|
|
|
|
|
William Pitt and his Grand Strategy for Victory Siege of Louisbourg June 8– July 26, 1758
William Pitt, British Secretary of State during the French and Indian War
After the defeats of 1755-6, the British government was in an uproar .By mid 1757, Pitt was able to form a united government and win the cooperation of the American colonies . Pitt recognized the importance of maintaining British colonies around the world and the value of the colonial militia. His leadership, and France's continued neglect of the North-American theater ( Montcalm received his last major reinforcements in 1757 ), eventually turned the tide in favor of the British. Pitt used much of the older plan to defeat the French in North America, but he was able to commit greater resources and troops . The plan was to take Louisbourg , cut off New France from Europe and sail up the St. Lawrence. Major Gen.Amherst would command this expedition, with Lt. Colonel James Wolfe as the battlefield commander.
Massive attackes would take Forts Carillon with Abercromby in overall command and Brig. Gen Howe as battlefied commander. Afterwards, troops would march to Quebec and meet the British fleet and take the city .Colonel John Forbers would be sent to attack Fort Duquesne.
Campbell was replaced by James Abercrombie .Campbell had so antangonized the coloinial assemblies that they were close to mutiny and some refused to raise needed troops. With Pitt came a change in the ralationship with the provincials. The new commander, Abercrombie, would not have as much power as Braddock and Campbell over the colonists. The crown would reimburse them for expenses and patronage for contracts would encourage greater support.Provincial officers would only have to take orders from regular officers of their own rank. The colonials were treated as partners rather than subjects and the coloianists responded with greater support, raising thousands more than the 7,000 Campbell demanded.
Siege of Louisbourg June 8– July 26, 1758
British officers watching the siege of Louisbourg
In June 1757, The British navy was able to secure a landing area near the fortress and Brigadier Wolfe led whaleboats to the landing at Cormorandiere Cove at 4:00 am on June 8 .They were surprised by a French ambush and the initial landing was repulsed. The wind changed, making it impossible to land. the troops were stuck offshore while being fired upon . Wolfe ordered the boats to row further left and they were able to land and some 4,000 men within half an hour . Inside the fortress there were 4,000 French troops, 2,000 sailors and hundreds of Indians . Facing them were 14,000 regular British soldiers, colonial militia and sailors . The fortress suffered heavy bombardment for seven weeks, and the French commander Ducour was forced to surrender on July 27, 1758. The French hoped to obtain the ' honors of war' after their defense, but Amherst refused, perhaps remembering the fate of those that surrendered at Fort Henry .Ducour and his officers resolved to die fighting, but agreed to Amherst's demands to prevent further suffering for the civilian population .The French reported 102 killed and the British reported 172 killed .It was too late to start an expedition against Quebec and would have to wait till the next year . The British, remembering that the fortress was handed back to the French after the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, reduced the fortress to rubble after the surrender of Quebec .
The HMS Prudent and Bienfaisant
|
The Great Fortress : A Chronicle of Louisbourg 1720-1760 free Librivox audiobook
about the 1745 siege of Louisbourg
|
