Underthe French Regime 27

THE BRITISH SIEGE: 1745—1748

The War of the Austrian Succession caused France and England to resume hostilities in 1744. The conflict affected their colonies on the other side of the Atlantic and in particular the Acadians whose neutral- ity was to be put to the test. As soon as news of the war reached Governor Duquesnel, who was in command at Louisbourg, he decided the time had come to carry out his plan to reconquer Acadia. Con- sequently, he sent an expeditionary corps under the leadership of Francois DuPont Duvivier with orders to capture Annapolis Royal (formerly Port Royal). The attempt failed for tactical reasons and a lack of reinforcements and supplies. Duvivier and Duquesnel had expected both the Acadians and the Micmac to rally to the cause. Much to their disappointment, however, with a few exceptions, the Acadians (as opposed to the Micmac) categorically refused to take part in the expedition. They feared reprisals from the English if the military ven- ture were to fail. It was thus only with considerable difficulty that Duvivier managed to convince a few Acadians to help supply his soldiers with provisions".

It was not long before the New England colonies responded to the French attacks on Nova Scotia. In the spring of 1745 a squadron attacked and captured Louisbourg, a fortress the French considered impregnable. The siege was led by Commander Pepperel who encoun- tered little resistance and forced Governor Duchambon to capitulate on June 17, 1745.

Several days before Louisbourg was captured, Pepperel sent a reconnaissance party to [le Saint Jean. A detachment marched on Trois Riviéres where, as we have seen, they destroyed Jean-Pierre Roma’s establishment. The seigneur and his family were able to make their way to Havre Saint Pierre and then to Quebec, never to return to fle Saint Jean. The remainder of Pepperel’s men marched on Port LaJoie where they set fire to the fort and other buildings. The tiny garrison of about twenty men, under the command of Dupont Duvivier, proceeded up the Northeast River with the English hot on their heels. With the support of a group of Micmac, Duvivier’s soldiers were able to turn around and attack the English, forcing them back to the sea. The English left behind twenty-eight who were either killed, wounded or made prisoner following the skirmish”.