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History of Acadia / Nova Scotia 

English Reconnaisance for Beaubassin Assault

8/3/2014

1 Comment

 
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Here is the map the English drew up in 1749 to prepare for their assault against Beaubassin in April of 1750. It reflects how carefully they studied the ground and how they planned to make use of it (by replacing Acadians with their own people).
Originally the English had looked to establish their fort at the site of what is now known as Fort Beausejour.
This map must have been made sometime in the summer or fall of 1749 as the French began their construction on the site in 1748/9. Note, however, that the French Fort at Beausejour is recorded only as a small French settlement rather than as a fortress under construction. We should appreciate, however, that such a map would likely take some time to draw. 
They English arrived first in April 1750, were repulsed, and returned in September.
They were, however, inaccurate in their siting of Beaubassin which they show as being (probably) 200 yards further north and east than was the case. (From archeology it seems that the original settlement was more aligned with the big bend in the Messagoueche River).
They also appear to have originally planned to site their fortress on the north side of the River on low lying ground. They may well have changed their site "on the fly" in September 1750 when they offloaded their men and suppliers  south of the river.
1 Comment
Brian
8/3/2014 01:12:06 pm

It was destiny, I suppose. Gov Phillips with his oath seemed to want to keep the Acadians because they were so valuable economically - they fed New England and it wouldn't be easy to replace. Gov Shirley was certainly more determined to have it his way - and eliminate Catholicism where ever it could be found. Cornwallis was mostly disinterested and uncomfortable (as well as possibly being the most incompetent of English soldiers).
The timing of events were aligned with political decisions.
The return of Louisbourg instantly changed the dynamics in 1748 - there was immediately a military threat from France and England responded by building the Citadel in Chebucto (Halifax). The French later in the year looked to solidify their claim to the part of Acadian north of the Nova Scotia peninsula by starting to build a fort at Beausejour.
Both parties realized that little peninsula was the land bridge to Quebec, which both parties knew would be critical. The English Board of Trade invested heavily in the English position in Nova Scotia and demanded a return on their investment and tried to consolidate this by sponsoring the immigration of European Protestants.
Meanwhile, the difficulty in communications due to distance meant that events probably moved faster than decisions. Surveyors were sent to Beaubassin (further to the map) to scout out the terrain apparently before the French fort was being built.
And when the Acadian Deputies went to Cornwallis refusing to sign the new oath, the die was probably cast.

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    Brian Lloyd French

    I was born 3 miles from the scene of the action and played in the places where the principals in Tintamarre lived and died.

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