists, including Jean Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour. Nicolas Baudin left Le Havre on 19 October 1800, stopped off in St. Croix, Tenerife, then sailed straight to the Ile de France arriving on 15 March 1801, 145 days later. The voyage, overlong with early rationing left sailors and scientists feeling discouraged, but the colony was happy to build up the crews in case of conflict and to