France Great Britain The Battle of La Belle-Famille occurred on July 24, 1759, during the French and Indian War along the Niagara River portage trail.

The British knew of the French approach well in advance and constructed a breastwork across the road about two miles south of Fort Niagara.

On July 20, Prideaux was killed when struck by a shell fragment thrown from one of his own guns, and Sir William took over the siege operations.

Fort Niagara had been largely constructed under the direction of Captain Pierre Pouchot of the French Army.

Before the action, the British native allies told their French counterparts that they intended to remain neutral in the upcoming clash.

[3] Lignery and Aubry, in spite of their knowledge of Indian ways, apparently advanced without taking normal precautions against ambush, and marched right into a prepared trap.

On the right flank covering the portage trail, Massey deployed about 130 men of the 46th in the La Belle Famille clearing.

Understanding that his enemies included a significant number of regulars, Massey ordered the redcoats to lie down and fix bayonets.

Johnson, who was not present, wrote an account of the action which gave equal credit to the regulars and their native allies.