Cape Breton's Magazine

settlements all along the coast. In this way, even if the expedi? tion failed to capture Louisbourg, at least Isle Royale's fishery would be destroyed. The French had also prepared their own offensive for the late spring of 1745. A large French and Indian force under the fsimed leader Marin had wintered at the Isthmus of Chignecto for an assault on Anna? polis Royal. Louisbourg itself was unprepared for the New England at? tack force gathering at Canso. The town's defences were in poor re? pair and were designed to resist only a sea, not a land, attack. Hills dominated the Royal Battery and the town, and the Island Bat? tery was vulnerable to cannon fire from Lighthouse Point. The garri? son was still uneasy following a winter mutiny and numbered only 600 regulars and 9OO militia. Gov? ernor DuChambon had received reports of a planned attack but had no hard evidence to substantiate them. English vessels had been sighted out beyond the drift ice but they were thought to be French ships. On 23 Ap? ril, DuChambon, still unaware of the im? pending danger to Louisbourg, actually sent men and military stores to Marin's force. Later in May, Marin moved to attack Anna? polis Royal (Arrow #13) at about the same time the New Englanders were attacking Louisbourg. It was not until 7 May that an armed French merchant ship evaded both blockade and ice to give DuChambon confir? mation that the New Englanders were there. DuChambon made hasty efforts to resist a sea rather than a land attack. And it was not until 16 May, when Louisbourg was ac? tually under fire, that DuChambon sent a message requesting Marin to come to Louis? bourg as quickly as possible. Marin did not apparently get the message until 3 June, when he broke off his siege of Anna? polis Royal. Travelling by way of Bale Verte, Marin moved his force down the Northumberland Strait in a flotilla of small vessels, boats and canoes. He en? countered three armed New England vessels on the way and was forced to take refuge in Tatamagouche Bay on 27 June. He was still there the next day when the New Eng? landers took possession of Louisbourg. On the morning of 11 May, the French saw from the fortress walls the New England fleet arriving in Gabarus Bay. The fleet numbered over 100 vessels. Although this morning arrival precluded any hope for a surprise night attack, the New Englanders began landing within hours of the first ships anchoring (Arrow #14), climbing into small boats and pulling for shore. DuCham- A Neighborhood Store in a Beautiful Village Neil's Harbour CO-OP Cape Breton Scenes Portraits Weddings Commercial Aerial Press Framing P.O.Box 963. SYDNEY, N.S. n scenes Owen Fitzgerald Photographer 562-2321 Newly Renovated Grill at Sydney RiverI Town and Country RBSTADRANT Red and White POOD STORES Baddeck ' Port Hawkesbury Sydney River & Glace Bay Fort Hawkesbury Speedy Propane FILLING STATIONS* Speedy Propane Bulk Plant Kings Road, Sydney J.E.Benoitt Arichat Robin's. Cheticamp Fraser*s Campground, Baddeck Inlet Campground. Baddeck Bob Wilson's Fina. Reserve