Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 18

A Campaign of Amateurs: The Siege of Louisbourg, 1745

by Raymond F Baker

Appendix A. Chronology of the Siege of Louisbourg, 1745.

May 11 (Tuesday)

Fair and pleasant; high surf about 11 a.m. Between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., the provincial transports anchor in Gabarus Bay. French force sent from town to oppose landing. The provincials make a feint of landing at Flat Point while actual landing begins at Freshwater Cove. A brief skirmish ensues with small losses on both sides. About 2,000 provincial soldiers are landed by nightfall. The Royal Battery is ordered abandoned and in the early morning of May 12, Thierry transfers his troops to the town.

May 12 (Wednesday)

Wind southwest; fair. Remainder of provincial troops landed, and the army marches to the general area of Flat Point and begins to encamp. A detachment of men advances to the Northeast Harbour and burns French houses and storehouses. Lt. Saint-Etienne and a group of Frenchmen return to the Royal Battery to complete the removal of stores.

May 13 (Thursday)

North by west wind; cool. Royal Battery occupied in the morning by small group of provincials. French burn houses in the Sarachois area. The landing of provisions begun at Flat Point area. Surf still running high.

May 14 (Friday)

Southwest wind in the morning; limited visibility: "Look't like dirt." The provincials begin to land artillery at Flat Point area in the high surf, and to transport it to the Green Hill range where they begin to erect their first battery against the fortress. Several of the guns at the Royal Battery, which were hurriedly spiked by the French when they withdrew, are cleared and fire against the town.

May 15 (Saturday)

Fair; wind southwest. Green Hill Battery completed and begins to fire. Fire continues between fortress and Royal Battery.

May 16 (Sunday)

Southwest wind; fair. Provincials continue to transport artillery. The fire from the Green Hill Battery proves ineffective and council orders another battery erected closer to the town. A cannon at the Royal Battery bursts due to accidental overcharging — the first of many such mishaps. The guns at the Royal Battery still being cleared.

May 17 (Monday)

Fair and warm. Transporting of artillery continues. Coehorn Battery begun approximately 900 yards from the King's bastion. Two more guns burst at Royal Battery. Scouting party goes to Northeast Harbour from Royal Battery.

May 18 (Tuesday)

Cloudy, dry and warm; east wind. Summons to surrender sent into Louisbourg. Surrender refused. Provincials plan attack on Island Battery but plan is cancelled. Guns still being transferred to Coehorn Battery.

May 19 (Wednesday)

Foggy with south wind. Cannon bursts at Royal Battery. French make a sortie in the afternoon with possible intention of hindering the transfer of cannon to Coehorn Battery. Sortie is repulsed.

May 20 (Thursday)

Foggy with south wind. Provincials plan assault on town but it is called off when officers and soldiers appear unwilling and voice disapproval.

May 21 (Friday)

Fog cleared off; wind hard and cool west by north. Whaleboats carried overland from Gabarus Bay to Royal Battery, from whence attack is to be made on Island Battery. Attack is cancelled. Party of provincials attacked by Indians about six miles from Royal Battery.

May 22 (Saturday)

Morning cool with northwest by north wind; cloudy. Coehorn Battery begins to fire.

May 23 (Sunday)

Wind from north; cool. Another fascine battery begun approximately 440 yards from Dauphin Gate. French fire is light this day.

May 24 (Monday)

Cloudy, cold; strong east wind. More cannon burst at Royal Battery. Dysentery among provincial soldiers begins to increase. French ship runs past blockade into the harbour. Attempt by provincials to destroy the ship in the afternoon by using a fire ship fails.

May 25 (Tuesday)

Snow, hail and rain; north wind. Fascine Battery begun May 23 is finished. Cannon fire light. Small arms fire concentrated by French against the fascine battery. Royal Battery fires on the French ship that came in May 24 in attempt to sink her, but fire has little effect.

May 26 (Wednesday)

Cool overnight; ground frozen; morning fair. Another fascine battery (to be called Advanced Battery) is begun approximately 250 yards from Dauphin Gate.

May 27 (Thursday)

Fair, raw and cold; south wind. More guns burst at Royal Battery. Island Battery silent. A number of French cannon found near the lighthouse by the provincials.

May 28 (Friday)

Fair and moderate. Advanced Battery finished. Party of French attack group of provincials near the lighthouse. French retreat.

May 29 (Saturday)

Wind northeast; fresh and cool but fair. Musket fire between French and provincials in area of Dauphin bastion. Fascine and Green Hill batteries under heavy French fire.

May 30 (Sunday)

Northeast wind in the morning; east wind and foggy in the afternoon. Much cannonading of both sides. Also small arms fire. The French man-of-war Vigilant is captured after a fight at sea.

