Earlier Permanent Settlement of New France
- Thread starter Viriato
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Yes, I took these from actual birth records. It really wasn't too different in pre-1750 New England, or Dutch South Africa. The difference with the French Canadian society is that in New England they began to decline slightly around the 1750s, and moreso after 1860-1870. However, French Canadian birthrates remained exceptionally high until around 1960.
I should also add that by 1750 the French Canadian population growth rate was 5 times greater than Metropolitan France's. Also, the infant mortality rate was 25% lower in New France, mostly due to better nourishment being available for children.
The major difference is that people in Canada mostly live on their own farms instead of in densely populated villages and towns. This does help contain the spread of diseases and vastly improves sanitation. It is important to remember that bouts of the plague still ravaged parts of Europe as late the early 19th century.
The major difference is that people in Canada mostly live on their own farms instead of in densely populated villages and towns. This does help contain the spread of diseases and vastly improves sanitation. It is important to remember that bouts of the plague still ravaged parts of Europe as late the early 19th century.
Prelude to War
After the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, the British and French agreed to establish a joint-commission to settle the boundary disputes in North America. However, negotiations made little headway, as both sides refused to give up what they perceived as their rightful territory. The British appointed William Shirley, former governor of Massachusetts and William Mildway as joint commissioners. In 1752 they were sent to Paris to resolve the border disputes once and for all. However, Shirley took a hard approach, claiming that the British territory went far west of the Appalachians in the South and far into Acadia in the North. In the end the negotiations came to naught and he returned Massachusetts in 1753 to take up the governorship once more.
Skeptical of the British, the French government began to take matters into its own hands. In 1749 the Viceroy of New France, the Marquis de la Galissonière sent a party of 250 men to inspect the country along the Appalachian Mountains and to take possession of this territory in the name of the King Louis XV of France. To that end, in late July they began burying lead plates and posting stone border posts along what they considered to be New France's eastern border (the Allegheny Ridge).
The French had settled the Ohio River Valley half a century earlier, however they had left the Appalachians largely to their Indian allies such as the Shawnee. However, fearful of British encroachment, they began to realize the need to establish a presence in the area, not just to protect French interests, but also those of France's allies, the Shawnee.
As early as 1745 the métis Shawnee trader Pierre Chartier complained to Pennsylvania governor Patrick Gordon about British settlers encroaching on Shawnee lands and selling alcohol to the Shawnee. The British paid little heed to these complaints and as a result the Shawnee began moving west. By 1751, they sent messages to those in the Shenandoah Valley to leave Virginia and cross into French territory, approximately 1,200 would move by 1753.
In July of 1752 the Marquis de Duquesne arrives in Québec as the new Viceroy and follows the direction of his predecessor in establishing a French military presence in the disputed regions. To that end an expedition of 3,000 men sets out from Montréal to build a chain of French forts the eastern frontier region. Fort de la Presque'îsle (Erie, PA) is the first fort to be built, with construction beginning in May of 1753. This is followed by Fort de la Rivère au Bœuf (Waterford, PA), construction there begins in July.
Meanwhile, the government of Virginia becomes uneasy about the French movements in the region. Governor Dinwiddie assigns George Washington, a major in the Virginia militia with the task of establishing a British presence in what they call "Ohio Country". In late October of 1753, Washington sets out from Williamsburg for Fort le Bœuf as an emissary of the British Crown. In December, Washington arrives at the fort and meets with French commanding officer Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, who politely receives Washington, but informs him that he does not have the authority to leave the area and has no intention of doing so. In January 16 of 1754, Washington returns to Williamsburg with the French reply. The following month, the British begin constructing a small fort, named Fort Prince George (Pittsburgh, PA), which is completed by April.
The French are informed of the British actions by the Shawnee and a force of 2,800 French troops arrives at Fort Prince George on April 15. The small British garrison of 51 Virginia militiamen quickly surrenders the fort and the next day depart the area. The French destroy Fort Prince George and begin construction of a large stone fort, Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh, PA). When Governor Dinwiddie hears of this, he instructs Washington to build up defenses and recruit new men. However, only 160 new men are enlisted and many of these are not fit to be soldiers. On May 28, 1754 the first Anglo-French skirmish occurs when Major Washington engages a unit of 40 Canadien militia who had been setting up a small fort. Ten French were left dead and 21 captured. However, one survivor made it back to Fort Duquesne to inform the commanding officer. The British had only lost one man in the skirmish, however, Washington retreats from the area and a few days later begins building Fort Necessity (Farmington, PA). A small 50-foot diameter circular wooden circular stockade, this becaomes Britain's westernmost outpost in North America. Fort Necessity was in the words of one contemporary "little more than a few logs lashed together to surround Washington's hapless army". However, on June 9, Washington is promoted to Colonel in command of the Virginia regiment.
On June 28, 1754 a detachment of 600 French soldiers arrives at Fort Necessity and destroys the small wooden fort. The French force Washington to sign a document agreeing that the British would not build anymore forts in the region within the next year. During that time a border commission would establish a formal boundary. The Canadien officer Louis Coulon de Villiers affirmed that the French were on a diplomatic mission, not a military one. On July 17, 1754 Washington arrives in Williamsburg where although he is not publicly chastized, Dinwiddie has the Virginia Regiment reorganised with no ranks above captain. Washington resigns rather than accept a demotion.
