alternatehistory.com

Acadian Retreat

After the fall of Fort Louisburg, the British discovered that the Governor Chevalier de Drucour has died during one of the final bombardments and Jean Vauquelin had escaped on the Fidele. The highest ranking French officer that was captured was Beaussier de l'Isle, who repeatedly insisted that he did not have the authority to surrender Ile St. Jean or any territory beyond the ground upon which the Fortress Louisburg stood.

The British then proceeded to spend the fall months securing Ile Royale. Despite the lateness in the year, many French settlers on Ile Royale took the risk of escaping to Ile Saint Jean, Ile Madam or even further on to the mainland with the aid of Mi’kmaq and Acadian militia, who braved the icy waters ferrying people across in small boats. On more than one occasion British troops would find empty farmhouses or villages, stripped of provisions; the livestock they did not flee with, slaughtered and left to rot and freeze. The memory of previous year’s Acadian expulsion was fresh in the minds of the French, and if not, it was reminded to them by the fleeing Acadian militia. The inhabitants did not desire to encounter a similar fate. Overall, by the end of 1758 the British would round up nearly 1500 French souls from Ile Royale, and ship them off to New England despite the winter for relocation. During the course of the round up though, skirmishes and guerilla attacks between Acadian, Mi’kmaq, French settlers and British forces would result in 250 dead or wounded British soldiers and some 500 known dead French and Indian settlers. It is believe that about half the Islands residents, perhaps 2000 in total may have fled to other parts of Acadia and New France.

At first Amherst’s intention was to expel them to France, but decided that it was too late in the year to push for a northern trans-Atlantic journey. Similarly, the Campaign against the Ile Saint Jean and other areas in the Maritimes filled with Acadian rebels would have to wait until spring, as would the campaign to conquer New France.

Otherwise Major General Amherst had to judge the charges brought by General John Mordaunt, who had been injured during the siege and missed half the action, against Colonel James Wolfe of having previous disobeyed one of Mordaunt’s orders when Wolfe order a retreat from the French during Mordaunt’s attack. It was a reprimand Amherst negated and vacated the charges; given that Wolfe had later on taken lead after Mordaunt had been injured and fought admirably. His decision however seemed only to incense General Mordaunt.