Читать книгу Canadian Footprints - Melvin Ormond Hammond - Страница 7

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TINKLING sheepbells on the hillside, and the crash of surf on the rocks of Gabarus Bay, where Wolfe’s boats were pounded to pieces as they landed guns, are the only sounds a visitor hears as he approaches from Sydney toward the ruins of Fort Louisbourg, the graveyard of French hopes on the North Atlantic. Lobster traps, resembling coops for last week’s batch of chicks, drifted ashore, and shells of sea-urchins and crabs tell of an active marine life where man long ago abandoned his once feverish activities.

A few gaping casemates which had sheltered women from screaming shot and shell, and an odd pile of stones where a street had run or a wall had stood, remain from France’s supreme effort to build here the Dunkirk of the West, after the Dunkirk that commanded the Straits of Dover had been ordered demolished under Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

Twenty-five years (from 1720 to 1745) were taken in the building of Louisbourg, and thirty million livres were spent—much of it wasted in bad materials and thievery, for here the infamous François Bigot and his kind sought quick wealth for a speedy return to France. A city of four thousand transacted a rich trade in silks, cambrics, laces and other luxuries from France, eagerly sought by New England merchants. Rum, molasses and sugar were brought from the West Indies, and thousands worked in the fisheries of Louisbourg and surrounding ports. The very wharves groaned with the commerce of Acadia.

Louisbourg naturally tempted the covetous eyes of national rivals, and it was no surprise when William Pepperell and a New England force of 8,000 came in the summer of 1745. Man-teams of two hundred stalwarts hauled heavy guns over bogs and rocks to hillocks commanding the defences. One by one the French batteries were silenced, and after seven weeks Louisbourg was won.

What French fleets failed to recover was achieved by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. Britain, unwilling to risk another war for possession of Louisbourg, handed the fort back to its proud builders.

Ten years later the whirligig of European diplomacy brought Britain into another war with France, and a fresh struggle for Louisbourg was inevitable. Britain’s fortunes were reviving with the resolute William Pitt in power, and the news of dive’s decisive victory in India in 1757. France was moving to disaster with King Louis under the spell of the vicious Madame Pompadour.

Halifax had been founded to offset Louisbourg, and from that port a great force of 24,000 men sailed in 1758, under General Amherst and Admiral Boscawen. The dashing James Wolfe, one of Amherst’s Brigadiers, waded ashore on June 8, armed with a cane, and led his men as they bayoneted the outposts of Louisbourg. The French retired and the English rapidly developed their attack. The Royal and Lighthouse Batteries were taken in a few days, but Governor Drucour was a gallant defender. He sank six ships to block the entrance to the harbour where his fleet was huddled. One night the brave Vauquelin stole forth in the Aréthuse, eluded the English in a fog and escaped to France with despatches.

As the siege advanced the daily incidents were not without chivalry. Governor Drucour offered the services of a distinguished French surgeon to wounded English officers, and Amherst sent his compliments and a gift of pineapples from the West Indies to Madame Drucour. The brave lady, who daily appeared on the ramparts and fired three cannon to encourage the defenders, responded with a basket of wine for General Amherst.

Wolfe seized Gallows Hill and burrowed toward the Dauphin’s Bastion. Three French ships were set on fire by a bomb and burned, the main barracks of the Fort was destroyed, and the troops left without shelter. A French council decided to surrender, but Amherst demanded sterner terms. The two sides haggled, and when finally Drucour sent a defiant message, the non-combatants interfered for their own protection. The Governor was compelled to recall his defiance by a messenger, who ran into Amherst’s camp, crying:

“We accept! We accept!”

Though the officers had exchanged courtesies, there was terror in the hearts of the townspeople, and on capitulation on July 26 the churches were kept open all night for the protection of residents against ill treatment feared from the victors.

When Louisbourg was surrendered, 5,637 officers, soldiers and sailors were made prisoners and transported to England. Next year Wolfe and Saunders sailed from Louisbourg to take Quebec.

In the summer of 1760, under orders from George II and Pitt, Captain John Byron, R.N., grandfather of Lord Byron the poet, with an army of sailors, sappers and miners, worked for months and levelled proud Louisbourg with the dust.

Ruins of Fort Louisburg