1696-1697.
Imprisoned French Fur-Traders Reach Paris -- A Fleet under
Iberville Despatched by Lewis to the Bay -- Company's four
Ships precede them through the Straits -- Beginning of a Fierce
Battle -- The _Hampshire_ Sinks -- Escape of the _Dering_ and
capture of the _Hudson's Bay_ -- Dreadful Storm in the Bay --
Losses of the Victors -- Landing of Iberville -- Operations
against Fort Nelson -- Bailey Yields -- Evacuation by the
English.
The French prisoners captured in the Company's expedition of 1696
suffered an incarceration of nearly four months at Portsmouth. No
sooner had their liberty been regained than they boarded a French brig
bound for Havre, and on arrival in Paris lost little time in making
known the condition of affairs at Hudson's Bay. Lewis and his
Ministers, gazing upon this emaciated band of traders and bushrangers,
could hardly refrain from taking immediate action to retrieve the
situation. Precisely following the tactics of their enemy in the
previous year, they engaged four men-of-war; which fleet was
despatched to join Iberville, then at the port of Placentia in
Newfoundland. The Court was well aware that there was no one man so
thoroughly equipped at all points in knowledge of the Bay, and the
conditions there of life and warfare, as this hero. Consequently,
although numerous enough, all other offers to lead the expedition were
rejected.
On the arrival of the French ships at Placentia, Iberville took
command, embarking in the _Pelican_, of fifty guns. The others were
the _Palmier_, the _Weesph_, the _Pelican_, and the _Violent_.[31]
But Fort Nelson was not to be captured without a struggle.
[Sidenote: Meeting of the French and English ships.]
At almost the very moment the French fleet sailed, there departed from
Plymouth four of the Company's ships, the _Hampshire_, the _Hudson's
Bay_, the _Dering_, and _Owner's Love_, a fire-ship, the two former
having been participants in the conquest of the previous year. The
Company's fleet entered the straits only forty hours before the ships
of the French; and like them was much impeded by the ice, which was
unusually troublesome. Passage was made by the enemy in the English
wake. The _Profound_, commanded by Duqué, pushed past the currents,
taking a northerly course, which brought her commander into full view
of two of the Company's ships. Shots were exchanged; but owing to the
difficulties engendered by the ice, it was impossible to manoeuvre
with such certainty as to cut off the Frenchman's escape. While this
skirmish was in progress, Iberville in the _Pelican_ succeeded in
getting past the English unknown to them, and reached the mouth of the
Nelson River in sight of the fort. His presence, as may be imagined,
greatly surprised and disturbed the Governor and the Company's
servants; for they had believed their own ships would have arrived in
season to prevent the enemy from entering the straits. Several rounds
of shot were fired as a signal, in the hope that a response would be
made by the Company's ships which they hourly expected in that
quarter.
On his part the French commander was equally disturbed by the
non-arrival of his three consorts, which the exigencies of the voyage
had obliged him to forsake. Two days were passed in a state of
suspense. At daybreak on the fifth of September three ships[32] were
distinctly visible; both parties joyfully believed they were their
own. So certain was Iberville, that he immediately raised anchor and
started to join the newcomers. He was soon undeceived, but the
perception of his mistake in no way daunted him.
The Company's commanders were not prepared either for the daring or
the fury of the Frenchman's onslaught. It is true the _Pelican_ was
much superior to any of their own craft singly, being manned by nearly
two hundred and fifty men, and boasting forty-four pieces of cannon.
The Company's ships lined up, the _Hampshire_ in front, the _Dering_
next, with the _Hudson's Bay_ bringing up the rear.
[Illustration: "HAMPSHIRE." "HUDSON'S BAY." "DERING."]
[Sidenote: A fierce battle in the Bay.]
The combatants being in close proximity the battle began at half-past
nine in the morning. The French commander came straight for the
_Hampshire_, whose captain, believing it was his enemy's design to
board, instantly lowered his mainsheet and put up his fore-top-sail.