Earlier in the year, the British colonies been sensing that another war between Britain and France was about to come to fruition. From June 19 to July 11, 1754 twenty-one representatives from Connecticut, Maryland Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island meet in Albany to discuss a political union. The town of Albany is chosen as it represents the northern frontier of British settlement in New York. However, a great more deal of energy was wasted in friction between the various colonies than directed in strength at a common enemy.
In late August, Indians backed by the French began attacking small settlements in New York, including Hoosick and San Coick. The situation in North America grows ever more tense in frontier regions, and London must respond. In August word had reached London of the events in Virginia and the the government of the Duke of Newcastle decides to send an army to America to dislodge the French. However, with the exception of their navy, the British and colonial governments had neglected preparation for war. In September Major General Edward Braddock is appointed Commander-in-Chief of forces in British America and a war plan is discussed.
In November, two Irish regiments arrive in Virginia and three more in New England, also Two British regiments in New England are prepared for war. However, in December the French learn of Braddock's expedition to America and begin making their own preparations. Louis XV immediately sends six battalions of 5,000 troops to New France. Four go to to Acadia and two more to Louisiana, sailing from Brest in late March and arriving by May. The Royal Navy had been ordered to intercept the French squadrons, however a detachment of 11 French ships of the line sailed to Cadiz in Spain. However, this proved to be a diversionary tactic which led the British to believe the French were about to attack Gibraltar. This led the British squadrons to following pursuing the French ships to the Mediterranean, letting the French convoys to America slip past them. However, the French ships in Cadiz simply continued onward to Toulon afterwards.
In New France, the French are able to raise an Army of 30,000 regulars and 27,000 militia by May. Ironically, neither France nor Great Britain are technically at war with one another as no formal declarations have been made. The British however, hastily begin defensive preparations. After the destruction of Fort Necessity, they begin the construction of Fort Lyttleton in Pennsylvania to defend Eastern Pennsylvania from attack.
French troops during the Seven Years War in North America
After the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, the British and French agreed to establish a joint-commission to settle the boundary disputes in North America. However, negotiations made little headway, as both sides refused to give up what they perceived as their rightful territory. The British appointed William Shirley, former governor of Massachusetts and William Mildway as joint commissioners. In 1752 they were sent to Paris to resolve the border disputes once and for all. However, Shirley took a hard approach, claiming that the British territory went far west of the Appalachians in the South and far into Acadia in the North. In the end the negotiations came to naught and he returned Massachusetts in 1753 to take up the governorship once more.
Skeptical of the British, the French government began to take matters into its own hands. In 1749 the Viceroy of New France, the Marquis de la Galissonière sent a party of 250 men to inspect the country along the Appalachian Mountains and to take possession of this territory in the name of the King Louis XV of France. To that end, in late July they began burying lead plates and posting stone border posts along what they considered to be New France's eastern border (the Allegheny Ridge).
The French had settled the Ohio River Valley half a century earlier, however they had left the Appalachians largely to their Indian allies such as the Shawnee. However, fearful of British encroachment, they began to realize the need to establish a presence in the area, not just to protect French interests, but also those of France's allies, the Shawnee.
As early as 1745 the métis Shawnee trader Pierre Chartier complained to Pennsylvania governor Patrick Gordon about British settlers encroaching on Shawnee lands and selling alcohol to the Shawnee. The British paid little heed to these complaints and as a result the Shawnee began moving west. By 1751, they sent messages to those in the Shenandoah Valley to leave Virginia and cross into French territory, approximately 1,200 would move by 1753.
In July of 1752 the Marquis de Duquesne arrives in Québec as the new Viceroy and follows the direction of his predecessor in establishing a French military presence in the disputed regions. To that end an expedition of 3,000 men sets out from Montréal to build a chain of French forts the eastern frontier region. Fort de la Presque'îsle (Erie, PA) is the first fort to be built, with construction beginning in May of 1753. This is followed by Fort de la Rivère au Bœuf (Waterford, PA), construction there begins in July.
Meanwhile, the government of Virginia becomes uneasy about the French movements in the region. Governor Dinwiddie assigns George Washington, a major in the Virginia militia with the task of establishing a British presence in what they call "Ohio Country". In late October of 1753, Washington sets out from Williamsburg for Fort le Bœuf as an emissary of the British Crown. In December, Washington arrives at the fort and meets with French commanding officer Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, who politely receives Washington, but informs him that he does not have the authority to leave the area and has no intention of doing so. In January 16 of 1754, Washington returns to Williamsburg with the French reply. The following month, the British begin constructing a small fort, named Fort Prince George (Pittsburgh, PA), which is completed by April.
