Some inferior attacks having been made, during the last year, by
the Governor of Cape Breton upon Canso and Annapolis, in Nova
Scotia, the former of which places was burnt by the French, the
Northern Colonies of British America became alarmed for their
safety. Roused by the representations and the united patriotism
of Mr. Achmuty, Judge of the Admiralty Court, in New England, and
Mr. Vaughan, an individual of great fortune and public spirit,
they commenced preparations for an expedition against Louisburg.
Accordingly considerable levies were begun, and a co-operating
naval force was requested by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts
Bay, from his Majesty's Ministers.
At this time Commodore Warren commanded upon the West India
station, who was ordered to repair to Canso with that view. A
meritorious secrecy prevailed throughout, which half secured the
success of an attempt that, considering the strong means of defence
possessed by the enemy, and the inexperienced troops employed
against them, was extremely doubtful. The activity of the Americans
upon this occasion, was fully equal to the important interests they
had at stake.
Upon the 4th of April the levies from New England reached Canso,
and were encamped there, where they were improved in their
discipline until the arrival of the other troops from the different
Provinces, while the ships of war upon the coast, and some stout
privateers, continued off the harbour of Louisburg, in order to
cut off all supplies, as well as intelligence of the projected
enterprize.
Upon the 23d of April, Commodore Warren arrived at Canso, and
against the 29th all the land forces were embarked, when they
proceeded for Gabarus Bay, about four miles from the capital of
Cape Breton.
Upon the 30th two thousand men were landed at noon, who beat back a
respectable force which was detached to prevent their descent. Upon
that and the following day the rest were disembarked along with
nearly three hundred Seamen, and five hundred Marines, under cover
of the privateers and some smaller vessels ranged along the shore.
The whole was under the command of General Pepperel, a native of
Piscataway.
The French, proudly conscious of their strength, were exposed to
surprise from this cause. It is but justice to an enemy, and it
affords an impressive example to the military servants of every
State, to remark an instance of fidelity in the private Soldiery of
the garrison, at this critical moment. Long employed in carrying on
the extensive works of Louisburg, without any recompence, which,
however, was granted by their Government, but alienated from them
by their Officers, they had been in a state of insubordination and
discontent, little short of mutiny, nearly six months, until the
appearance of our forces, when Patriotism cancelled all inferior
grievances, and these brave men now only recognized the duties of
zeal and allegiance to their Sovereign and their Country. In a body
they requested to be led against the invaders, but suspicion and
distrust restrained their superiors from availing themselves of the
tender. The spirit was allowed to subside, and perhaps an occasion
was lost of averting their approaching destinies.
After the disembarkation of our troops, they were pushed on and
formed two separate encampments; one on the southern part of the
harbour to attack the City, and the other upon the northern side
against the Grand Battery.
Upon the night of the 1st of May our outscouts, in the latter
direction, set fire to some storehouses full of combustibles,
which burnt so awfully that the French within this important post
became panic struck, and conceiving that the whole British force
was advancing, retreated precipitately into the City. The works
were possessed in the morning by only thirteen men, who were soon
reinforced, when an unavailing attack was made by the enemy to
recover them.
They had done their utmost to render all the cannon unserviceable,
which required some time before they could be drilled and fit for
use; during which a most tremendous fire was opened upon this spot
from the guns and mortars upon the Island Battery, and the Town,
but with little success. Within a few days they both experienced
the effects of this post being in our hands, in the loss of men,
and the demolition of houses.
The force on the north side of the harbour were not idle, but had
pushed their approaches within two hundred yards of the City, by
the 12th of May, which they continued to cannonade, with great
vigour and success, from some heavy guns planted on an eminence
called the Green Hill, and a fascine battery of twenty eight.
The business of the siege was carried on under the greatest
difficulties, with an unsurpassed alacrity by all. No class could
here claim any pre-eminent merit, for every one was guided by one
uniform impulse.
The walls and embrasures of what the French entitled the Circular
Battery, were soon destroyed, and every thing went on well. Some
important captures, which accelerated the fall of Cape Breton, were
made by our blockading squadron.
It being necessary to push matters as quickly as possible, an
attempt upon the Island Battery was ordered, as it very materially
incommoded our operations on the north side, and prevented the
entrance of our ships into the harbour.
A force of two hundred Marines, and three hundred Americans, was
appointed for this service, and about twelve at night, on the 23d
of May, the whole proceeded on that duty. Soon after a heavy fog
came on that prevented their landing from the whale boats, and
which obliged them to draw off; although they were not unheard by
the enemy's garrison, which then consisted of only fourteen men, to
whom this afforded a timely hint for their reinforcing so material
a post with three hundred and fifty.