Contact having been by these means narrowly evaded, the scene of
battle suddenly shifted to the _Pelican_ and the _Dering_, whose
mainsail was smitten by a terrific volley. At the same time the
_Hudson's Bay_, veering, received a damaging broadside. The Company's
men could distinctly hear the orders shouted by Iberville to both
ships to discharge a musket fire into the _Dering's_ forecastle, but
in this move he was anticipated by the English sailors, who poured a
storm of bullets in upon the Frenchman, accompanied by a broadside of
grape, which wrought havoc with her sails. While the cries of the
wounded on the _Pelican_ could be distinctly heard, all three of the
Company's ships opened fire, with the design of disabling her rigging.
But the captain of the _Hudson's Bay_, seeing that he could not engage
the _Pelican_, owing to Iberville's tactics, determined to run in
front of her and give her the benefit of a constant hull fire,
besides taking the wind from her sails. Iberville observed the
movement; the two English vessels were near; he veered around, and by
a superb piece of seamanship came so near to the _Hampshire_ that the
crew of the latter saw that boarding was intended. Every man flew out
on the main deck, with his pistol and cutlass, and a terrific
broadside of grape on the part of the Englishman alone saved him.
[Illustration: THE EVACUATION OF FORT NELSON.
(_See page 166._)]
The battle raged hotter and fiercer. The _Hampshire's_ salvation had
been only temporary; at the end of three hours and a half she began to
sink, with all sails set. When this occurred, Iberville had ninety men
wounded, forty being struck by a single broadside. Notwithstanding
this, he decided at once to push matters with the _Hampshire's_
companions, although the _Pelican_ was in a badly damaged state,
especially the forecastle, which was a mass of splinters.
The enemy made at once for the _Dering_, which, besides being the
smallest ship, had suffered severely. She crowded on all sail and
managed to avoid an encounter, and Iberville being in no condition to
prosecute the chase, returned to the _Hudson's Bay_, which soon
surrendered. Iberville was not destined, however, to reap much
advantage from his prize, the _Hampshire_. The English flag-ship was
unable to render any assistance to her and she soon went down with
nearly all on board.[33]
To render the situation more distressing, no sooner had some ninety
prisoners been made, than a storm arose; so that it became out of the
question to approach the shore with design of landing. They were
without a long-boat and each attempt to launch canoes in the boiling
surf was attended with failure.
[Sidenote: A great storm.]
Night fell; the wind instead of calming, grew fiercer. The sea became
truly terrible, seeking, seemingly, with all its power to drive the
_Pelican_ and the _Hudson's Bay_ upon the coast. The rudders of each
ship broke; the tide rose and there seemed no hope for the crews whose
destiny was so cruel. Their only hope in the midst of the bitter blast
and clouds of snow which environed them, lay in the strength of their
cables. Soon after nine o'clock the _Hudson's Bay_ and its anchor
parted with a shock.
"Instantly," says one of the survivors, "a piercing cry went up from
our forecastle. The wounded and dead lay heaped up, with so little
separation one from the other that silence and moans alone
distinguished them. All were icy cold, and covered with blood. They
had told us the anchor would hold; and we dreaded being washed up on
the shore stiff the next morning."
A huge wave broke over the main deck and the ship rocked desperately.
Two hours later the keel was heard to split, and the ship was hurled
rudderless to and fro in the trough of the sea.
By the French account, matters were in no more enviable state aboard
the _Pelican_; Iberville, however, amidst scenes rivalling those just
described, did his best to animate his officers and men with a spirit
equalling his own.
"It is better," he cried, "to die, if we must, outside the bastions of
Fort Bourbon than to perish here like pent sheep on board."
[Sidenote: Terrible plight of the shipwrecked French.]
When morning broke, it was seen by the French that their ship was not
yet submerged, and it was resolved to disembark by such means as lay
in their power. The Company's servants were more fortunate. The
_Hudson's Bay_ had drifted eight miles to the south of the fort, and
was wrecked on a bank of icy marshland, which at least constrained
them to wade no deeper than their knees. The French, however, were
forced to make their way through the icy water submerged to their
necks, from the results of which terrible exposure no fewer than
eighteen marines and seamen lost their lives. Once on shore they
could not, like the English, look forward to a place of refuge and
appease their hunger with provisions and drink. They were obliged, in
their shivering, half frozen state, to subsist upon moss and seaweed,
but for which indifferent nourishment they must inevitably have
perished.
