FRASERS
AT LOUISBOURG
Part
Two
The
Cannons
When Louisbourg
had fallen to the armies of New England in 1745, she had been
protected by a garrison of only 560 soldiers, three quarters of whom
were marine troops. However, by the time the Fraser Highlanders
arrived, Louisbourg's forces had risen to over 3,600 "professional"
soldiers, battalions from four French army regiments.
The Fortress' 100
cannons were tended by an elite group of artillery specialists who
dressed in bright red uniforms. However, there were only 30 such
cannoneers, one for every three cannons, a shortage that was to prove
costly.
Loaded with a 13
pound charge, each of the Fortress mighty cannons was capable of
firing a round over a mile and a half. As they discharged, the roar
must have shaken the very foundations of the land. The vast majority
of the cannons, however, were pointed toward the sea; but Wolfe had
other ideas.
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