FRASERS
AT LOUISBOURG
Part
Four
The
Garrison
None of the
children from the town were recruited as soldiers, because the King
wanted the colonial population to grow. Most of the troops came from
France, many from among the homeless on the streets of Paris. A
significant portion of the troops were mere boys under 16 and
drunkenness, disorderly conduct and even desertions were
common.
Against the
garrison of the fort, Wolfe assembled an army of over12,000 men, 41
ships with a total of 1,956 guns. The Frasers alone comprised 13
companies. This combined might of nearly 27,000 soldiers and sailors
was assembled at Halifax and put through rigorous training exercises.
On May 26, 1758 embarkation began and on May 28 the fleet set sail
for Louisbourg.
The first of the
ships in Wolfe's fleet arrived at Louisbourg harbour on June 2nd but
the fog was heavy and the weather made a landing impossible until
June 8th. The Fortress waited until the landing boats were near the
shore and then trained the entire might of the fort's considerable
weapons upon them. Both cannon and musket fire rained down on the
landing craft. Boats were blown to pieces or capsized and the men had
to leap into the water to make it to shore. Brigadier Wolfe and the
Fraser Highlanders arrived safely at Cormorandiere cove under cover
of the smoke from the Fortress' own massive cannons.
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