The Company's garrison witnessed the calamities which were overtaking
the French, but not knowing how great their number, and assured of
their hostility, did not attempt any acts of mercy. They perceived the
enemy camped in a wood, less than two leagues distant, where, building
several large fires they sought to restore their spirits by means of
warmth and hot draughts of boiled herbs.
[Illustration: "The enemy camped in a wood where, building several
large fires, they sought to restore their spirits."]
While the fort was being continually recruited by survivors of the two
wrecked ships, the other three French vessels had arrived on the
scene. The fourth, the _Violent_, lay at the bottom of the Bay, having
been sunk by the ice. The _Palmier_ had suffered the loss of her helm,
but was fortunate in not being also a victim of the storm. The French
forces being now united, little time was lost by Iberville in making
active preparations for the attack upon the fort.
On the 11th, the enemy attained a small wood, almost under the guns of
the fort, and having entrenched themselves, lit numerous fires and
made considerable noise in order to lend the impression to the English
that an entrenchment was being thrown up. This ruse was successful,
for the Governor gave orders to fire in that direction; and Iberville,
seizing this opportunity, effected a landing of all his men and
armaments from the ships.
[Sidenote: Iberville demands surrender of the fort.]
The fort would now soon be hemmed in on all sides, and it were indeed
strange if a chance shot or fire-brand did not ignite the timbers, and
the powder magazine were not exploded. Governor Bailey was holding a
council of his advisers when one of the French prisoners in the fort
gave notice of the approach of a messenger bearing a flag of truce. He
was recognized as Martigny. The Governor permitted his advance, and
sent a factor to meet him and insist upon his eyes being bandaged
before he would be permitted to enter. Martigny was conducted to where
the council was sitting and there delivered Iberville's message,
demanding surrender. He was instantly interrupted by Captain
Smithsend, who, with a great show of passion, asked the emissary if it
were not true that Iberville had been killed in the action. In spite
of Martigny's denials, Smithsend loudly persisted in believing in
Iberville's death; and held that the French were in sore straits and
only made the present attack because no other alternative was offered
to desperate men to obtain food and shelter. Bailey allowed himself to
be influenced by Smithsend, and declined to yield to any of Martigny's
demands. The latter returned, and the French instantly set up a
battery near the fort and continued, amidst a hail of bullets, the
work of landing their damaged stores and armaments. Stragglers from
the wreck of the _Hudson's Bay_ continued all day to find their way to
the fort, but several reached it only to be shot down in mistake by
the cannon and muskets of their own men. On the 12th, after a hot
skirmish, fatal to both sides, the Governor was again requested, this
time by Sérigny, to yield up the fort to superior numbers.
"If you refuse we will set fire to the place, and accord you no
quarter," was the French ultimatum.
"Set fire and be d----d to you!" responded Bailey.
He then set to work, with Smithsend, whose treatment at the hands of
the French in the affair of the _Merchant of Perpetuana_ was still
vividly before him, to animate the garrison.
"Go for them, you dogs!" cried Bailey, "Give it to them hot and heavy;
I promise you forty pounds apiece for your widows!"
Fighting in those days was attended by fearful mortality, and the
paucity of pensions to the hero's family, perhaps, made the offer seem
handsome. At any rate it seemed a sufficient incentive to the
Company's men, who fought like demons.[34]
A continual fire of guns and mortars, as well as of muskets, was kept
up. The Canadians sallied out upon a number of skirmishes, filling the
air with a frightful din, borrowing from the Iroquois their piercing
war-cries. In one of these sallies St. Martin, one of their bravest
men, perished.
Under protection of a flag of truce, Sérigny came again to demand a
surrender. It was the last time, he said, the request would be
preferred. A general assault had been resolved upon by the enemy, who
were at their last resort, living like beasts in the wood, feeding on
moss, and to whom no extremity could be odious were it but an exchange
for their present condition. They were resolved upon carrying the
fort, even at the point of the bayonet and over heaps of their slain.
