CHAPTER V.

War between France and England and their Colonies-Preparation for an Attack upon Louisbourg-The AttackSurrender D'Anville's Expedition-Abortive Attempt upon Nova Scotia-Upon Crown Point-Peace-Paper Money in Massachusetts-Discovery of Louisiana and Foundation of New Orleans-Situation of the English and French Colonies-Origin of the Rupture between themColonel Washington's Embassy-Project of Union-Plan of the first Campaign-Capture of Nova Scotia-General Braddock's Defeat-Expedition against Crown Point-That against Niagara-Second Campaign-Capture of Oswego -Third Campaign-Disputes between Lord Loudoun and Massachusetts-Fourth Campaign-Second Capture of Louisbourg-Unsuccessful attack upon Ticonderoga-Capture of Fort Frontignac-Of Du Quesne-Fifth Campaign -Capture of Quebec-Death of Wolfe-Attempt to retake Quebec-Surrender of New France-General Peace.

WHILE France and England were engaged in actual war, under the pretence of supporting respectively the queen of Hungary and the elector of Bavaria, the colonies of the two nations preserved a sort of hostile peace; but, as soon as the news reached Cape Breton, that the controversy had become open and avowed in Europe, Duvivier attacked and took the English fishing settlement at Canseau; and, soon after, made a similar, though unsuccessful, attempt, upon Annapolis. Governor Shirley immediately formed the design of

taking Cape Breton. It was well situated for annoying the English fisheries; and thirty millions of francs employed upon its fortifications, had made it the 'Dunkirk of America.' The governor requested the secrecy of the court, upon a project, which he was about to communicate. They readily promised it; and he surprised them with the proposal of sending four hundred men to take Louisbourg by storm. They condemned the undertaking as vastly too hazardous and expensive: but, unfortunately, or, perhaps, fortunately, one of the members happened to pray for blessings upon it, in the family devotions at his lodgings. The plan was soon known, all over Massachusetts: the people were generally in favour of it; and an influx of petitions, from every quarter, induced the council to change their determination. They invited the co-operation of all the colonies as far as Pennsylvania; but none, except those of New England, would furnish their quotas of troops. There was no military character of note in the country; and the command of the expedition was given to one Colonel Pepperel; who had little other qualification than that of being a rich merchant and a popular man. A general embargo was laid: more bills of credit were issued, notwithstanding the express prohibition of the crown: 'a ' variety of advice, (says Mr. Belknap,) was given from all quarters:' private property was impressed; and, by

the 4th of April, 1745, three thousand two hundred and fifty troops from Massachusetts arrived safely at Canseau. The quota of three hundred and four, from New Hampshire, had landed four days before; that of five hundred and sixteen, from Connecticut, came in, on the 25th of the same month; but the troops from Rhode Island did not arrive in time to be of any service to the expedition.

Governor Shirley had written to England for assistance, some time before the disclosure of his project to the general court; and a detachment from Admiral Warren's fleet in the West Indies, appeared off Canseau, the day before the arrival of the Massachusetts troops: the admiral himself soon followed, in the Superb, of sixty guns; and, every thing being now ready, the land forces embarked for Chapeaurouge; while the fleet, (in all, about one hundred sail,) manoeuvred before Louisbourg. The landing was effected with little difficulty; and, in the course of the ensuing night, a party of four hundred men marched around to the north-east part of the harbour; and set fire to some warehouses of spiritous liquors and naval stores. The smoke was blown directly into the grand battery; and it did such signal execution, that, when thirteen of the party were returning, next day, they saw, with surprise and joy, that the flagstaff was bare, and the chimnies without smoke. An Indian was hired, for

a bottle of rum, to crawl in at an embrasure, and open the gate; and, though a detachment of the enemy was then coming to retake the fort, the thirteen retained possession, till the arrival of a reinforcement from the main body.

Fourteen nights were the troops engaged in drawing the cannon over a morass to the place of encampment, a distance of about two miles; and, when the account of the expedition was sent to England, they were not a little indignant at seeing no mention of their having worked like oxen, with straps over their shoulders, and up to their knees in mud. As this expedition had been planned by a lawyer, and was to be executed by a merchant, at the head of husbandmen and mechanics, any thing like a regular siege was not to have been expected. The soldiers laughed at such words as zig-zag and epaulement; and thought, the most eligible mode of approaching, was that of a straight line. In execution of this new principle of tactics, four hundred men assaulted the island-battery; were repulsed; and many of them taken prisoners. They all concurred in representing the besiegers as much more numerous than they were: though all was frolic in the rear of the army, the front did, indeed, look formidable; and the impression made by these reports and appearances, together with the intelligence, which was conveyed into town, that the supply ship, the Vigilant, of sixty-four guns, had been taken,

induced Duchambon, the governor, to tender a capitulation. This was the only advantage gained over France, during the whole war; and, when accounts of it reached England, the crown made baronets of Pepperel and Shirley, and the parliament readily undertook to defray the expenses.

France and England now mutually resolved to make a complete conquest of each other's possessions in America; and, in the spring of 1746, circular letters were sent to the English colonies as far as Virginia, to have in readiness as many troops as each might be able to spare. The plan of the campaign, was, to sail against Quebec, with some ships of war and the New England troops; while those of the other colonies should be collected at Albany, and march against Crown Point and Montreal. The ships of war made seven vain attempts to leave England; and the first part of the scheme was necessarily abandoned. The colonists were diverted from the last, by a threatened attack of the enemy upon Annapolis; and, before they could despatch troops for the protection of that place, New England, in particular, was greatly alarmed by the intelligence, that a formidable armament, under the Duke D'Anville, had arrived in Nova Scotia. Every effort was made to put the country in a state of defence. The militia were joined to the troops already raised; and, for six weeks, all stood in hourly