The French are informed of the British actions by the Shawnee and a force of 2,800 French troops arrives at Fort Prince George on April 15. The small British garrison of 51 Virginia militiamen quickly surrenders the fort and the next day depart the area. The French destroy Fort Prince George and begin construction of a large stone fort, Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh, PA). When Governor Dinwiddie hears of this, he instructs Washington to build up defenses and recruit new men. However, only 160 new men are enlisted and many of these are not fit to be soldiers. On May 28, 1754 the first Anglo-French skirmish occurs when Major Washington engages a unit of 40 Canadien militia who had been setting up a small fort. Ten French were left dead and 21 captured. However, one survivor made it back to Fort Duquesne to inform the commanding officer. The British had only lost one man in the skirmish, however, Washington retreats from the area and a few days later begins building Fort Necessity (Farmington, PA). A small 50-foot diameter circular wooden circular stockade, this becaomes Britain's westernmost outpost in North America. Fort Necessity was in the words of one contemporary "little more than a few logs lashed together to surround Washington's hapless army". However, on June 9, Washington is promoted to Colonel in command of the Virginia regiment.
On June 28, 1754 a detachment of 600 French soldiers arrives at Fort Necessity and destroys the small wooden fort. The French force Washington to sign a document agreeing that the British would not build anymore forts in the region within the next year. During that time a border commission would establish a formal boundary. The Canadien officer Louis Coulon de Villiers affirmed that the French were on a diplomatic mission, not a military one. On July 17, 1754 Washington arrives in Williamsburg where although he is not publicly chastized, Dinwiddie has the Virginia Regiment reorganised with no ranks above captain. Washington resigns rather than accept a demotion.
Earlier in the year, the British colonies been sensing that another war between Britain and France was about to come to fruition. From June 19 to July 11, 1754 twenty-one representatives from Connecticut, Maryland Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island meet in Albany to discuss a political union. The town of Albany is chosen as it represents the northern frontier of British settlement in New York. However, a great more deal of energy was wasted in friction between the various colonies than directed in strength at a common enemy.
In late August, Indians backed by the French began attacking small settlements in New York, including Hoosick and San Coick. The situation in North America grows ever more tense in frontier regions, and London must respond. In August word had reached London of the events in Virginia and the the government of the Duke of Newcastle decides to send an army to America to dislodge the French. However, with the exception of their navy, the British and colonial governments had neglected preparation for war. In September Major General Edward Braddock is appointed Commander-in-Chief of forces in British America and a war plan is discussed.
In November, two Irish regiments arrive in Virginia and three more in New England, also Two British regiments in New England are prepared for war. However, in December the French learn of Braddock's expedition to America and begin making their own preparations. Louis XV immediately sends six battalions of 5,000 troops to New France. Four go to to Acadia and two more to Louisiana, sailing from Brest in late March and arriving by May. The Royal Navy had been ordered to intercept the French squadrons, however a detachment of 11 French ships of the line sailed to Cadiz in Spain. However, this proved to be a diversionary tactic which led the British to believe the French were about to attack Gibraltar. This led the British squadrons to following pursuing the French ships to the Mediterranean, letting the French convoys to America slip past them. However, the French ships in Cadiz simply continued onward to Toulon afterwards.
In New France, the French are able to raise an Army of 30,000 regulars and 27,000 militia by May. Ironically, neither France nor Great Britain are technically at war with one another as no formal declarations have been made. The British however, hastily begin defensive preparations. After the destruction of Fort Necessity, they begin the construction of Fort Lyttleton in Pennsylvania to defend Eastern Pennsylvania from attack.
French troops during the Seven Years War in North America
In February 1755 Major-General Braddock arrives in Williamsburg, Virginia with 1,000 British regulars to make preparations to attack Fort Duquesne. In April 14, 1755 Braddock meets with the Governors of Virginia and Massachusetts along with the lieutenant-governors of Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania at the home of Major John Carlyle in Alexandria, VA. There they discuss preparations for an offensive against the French.
General Braddock is in favour of taking a single objective, namely Fort Duquesne. However, Governor Shirley of Massachusetts suggest that they split the British forces into four groups. They are as follows:
1. To group attack Fort Duquesne and up to Lake Erie. This is considered the main priority.
2. To attack Acadia east of the Kennebec River and and take Saint-Jean (St. John, NB). The goal here is to move New England's boundary to the Saint-Croix River.
3. Colonel William Johnson is to march an army from Albany and prepare an assault on Fort Saint-Frédéric.
4. Governor Shirley will lead an army through Iroquois Country in New York and enlist support of the Iroquois. Afterwards, they will rendezvous with Braddock's group to jointly attack Forts Machault, Le Bœuf and Presqu'île.
Also, at Alexandria Braddock tries to enlist monetary support from Britain's colonies to help pay for military operations, however none is forthcoming. This will be a sore spot for Britain, which is having to increasingly spend more of its own funds for military operations in America.
The parlour of Carlyle House in Alexandria, Virginia where a council of colonial and British officials meet. Among them is George Washington.
Meanwhile, in New France the Canadian-born Marquis de Vaudreuil arrives as Viceroy to replace Duquesne. He is a popular choice and manages to get the Canadiens to agree to pay a vigntième to pay for the war effort. In 1756, it raises 11 million livres alone. He also gets the clergy in New France to make a one time contribution of 1.6 million livres to help pay for fortifications. Having served as governor of Trois-Rivières and Louisiana previously, he has spent much of his life in New France and is familiar with the terrain and begins organizing the military and militia.
Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil de Cavagnial, Marquis de Vaudreuil
General Braddock is in favour of taking a single objective, namely Fort Duquesne. However, Governor Shirley of Massachusetts suggest that they split the British forces into four groups. They are as follows:
1. To group attack Fort Duquesne and up to Lake Erie. This is considered the main priority.
2. To attack Acadia east of the Kennebec River and and take Saint-Jean (St. John, NB). The goal here is to move New England's boundary to the Saint-Croix River.
3. Colonel William Johnson is to march an army from Albany and prepare an assault on Fort Saint-Frédéric.
4. Governor Shirley will lead an army through Iroquois Country in New York and enlist support of the Iroquois. Afterwards, they will rendezvous with Braddock's group to jointly attack Forts Machault, Le Bœuf and Presqu'île.
Also, at Alexandria Braddock tries to enlist monetary support from Britain's colonies to help pay for military operations, however none is forthcoming. This will be a sore spot for Britain, which is having to increasingly spend more of its own funds for military operations in America.
The parlour of Carlyle House in Alexandria, Virginia where a council of colonial and British officials meet. Among them is George Washington.
Meanwhile, in New France the Canadian-born Marquis de Vaudreuil arrives as Viceroy to replace Duquesne. He is a popular choice and manages to get the Canadiens to agree to pay a vigntième to pay for the war effort. In 1756, it raises 11 million livres alone. He also gets the clergy in New France to make a one time contribution of 1.6 million livres to help pay for fortifications. Having served as governor of Trois-Rivières and Louisiana previously, he has spent much of his life in New France and is familiar with the terrain and begins organizing the military and militia.
Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil de Cavagnial, Marquis de Vaudreuil
I was aware of the Acadien and Quebecker population booms in the late 19th/early 20th Century. I didn't know of the deep roots of the boom.
This gives me ideas for a Victoria 2 scenario I'm working on...
fasquardon
War in Europe
In Europe, the storm clouds of war begin gathering as well. By mid-March of 1755 negotiations with the British were not making any headway and French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Antoine-Louis Rouillé (who had assumed the post in 1754) instructed France's negotiator the Duke of Mirepoix to make no further concessions.
In April 28, 1755 King George II leaves for Hanover to organize the defence of his German holdings. He leaves the cabinet led by the Duke of Newcastle in charge of governing Great Britain during his absence. On May 2, Mirepoix leaves Great Britain for France. On May 3, three squadrons of 18 ships of the line sail for New France, arriving in Québec and Port-Royal. They escort a flotilla of transport ships carrying large quantities of artillery and weapons.
During the summer, the French make one more attempt to negotiate with the British by sending an ambassador to Hanover to meet with George II, however these came to nothing. In Hanover, the army was expanded by 8,000 men to 29,000 by late summer. The king also made an agreement with Hesse-Cassel to provide an additional 8,000 troops in return for subsidies for the next four years. He unsuccessfully attempted to get another 4,000 from Ansbach and the Bishop of Wurzburg. The king also tried to enlist support from both Denmark and the Netherlands to go to war with France with no success. He was further constrained when the British parliament refused to provide British troops for Hanover.
In September 30, 1755 the British did achieve a diplomatic coup however. Russia agreed to provide 55,000 troops to defend Hanover in return for monetary compensation. The Prussians for their part grow apprehensive, they considered France an ally. However, they do not want France to overrun the Austrian Netherlands and Hanover as well. However the treaty of alliance between the two countries was set to expire in 1756. Rouillé was in favour of maintaing the alliance with the Prussians, however Madame de Pompadour backed by her favourite, the Duke of Noailles was in favour of entering into a new alliance with the Austrians. Madame de Pompadour's wishes naturally won out.
In January of 1756, the Prussians shook the entire European alliance system by signing a treaty of alliance with Great Britain. This in turn led to the Austria and Russia signing their own alliance by April and entering into negotiations with France. The following month, France and Austria entered into an alliance with the Treaty of Versailles. Russia also repudiated its agreement to come to the aid of Hanover.
After two years of fighting, on May 17, 1756 Great Britain formally declares war on France and France reciprocates by declaring war on Great Britain in June 9.
Army Strength in 1756
France 220,000 regulars + 45,000 militia
Russia 260,000 regulars + 70,000 irregulars and militia
Austria 150,000 regulars + 45,000 militia
Prussia 150,000 regulars
Great Britain 51,000 regulars + 32,000 militia
Hanover 29,000 regulars
Hesse-Cassel 8,500 regulars
In Europe, the storm clouds of war begin gathering as well. By mid-March of 1755 negotiations with the British were not making any headway and French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Antoine-Louis Rouillé (who had assumed the post in 1754) instructed France's negotiator the Duke of Mirepoix to make no further concessions.
In April 28, 1755 King George II leaves for Hanover to organize the defence of his German holdings. He leaves the cabinet led by the Duke of Newcastle in charge of governing Great Britain during his absence. On May 2, Mirepoix leaves Great Britain for France. On May 3, three squadrons of 18 ships of the line sail for New France, arriving in Québec and Port-Royal. They escort a flotilla of transport ships carrying large quantities of artillery and weapons.
