216 J, G. BOUEINOT 



It became then au absolute necessity that a battery ou Lighthouse Poiut should be 

 built without delay, and after herculean exertions cannon were dragged over the preci- 

 pitous hills and dangerous morasses to the chosen place. A mortar was brought to sup- 

 plement the ordinary artillery, and then day by day the battery aud fleet kept up a heavy 

 cannonade on the island work until its fire slackened, its walls began to fall, aud it was 

 becoming rapidly useless. By the eleventh of Juue the fate of the towu was practically 

 decided. The French garrison, worn out by their exertions, saw the breaches at the west 

 gate aud the adjacent defences daily widening, the guus of the circular battery almost 

 silenced, all the buildings in the towu riddled with shot aud hardly lit to live in, the 

 island battery on the point of total destruction, aud the laud aud naval forces of the euemy 

 making preparations for a combined attack on the fortress. It was just at this juncture 

 that Pepperrell and Warren decided on a piece of strategy which they thought would pro- 

 bably be effective in disheartening the French garrison. A body of Indians having not 

 long before barbarously tortured aud killed a few of the colonial troops whom they had 

 surprised at Petit Lorembec, it was determined to bring this fact to the knowledge of 

 M. Duchambon by meaus of the late commandant of the Vigilaute, whose loss, the Eng- 

 lish suspected, was still unknown to the French. This olhcer, the Marquis de Maisou- 

 fort, was given proof of the kindly treatment of the French prisoners on board the English 

 vessels, and was then asked to write informing the French governor of the fact and asking 

 similar treatment for the English prisoners. Wheu the French commandant and his olh- 

 cers received this information they expressed their surprise aud consternation in the pre- 

 sence of the bearer of the letter who they thought was ignorant of the French language. 

 M. Duchambou in his reply disavowed all responsibility for the cruelty of the Indians 

 whom he would do his best to warn against committing such acts in the future, while at 

 the same time he dwelt on the fact that the English prisoners in his bauds, sick or wounded, 

 had always received as many attentions as if they were subjects of the French king. The 

 flag of truce, however, had the effect which it was intended it should have upon 

 the garrison and people of Louisbourg. As if their condition was uot already sufficiently 

 distressing, they heard now for the first time that the ship which they had been hoping 

 might evade the blockading fleet aud make its way into port, was actually in the posses- 

 sion of the enemy, aud its very guus directed against the town which it was intended to 

 assist. Without a prospect of speedy assistance from France, the situation of the French 

 became more gloomy, while that of the besieging forces was improved by additions to the 

 ships. Warren had been reinforced by vessels from Newfoundland aud England, aud had 

 now under his orders a fleet of eleven ships armed in all with five hundred guns, includ- 

 ing the Vigilante, aud exclusive of the colonial vessels.' It was decided to make a general 

 assault on the fifteenth of Juue aud accordingly all the ships were ranged in a line off the 

 harbour, aud the troops mustered in full force, when Duchambon, recognizing the usc- 

 lessuess of further resistance, opsaed negotiations with Pepperrell and Warren, and agreed 



' Douglass, " Summary of the British Settlements" (i. 331, 11) enumerates the English fleet as follows: Com- 

 modore Warren's West India fleet — the Superbe of 50 guns, the Launcestai of 40, and the Mermaid of 40; the 

 Vigilante of 64, manned after the capture on May 19 by New England men mostly. May 22, the Princess Mary 

 of CO and the Hector of 40, from England via Boston. June 10, the Chester of 50, from England. June 12, the 

 Canterbury of 00, the Sunderland of 40, and the Lark of 40, all called in from Newfoundland ; the Eltham of 40, 

 called in from convoying the New England mastships for England. 