Upon the 27th, at two in the morning, this enterprize was
renewed by one hundred and fifty Marines and nearly two hundred
Provincials. The French, discovering their approach, fired
grapeshot from their heavy guns, which destroyed some boats with
the soldiers, when our troops gallantly pushed ashore.
Until sunrise they persevered in the daring but unequal contest;
when at last, reduced numbers, and walls which they in vain
attempted to scale, obliged them to call for quarter.
By indefatigable labour, however, on the night of the 1st of June,
a commanding situation upon the cliff, which swept the platform
of the Island Battery, and the entrance into the harbour, was
completed, and cannon were planted in it. Things now drew to a
crisis; every subordinate event combined to prosper an undertaking
founded in a judicious policy, and conducted with an unanimous
zeal. After forty-nine days of unrelaxed exertion, Louisburg
capitulated, and with it the whole Dependency of Cape Breton.--This
object was accomplished with the loss of little more than one
hundred men, while that of the French exceeded three hundred. The
greater part fell on the Marines in the attempt upon the Island
Battery, who shared in the success and glory of that expedition,
and in the general tribute of applause which was so justly
conferred upon all--by their Country.
The domestic events of the present year were marked by so peculiar
an interest, that I cannot pass them without notice.--The adverse
circumstances which occurred early in 1744 had only suspended, but
did not annihilate the hopes of Prince Charles Edward, the eldest
son of the Pretender, to re-ascend the throne of his ancestors.
Guided by desperate and designing men, urged on by the wily
politics of France, which wished him success, but would not afford
the means of it, and personally sanguine in his disposition, he
readily listened to every representation that flattered his views.
He accordingly embarked his destinies in a stile little adequate
to the extent of his designs, which were to dethrone a beloved
Sovereign, and to overturn the Constitution of a brave and a free
People.
It is not for me to follow him in the range of his efforts, or to
detail the successes which for a while attended his steps.
Britons, little accustomed to hear the sound of war at their own
gates, were at first alarmed at the novelty, but they soon evinced
both loyalty and union in sustaining the fixed rights of their
Monarch, and in defending their own liberties.--Party became dumb,
while addresses, backed by associations were the tenders daily
made to their King.
It was reserved for a branch of that House which he came to
destroy, to vindicate its claims and its honor. His Royal Highness
the Duke of Cumberland, by the Battle of Culloden, not only put a
close to the Rebellion, but for ever ended the aspiring hopes of
the family of the Stuarts; the remains of which have survived to
exist upon the bounty of a Prince whose throne they had striven to
subvert.
The events of a short day transformed Charles from an imaginary
Monarch to a humble beggar, and he would fain have quickly retraced
his steps to that shore, upon which he had landed with such elated
prospects. But many sufferings and hardships were yet in store; an
interval which has immortalized the character of those poor but
virtuous natives amongst whom he flew for refuge.
Although a reward £30,000 was the boon offered for his person, and
he constantly within the power of the meanest, still an Iscariot,
was not to be found. Adversity, that hour in which true friends can
best be recognized, shewed him human nature in its most exalted
form, in a people, though depressed by penury, that would not
sacrifice either him or his cause.--Every loyal man, while he must
deprecate _the aim_, will still applaud _the principle_ of their
actions. The illiterate tenants of the Hebrides have transmitted
an example of fidelity and allegiance worthy of being known and
imitated by the subjects of every realm. The unfortunate Prince
found his way to France, and while time has extinguished his
family, it has also subverted prejudices, and has incorporated all
his adherents with the united strength of the Empire.
Although the incidents to which I have thus recurred have no
connexion with my subject, still the _inferences_ that arise from
them, as well as the critical occasion, I trust, will sanction
their insertion and this digression.
The following was the list and effective strength of the Marine
Regiments in 1745:
_Regiments._ _Number of effective Men._ _Wanting to complete._
Churchill's 878 122
Frazer's 864 136
Lowther's 848 152
Byng's 797 203
Cochran's 945 55
Cotterell's 843 157
Cornwall's 845 155
Duncombe's 784 216
Powlett's 916 84
Jeffrey's 882 11
----- -----
8,602 1,398
===== =====
Besides 1,550 Commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers.
At this time, and indeed since their institution in 1739,
Commissions were purchased and sold in the Regiments of Marines,
although they always bore an inferior value to these in Old Corps.
A perquisite frequently arose to the Colonels from the disposal
of Second Lieutenancies, when his Majesty was pleased to accept
of their recommendation. Such usually produced from £250 to £280,
while Ensigncies in the Line sometimes yielded £400.
Nothing worthy of further notice occurred within the transactions
of this year.