During the summer, the French make one more attempt to negotiate with the British by sending an ambassador to Hanover to meet with George II, however these came to nothing. In Hanover, the army was expanded by 8,000 men to 29,000 by late summer. The king also made an agreement with Hesse-Cassel to provide an additional 8,000 troops in return for subsidies for the next four years. He unsuccessfully attempted to get another 4,000 from Ansbach and the Bishop of Wurzburg. The king also tried to enlist support from both Denmark and the Netherlands to go to war with France with no success. He was further constrained when the British parliament refused to provide British troops for Hanover.
In September 30, 1755 the British did achieve a diplomatic coup however. Russia agreed to provide 55,000 troops to defend Hanover in return for monetary compensation. The Prussians for their part grow apprehensive, they considered France an ally. However, they do not want France to overrun the Austrian Netherlands and Hanover as well. However the treaty of alliance between the two countries was set to expire in 1756. Rouillé was in favour of maintaing the alliance with the Prussians, however Madame de Pompadour backed by her favourite, the Duke of Noailles was in favour of entering into a new alliance with the Austrians. Madame de Pompadour's wishes naturally won out.
In January of 1756, the Prussians shook the entire European alliance system by signing a treaty of alliance with Great Britain. This in turn led to the Austria and Russia signing their own alliance by April and entering into negotiations with France. The following month, France and Austria entered into an alliance with the Treaty of Versailles. Russia also repudiated its agreement to come to the aid of Hanover.
After two years of fighting, on May 17, 1756 Great Britain formally declares war on France and France reciprocates by declaring war on Great Britain in June 9.
Army Strength in 1756
France 220,000 regulars + 45,000 militia
Russia 260,000 regulars + 70,000 irregulars and militia
Austria 150,000 regulars + 45,000 militia
Prussia 150,000 regulars
Great Britain 51,000 regulars + 32,000 militia
Hanover 29,000 regulars
Hesse-Cassel 8,500 regulars
Braddock's Expedition
December 1754 - The French in Québec had learned of British reinforcements being sent to America. They were unsure of Braddock's next move however.
April 1755 - Construction begins on Fort Cumberland (Cumberland, MD). This becomes Britain's westernmost outpost in North America.
29 May 1755 - Major-General Edward Braddock's set out from Fort Cumberland with 2,100 men consisting of the 44th and 48th regiments (1,350 men) in addition to around 500 regulars, with the rest being Virginia militia. The slow moving column laden with heavy artillery advanced less than two miles per day, the reason being Braddock had insisted a road be carved out of the wilderness to Fort Duquesne. To hasten the advance, troops were split into a forward column of around 1,300 men under Braddock and a slower moving column of 800 men under Colonel Thomas Dunbar.
June 1755 - French commanders in Québec, Louisville and Montréal learn of Braddock's expedition. This allows the French to reinforce Fort Duquesne with an additional 2,500 men. Meanwhile the French had been utilizing their Indian allies as scouts to track Braddock's movements and supply them with valuable information.
9 July 1755 - Braddock's men crossed the Monogahela River 10 miles south of Fort Duquesne. Unexpectedly, the British were engaged by a force of over 1,000 French soldiers. Utilizing Canadien snipers, the French were able to inflict heavy casualties on Braddock's men as his column dissolved into panic. Afterwards, a force of 600 French regulars advanced, engaging the British head on. The British commanders kept to try to maintain formation, but a force of 600 Indians began to attack from the cover of the forest. The battle was a bloodbath with only 12 French casualties and over 900 British, in addition to 240 prisoners being taken.
Colonel Dunbar, the leader of the rear supply units took command and ordered a retreat of the survivors, leaving behind cannons and supplies along with hundreds of horses and oxen. France's Indian allies began looting and scalping causing chaos as the retreating British attempted to destroy their provisions. This allowed around 140 British & provincials to escape by horse, among them George Washington.
13 July 1755, General Braddock who was a prisoner of the French at Fort Duquesne died of wounds during battle. The remnants of Braddock's force hastily retreat to Philadelphia.
July to December 1755 - The news of Braddock's defeat set off a wave of Indian attacks throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Nowhere from the Potomac to the Delaware is safe, demoralizing the British settlers. Most began to flee to the safety of the coastal settlements. The first Indian massacres reported were at the outposts of Penn's Creek and Leyron by August, this was followed with Great Cove. Most British settlers fled the Cogohego Valley all together. In November, the settlements of Tulpehocken and Swatara were also attacked. All British settlements in the Blue mountains had been destroyed or abandoned by the end of 1755.
24 July 1755 - A special session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly convenes to organize defence of the province. Unable to recruit enough militia, Governor Morris of Pennsylvania appeals to neighbouring colonies for assistance. In November, he writes to Governor Shirley of Massachusetts to request that he divert troops from Albany which were being prepared to attack Fort Saint-Frèderic, so that they can defend Philadelphia.
