In 1969, Samuel de Champlain, French explorer of Canada, joined 
forces with Huron Indians.  The Hurons wanted to break the power 
of the Iroquois Confederacy, and Champlain wanted to strengthen 
France's position in the New World.  On June 28, 1609, Champlain, 
eleven other Frenchmen, and a war party of Hurons set out for 
Iroquois country.  On July 29, Champlain and the Hurons met the 
Iroquois in battle.  Champlain had firearms; after he had fired a shot 
from his gun, the terrified Iroquois fled.  This incident fixed the 
alliances of the Northeastern Indians toward the two major colonial 
powers, Britain and France.  The Algonquian-speaking tribes 
thereafter supported the French, while the Iroquois allied 
themselves with France's enemy and rival, Britain.  This engraving 
shown an attack on an Onondaga village by French troops and Indian 
allies in 1615.