Battle of the Northeast River
Who has heard of the battle of the Northeast River?
My guess would be not many. I hadn't.
This battle took place during the War of Austrian Succession and was one of the smaller battles of the Battle at Port-la-Joye in 1745.
In the 1740s, Acadians were beginning to prosper on Isle St. Jean. But, as was common with the French and British, they found a reason to fight when the French King, Louis XV, wanted his cousin to be the new king of Austria. Great Britain disagreed and the War of Austrian Succession occurred.
The war extended to their colonies in North America. Unfortunately, for the Acadians and other French settlers -
The British soldiers, most of whom were from New England, who seized Isle St. Jean divided into two groups to capture Trois Rivieres and Port-la-Joye. These battles were ridiculously easy for the British. Sieur DeRoma at Trois Rivieres was not prepared for a battle. All he had was an old and worn six-pounder for artillery and his soldiers essentially consisted of his son and daughter. Knowing they would lose, they fled to St. Pierre, a fishing port on the north shore, and fled to Quebec.
Port-la-Joye was also easily won. Apparently, under the command of Francois Dupont Duvivier, the garrison (of about 20 soldiers) had fled up the river as soon as they saw the British coming. But, like I said earlier, it wasn't that Britain was superior to the French, the French just didn't place as much importance on the battles occurring in North America. Therefore, the settlers did not have strong defenses when the British came. Duvivier's goal was to get the troops to Quebec where he believed they could be more useful.
The British soldiers burned Port-la-Joye down and then took off after Duvivier.
On this strategic retreat, he supplemented his forces with some French settlers and Mi'kmaq. Somewhere along the Northeast River, now known as the Hillsborough River, they stopped to fight the British soldiers pursuing them. And humiliated them. In fact, it is one of the bloodiest battles in Island history involving the French and British. When the battle was over, 28 New Englander's were killed, wounded, or captured.
How Duvivier beat these British soldiers is unknown, as is where exactly along the River the battle took place. The point of the battle was not to win, or in this case keep, Port-la-Joye, it was about ensuring his forces could get to Quebec.
As the British and French did in those days, Great Britain traded the Island and Ile Royale back to the French in 1749 in exchange for a city in India.
Beck, B. Prince Edward Island: An (Un)Authorized History. Charlottetown: Acorn Press,1996
My guess would be not many. I hadn't.
This battle took place during the War of Austrian Succession and was one of the smaller battles of the Battle at Port-la-Joye in 1745.
 |
| Port-la-Joye (Image Credit) |
In the 1740s, Acadians were beginning to prosper on Isle St. Jean. But, as was common with the French and British, they found a reason to fight when the French King, Louis XV, wanted his cousin to be the new king of Austria. Great Britain disagreed and the War of Austrian Succession occurred.
The war extended to their colonies in North America. Unfortunately, for the Acadians and other French settlers -
"Great Britain always took the North American segment of its wars more seriously than France did."
The British soldiers, most of whom were from New England, who seized Isle St. Jean divided into two groups to capture Trois Rivieres and Port-la-Joye. These battles were ridiculously easy for the British. Sieur DeRoma at Trois Rivieres was not prepared for a battle. All he had was an old and worn six-pounder for artillery and his soldiers essentially consisted of his son and daughter. Knowing they would lose, they fled to St. Pierre, a fishing port on the north shore, and fled to Quebec.
Port-la-Joye was also easily won. Apparently, under the command of Francois Dupont Duvivier, the garrison (of about 20 soldiers) had fled up the river as soon as they saw the British coming. But, like I said earlier, it wasn't that Britain was superior to the French, the French just didn't place as much importance on the battles occurring in North America. Therefore, the settlers did not have strong defenses when the British came. Duvivier's goal was to get the troops to Quebec where he believed they could be more useful.
The British soldiers burned Port-la-Joye down and then took off after Duvivier.
On this strategic retreat, he supplemented his forces with some French settlers and Mi'kmaq. Somewhere along the Northeast River, now known as the Hillsborough River, they stopped to fight the British soldiers pursuing them. And humiliated them. In fact, it is one of the bloodiest battles in Island history involving the French and British. When the battle was over, 28 New Englander's were killed, wounded, or captured.
How Duvivier beat these British soldiers is unknown, as is where exactly along the River the battle took place. The point of the battle was not to win, or in this case keep, Port-la-Joye, it was about ensuring his forces could get to Quebec.
As the British and French did in those days, Great Britain traded the Island and Ile Royale back to the French in 1749 in exchange for a city in India.
Beck, B. Prince Edward Island: An (Un)Authorized History. Charlottetown: Acorn Press,1996
Comments
Post a Comment