26 August 1755 - News reaches London of Braddock's disaster. The defeat causes panic in the colonies and shame and humiliation in Britain. There is jubilation once the news reaches Québec and Paris. Captured British regimental flags from the battle are triumphantly placed in the churches of Québec. However, the French are still attempting to ensure peace and the Canadiens are ordered to only take defensive actions.
September 1755 - Not aware of French orders, the French troops from Fort Duquesne have destroyed set out from Fort Duquesne to detroyt Fort Ohio, Fort Asby and Fort Cocke. The British settlers in America have begun to lose faith in Britain's ability to protect them from the French and Indians.
November 1755 - Fearing war, the British parliament approves funding to raise an additional 17,000 troops for the defence of Great Britain and Ireland.
December 1755 - By the end of the year men are called up for service in various British colonies as they begin to form militias. In Massachusetts some 8,000 men are raised to defend Maine and New Hampshire, another 3,000 in Connecticut and 650 in Virginia.
5 December 1755 - Parliament votes to send 6,700 reinforcements to America, despite Newcastle's opposition. After Braddock's defeat he wanted only American troops used in America. Newcastle felt that British troops would be needed in Great Britain from a French invasion. However, parliament approves troops to be sent to Pennsylvania where the government has trouble in convincing many pacifist Quakers to enlist in the militia, having had to rely on small numbers of German settlers.
December 1754 - The French in Québec had learned of British reinforcements being sent to America. They were unsure of Braddock's next move however.
April 1755 - Construction begins on Fort Cumberland (Cumberland, MD). This becomes Britain's westernmost outpost in North America.
29 May 1755 - Major-General Edward Braddock's set out from Fort Cumberland with 2,100 men consisting of the 44th and 48th regiments (1,350 men) in addition to around 500 regulars, with the rest being Virginia militia. The slow moving column laden with heavy artillery advanced less than two miles per day, the reason being Braddock had insisted a road be carved out of the wilderness to Fort Duquesne. To hasten the advance, troops were split into a forward column of around 1,300 men under Braddock and a slower moving column of 800 men under Colonel Thomas Dunbar.
June 1755 - French commanders in Québec, Louisville and Montréal learn of Braddock's expedition. This allows the French to reinforce Fort Duquesne with an additional 2,500 men. Meanwhile the French had been utilizing their Indian allies as scouts to track Braddock's movements and supply them with valuable information.
9 July 1755 - Braddock's men crossed the Monogahela River 10 miles south of Fort Duquesne. Unexpectedly, the British were engaged by a force of over 1,000 French soldiers. Utilizing Canadien snipers, the French were able to inflict heavy casualties on Braddock's men as his column dissolved into panic. Afterwards, a force of 600 French regulars advanced, engaging the British head on. The British commanders kept to try to maintain formation, but a force of 600 Indians began to attack from the cover of the forest. The battle was a bloodbath with only 12 French casualties and over 900 British, in addition to 240 prisoners being taken.
Colonel Dunbar, the leader of the rear supply units took command and ordered a retreat of the survivors, leaving behind cannons and supplies along with hundreds of horses and oxen. France's Indian allies began looting and scalping causing chaos as the retreating British attempted to destroy their provisions. This allowed around 140 British & provincials to escape by horse, among them George Washington.
13 July 1755, General Braddock who was a prisoner of the French at Fort Duquesne died of wounds during battle. The remnants of Braddock's force hastily retreat to Philadelphia.
July to December 1755 - The news of Braddock's defeat set off a wave of Indian attacks throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Nowhere from the Potomac to the Delaware is safe, demoralizing the British settlers. Most began to flee to the safety of the coastal settlements. The first Indian massacres reported were at the outposts of Penn's Creek and Leyron by August, this was followed with Great Cove. Most British settlers fled the Cogohego Valley all together. In November, the settlements of Tulpehocken and Swatara were also attacked. All British settlements in the Blue mountains had been destroyed or abandoned by the end of 1755.
24 July 1755 - A special session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly convenes to organize defence of the province. Unable to recruit enough militia, Governor Morris of Pennsylvania appeals to neighbouring colonies for assistance. In November, he writes to Governor Shirley of Massachusetts to request that he divert troops from Albany which were being prepared to attack Fort Saint-Frèderic, so that they can defend Philadelphia.
26 August 1755 - News reaches London of Braddock's disaster. The defeat causes panic in the colonies and shame and humiliation in Britain. There is jubilation once the news reaches Québec and Paris. Captured British regimental flags from the battle are triumphantly placed in the churches of Québec. However, the French are still attempting to ensure peace and the Canadiens are ordered to only take defensive actions.
September 1755 - Not aware of French orders, the French troops from Fort Duquesne have destroyed set out from Fort Duquesne to detroyt Fort Ohio, Fort Asby and Fort Cocke. The British settlers in America have begun to lose faith in Britain's ability to protect them from the French and Indians.
November 1755 - Fearing war, the British parliament approves funding to raise an additional 17,000 troops for the defence of Great Britain and Ireland.
December 1755 - By the end of the year men are called up for service in various British colonies as they begin to form militias. In Massachusetts some 8,000 men are raised to defend Maine and New Hampshire, another 3,000 in Connecticut and 650 in Virginia.