Bailey decided to yield. He sent Morrison to carry the terms of
capitulation, in which he demanded all the peltries in the fort
belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. This demand being rejected by
the enemy, Bailey later in the evening sent Henry Kelsey with a
proposition to retain a portion of their armament; this also was
refused. There was now nothing for it but to surrender, Iberville
having granted an evacuation with bag and baggage.
[Sidenote: Evacuation of the English.]
At one o'clock on the following day, therefore, the evacuation took
place. Bailey, at the head of his garrison and a number of the crew of
the wrecked _Hudson's Bay_, and six survivors of the _Hampshire_,
marched forth from Fort York with drums beating, flag flying, and with
arms and baggage. They hardly knew whither they were to go; or what
fate awaited them. A vast and inhospitable region surrounded them, and
a winter long to be remembered for its severity had begun. But to the
French it seemed as if their spirits were undaunted, and they set
forth bravely.
The enemy watched the retreat of the defeated garrison not without
admiration, and for the moment speculation was rife as to their fate.
But it was only for the moment. Too rejoiced to contemplate anything
but the termination of their own sufferings, the Canadians hastened to
enter the fort, headed by Boisbriant, late an ensign in the service of
the Compagnie du Nord. Fort Nelson was once more in the hands of the
French.[35]
[Illustration: CAPTURE OF FORT NELSON BY THE FRENCH.
(_From a Contemporary Print appearing in M. de la Potherie's
"Relation."_)]
The Company, too, was debarred from any attempt at reconquest,
because of the Treaty[36] just concluded at Ryswick, which yielded the
territory which had been the scene of so much commerce, action and
bloodshed to the subjects of the Most Christian King.
FOOTNOTES:
[31] A young Irishman, Edmund Fitz-Maurice, of Kerry, who had embraced
the Church, and had served with James's army at the Battle of the
Boyne, accompanied the expedition in the character of chaplain. He is
alluded to by the French chronicler of the affair as "Fiche-Maurice de
Kieri de la Maison du Milord Kieri en Irlande."
[32] The fourth, the fire-ship _Owner's Love_, was never more heard
of. It is supposed that, separated from the others, she ran into the
ice and was sunk, with all on board.
[33] Thus was concluded what was, in the opinion of the best
authorities, French and English, one of the fiercest and bloodiest
battles of the war.
"Toute la Marine de Rochefort croient que ce combat a ete un des plus
rudes de cette Guerre," says La Potherie.
[34] "Ils avoient de tres habile cannoniers," Jérémie, an eye-witness,
was forced to confess.
[35] "Ainsi le dernier poste," Garneau exclaims, "que les English
avaient dans le baie d'Hudson tombé en notre pouvoir, et la France
resta seule maitresse de cette region." (Tome II., p. 137.)
But Garneau overlooked the three forts in James' Bay retaken by the
English in 1693; one of which, Fort Anne or Chechouan, he mistook for
Fort Nelson. At any rate Fort Albany or Chechouan remained in
possession of the Company from 1693; and they never lost it.
It was unsuccessfully attacked by Menthel in 1709.
[36] So strongly has the Treaty of Ryswick been interpreted in favour
of France, that some historians merely state the fact that by it she
retained all Hudson's Bay, and the places of which she was in
possession at the beginning of the war. The commissioners having never
met to try the question of right, things remained _in statu quo_. Now,
whatever the commissioners might have done, had they ever passed
judgment on the cause the Treaty provided they should try, they could
not have given Fort Albany to the British, for it was one of the
places taken by the French during the preceding peace, and retaken by
the British during the war, and, therefore, adjudged in direct terms
of the Treaty itself to belong to France. Thus, then, it will be seen,
declared the opponents of the Company, that the only possession held
by the Hudson's Bay Company during the sixteen years that intervened
between the Treaty of Ryswick and the Treaty of Utrecht was one to
which they had no right, and which the obligations of the Treaty
required should be given up to France.--_Report of Ontario Boundary
Commission._