CHAP. XIV.

CHAP. XIV.

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's878122

Frazer's864136

Lowther's848152

Byng's797203

Cochran's94555

Cotterell's843157

Cornwall's845155

Duncombe's784216

Powlett's91684

Jeffrey's88211

————

8,6021,398

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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.