5 December 1755 - Parliament votes to send 6,700 reinforcements to America, despite Newcastle's opposition. After Braddock's defeat he wanted only American troops used in America. Newcastle felt that British troops would be needed in Great Britain from a French invasion. However, parliament approves troops to be sent to Pennsylvania where the government has trouble in convincing many pacifist Quakers to enlist in the militia, having had to rely on small numbers of German settlers.
New York 1755
After the Battle of Monongahela, the French has seized papers disclosing the British offensive plans against New France. Viceroy Vaudreuil acquired these and quickly reinforced Fort Saint-Frédéric, bringing the forces there to 11,000 men. He also bolstered the forces along the Acadia-New England border to 24,000 men with a total of 6,000 men being sent to Fort Niagara. This was unbeknownst to the British, and the colonial governments carried on with their plans to attack New France.
At Alexandria in April of 1755, General Braddock had given William Shirley the authorization to commence an attack on Fort Saint-Frédéric on Lake Champlain. The hope was that by capturing this strategic location, the British could strike at the heart of Canada, Québec. However, Shirley, a man with no military experience decided to alter these plans and divide the British forces and two separate expeditions The first would attack Fort Saint-Frédéric and another heading west along the Mohawk River through Iroquois territory to establish a British fort on Lake Ontario.
To that end, Shirley sent one of his sons to recruit troops in New York since Massachusetts men were needed to protect the border with Acadia. This would lead to conflict with the Governor of New York, who thought Shirley was interfering in his personal domain. In July of 1755, Shirley meets with Major-General William Johnson (The Superintendent of Indian Affairs) to form the military plans of attack. The two men quickly became embroiled in a bitter feud over resources and men. This would be a prelude to bigger problems with the British war effort in America, too many petty rivalries being unable to present a united front against the common enemy.
Despite the opposition of Johnson, Shirley carried on with his plans to establish a British presence on the Great Lakes. In New York City he acquired provisions and set about with 2,500 men consisting of two regiments and (50th and 51st) and one regiment of New Jersey militia (500 men). Departing from Albany in July, they headed west to Schenectady where they loaded several small boats with provisions and men. Travelling 60 miles through wilderness they reached the “Great Carrying Place” (Rome, NY) in Oneida territory by August. En-route, however Shirley learned of the defeat of Braddock’s expedition and the death of his own son in the battle. Now the temporary Commander-in-Chief of British forces in America, he was growing unsure of his own abilities to attack the French.
Shirley’s plan initially called on attacking Sainte-Marie (Syracuse, NY) a French mission of the Onondaga and proceed to Lake Ontario, from there building a ships to attack French settlements and disrupt New France’s internal trade. However, Mohawk scouts had warned Shirley that there were over 6,000 French troops in the area (in reality there were only 1,300), this led him to call off the attack. Instead, Shirley decided to build a fort, called Fort Oneida at the Great Carrying Place. By mid-September the fort was almost completed, though by that time many of his men were sick, with only around 1,300 were fit for service. A few weeks later provisions arrived in the fort, including wheat and flour, helping boost the health and morale of the British soldiers. These would be enough for a planned expedition against Sainte-Marie. However, in the end Shirley summoned a new war council and it was decided to abandon these plans as too risky. He made the resolution to strengthen Fort Oneida and plan an attack on the French following year.
Therefore, he departed on 24 October 1755, leaving behind a garrison of 700 men to finish the fort, arriving in Albany on 4 November. In December he was back in New York City to form a plan of attack for the following year. However, these plans had to be shelved as Shirley's troops were called to Pennsylvania to help protect the frontier being ravaged by Indian raids.
Meanwhile, William Johnson was sent to command a poorly trained group of 3,000 provincials along with 300 Mohawaks on an assault of Fort Saint-Frédéric, located on Lac du Saint-Sacrement (which Johnson named Lake George). His force consisted of 900 men from Massachusetts, 1,200 from Connecticut, 500 from New Hampshire, 400 from Rhode Island and 800 from New York. Their first task was to construct a Fort, and they began building Fort Lyman under the direction of General Phileas Lyman. On 22 August, however, Mohawk scouts had informed Johnson of the large amount of French troops whom had prepared for a British Invasion.
On 26 August a small detachment of 500 New Hampshire men under Colonel Blanchard was left to man Fort Lyman, the other 2,000 men advanced towards Lac Saint-Sacrement encamping on the southern edge of the lake. Under the command of Baron Dieskau, the French waited for the British attack, and on 1 September captured a British soldier who informed them of Johnson’s plans. They were also informed that the British were building a fort, however it had not yet been completed. With a force of 5,000 men, Dieskau set up camp on the southern edge of the Lake by 4 September. On 7 September they were only one mile away from Fort Lyman. Dieskau first decided to attack Johnson’s camp the following day. The Provincials fought bravely, however they lost over 300 men with Colonel Ephraim Williams being among the dead. The French casualties numbered over 200, but William Johnson was able to retreat to Albany with over 3,000 men. To protect the area, the French set about constructing Fort Carillon on Lac Saint-Sacrement as well and to reinforce their garrisons with additional men. Here they would dig in for the winter and await further commands from Québec.