May 31 (Monday)

Cold, easterly fog. Titcomb's Battery erected to fire on the Dauphin Gate and circular battery. Fire from this battery and the Advanced Battery soon opens a breach in the Dauphin bastion.

June 1 (Tuesday)

Southwest wind; foggy and very cool. Much firing from the fortress batteries.

June 2 (Wednesday)

Southwest wind in the morning; afternoon west wind; warm and calm. Heavy firing in morning hours from both sides. In the afternoon firing decreases. Attack on Island Battery planned but not carried out because the men lacked officers and some were also "in liquor."

June 3 (Thursday)

Moderate and fair with southeast wind. Another attempt on the Island Battery fails to be put into effect. Charges of misconduct laid against Captain Noble, the officer commanding the force making the attempt.

June 4 (Friday)

North wind; brisk gale and cool. Council of war clears Captain Noble of misconduct charges. Fire ship sent into harbour by provincials in the afternoon.

June 5 (Saturday)

Warm. Woods on fire. Scouting party brings in a number of French prisoners. Brisk cannon and small arms fire.

June 6 (Sunday)

Southwest wind; warm in the morning; evening cool and foggy. Provincials attack Island Battery but are repulsed with heavy losses.

June 7 (Monday)

Foggy with southwest wind; some rain. Powder short at some provincial batteries. French prisoners brought in.

June 8 (Tuesday)

Southwest wind in morning; foggy and cool; evening fair with west wind; moderate. A scouting party sent out from Royal Battery encounters large party of French and Indians. Skirmish of several hours. French retreat. Heavy connonading from provincial batteries.

June 9 (Wednesday)

Southeast wind; fair and moderate. Scout sent to Scatarie. French flagstaff shot down.

June 10 (Thursday)

Foggy with southwest wind. Vigilant sent to Gabarus Bay to be refitted. Diminished fire from provincial batteries due to want of powder.

June 11 (Friday)

Foggy with south wind in the morning; west wind with fog cleared off in the afternoon. Many provincial soldiers sick with dysentery. Two cannon planted by French during the night on new works at Dauphin Gate are knocked out by provincial fire.

June 12 (Saturday)

Foggy with east wind. Small arms fire between provincials and French at Dauphin Gate. Heavy cannon fire from provincial batteries. French fire declines.

June 13 (Sunday)

Cloudy, cool with north wind; evening rain and fog. New battery being raised at the lighthouse by provincials. Island Battery gives heavy but ineffective counterfire.

June 14 (Monday)

Wind north by east; cool and cloudy. Provisions and powder arrive from Boston. "This put new life and spirits into all of us."

June 15 (Tuesday)

Southwest wind; fair and warm. Red-hot shot used by provincials. More French prisoners brought in. Provincial camp security tightened as parties of French and Indians are expected.

June 16 (Wednesday)

Fair with north wind in the morning; cloudy in the afternoon.

June 17 (Thursday)

Fair and pleasant with northwest wind. French fire two newly erected cannon from right flank of King's bastion. Sailors taken on board Vigilant are transported to Boston.

June 18 (Friday)

South wind; calm and moderate. Royal and other batteries "fired smartly" against the town.

June 19 (Saturday)

Southeast wind; heavy rain. Flag of truce sent into the fortress with letter from the captain of the Vigilant, about treatment of English captives.

June 22 (Tuesday)

Northwest wind; pleasant. Island Battery returns the fire of the Lighthouse Battery but proves ineffectual. The provincials hold celebrations, with violin, flute and vocal music, plus a generous allowance of rum, in honour of the birthday of King George II.

June 23 (Wednesday)

Cool but pleasant, with northeast wind. Preparations underway for a combined land and sea attack on the town. Heavy firing from French batteries but with little effect.

June 24 (Thursday)

Fair, pleasant and moderate; southwest wind. Ships being cleared for entering the harbour. Soldiers are enlisted to go on board ships for the attack. Ships barricaded with moss.

June 25 (Friday)

Southeast wind and fog; southwest wind in the afternoon. Heavy fire from provincial batteries. Beacon fires erected on hills west of the city to serve as guides for Warren's fleet. Ladders and fascines being taken to Advanced Battery to storm the walls the following day if wind permits the fleet to force the harbour. French return a heavy fire on Advanced Battery but with little effect.

June 26 (Saturday)

Fair with southwest wind. Flag of truce from fortress asking for time to consider surrender terms. All firing ceases.

June 27 (Sunday)

Foggy and cool with east wind. Surrender terms agreed upon and siege officially ended.

June 28 (Monday)

Hard rain in the afternoon. Provincial army takes possession of town and Island Battery.

June 20 (Sunday)

West wind; scattered showers. Little firing on either side. Two Swiss deserters.

June 21 (Monday)

Northwest wind; fair, warm and pleasant. Lighthouse Battery begins to fire against Island Battery.