Fort Carillon, a French fort begun in 1755
After the Battle of Monongahela, the French has seized papers disclosing the British offensive plans against New France. Viceroy Vaudreuil acquired these and quickly reinforced Fort Saint-Frédéric, bringing the forces there to 11,000 men. He also bolstered the forces along the Acadia-New England border to 24,000 men with a total of 6,000 men being sent to Fort Niagara. This was unbeknownst to the British, and the colonial governments carried on with their plans to attack New France.
At Alexandria in April of 1755, General Braddock had given William Shirley the authorization to commence an attack on Fort Saint-Frédéric on Lake Champlain. The hope was that by capturing this strategic location, the British could strike at the heart of Canada, Québec. However, Shirley, a man with no military experience decided to alter these plans and divide the British forces and two separate expeditions The first would attack Fort Saint-Frédéric and another heading west along the Mohawk River through Iroquois territory to establish a British fort on Lake Ontario.
To that end, Shirley sent one of his sons to recruit troops in New York since Massachusetts men were needed to protect the border with Acadia. This would lead to conflict with the Governor of New York, who thought Shirley was interfering in his personal domain. In July of 1755, Shirley meets with Major-General William Johnson (The Superintendent of Indian Affairs) to form the military plans of attack. The two men quickly became embroiled in a bitter feud over resources and men. This would be a prelude to bigger problems with the British war effort in America, too many petty rivalries being unable to present a united front against the common enemy.
Despite the opposition of Johnson, Shirley carried on with his plans to establish a British presence on the Great Lakes. In New York City he acquired provisions and set about with 2,500 men consisting of two regiments and (50th and 51st) and one regiment of New Jersey militia (500 men). Departing from Albany in July, they headed west to Schenectady where they loaded several small boats with provisions and men. Travelling 60 miles through wilderness they reached the “Great Carrying Place” (Rome, NY) in Oneida territory by August. En-route, however Shirley learned of the defeat of Braddock’s expedition and the death of his own son in the battle. Now the temporary Commander-in-Chief of British forces in America, he was growing unsure of his own abilities to attack the French.
Shirley’s plan initially called on attacking Sainte-Marie (Syracuse, NY) a French mission of the Onondaga and proceed to Lake Ontario, from there building a ships to attack French settlements and disrupt New France’s internal trade. However, Mohawk scouts had warned Shirley that there were over 6,000 French troops in the area (in reality there were only 1,300), this led him to call off the attack. Instead, Shirley decided to build a fort, called Fort Oneida at the Great Carrying Place. By mid-September the fort was almost completed, though by that time many of his men were sick, with only around 1,300 were fit for service. A few weeks later provisions arrived in the fort, including wheat and flour, helping boost the health and morale of the British soldiers. These would be enough for a planned expedition against Sainte-Marie. However, in the end Shirley summoned a new war council and it was decided to abandon these plans as too risky. He made the resolution to strengthen Fort Oneida and plan an attack on the French following year.
Therefore, he departed on 24 October 1755, leaving behind a garrison of 700 men to finish the fort, arriving in Albany on 4 November. In December he was back in New York City to form a plan of attack for the following year. However, these plans had to be shelved as Shirley's troops were called to Pennsylvania to help protect the frontier being ravaged by Indian raids.
Meanwhile, William Johnson was sent to command a poorly trained group of 3,000 provincials along with 300 Mohawaks on an assault of Fort Saint-Frédéric, located on Lac du Saint-Sacrement (which Johnson named Lake George). His force consisted of 900 men from Massachusetts, 1,200 from Connecticut, 500 from New Hampshire, 400 from Rhode Island and 800 from New York. Their first task was to construct a Fort, and they began building Fort Lyman under the direction of General Phileas Lyman. On 22 August, however, Mohawk scouts had informed Johnson of the large amount of French troops whom had prepared for a British Invasion.
On 26 August a small detachment of 500 New Hampshire men under Colonel Blanchard was left to man Fort Lyman, the other 2,000 men advanced towards Lac Saint-Sacrement encamping on the southern edge of the lake. Under the command of Baron Dieskau, the French waited for the British attack, and on 1 September captured a British soldier who informed them of Johnson’s plans. They were also informed that the British were building a fort, however it had not yet been completed. With a force of 5,000 men, Dieskau set up camp on the southern edge of the Lake by 4 September. On 7 September they were only one mile away from Fort Lyman. Dieskau first decided to attack Johnson’s camp the following day. The Provincials fought bravely, however they lost over 300 men with Colonel Ephraim Williams being among the dead. The French casualties numbered over 200, but William Johnson was able to retreat to Albany with over 3,000 men. To protect the area, the French set about constructing Fort Carillon on Lac Saint-Sacrement as well and to reinforce their garrisons with additional men. Here they would dig in for the winter and await further commands from Québec.
Fort Carillon, a French fort begun in 1755
My father (born in 1935) is one of 12 children; my mother (born 1942), also one of 12, though 2 died in infancy. Both lived in rural northern Quebec, and had neighbours who had even more children....
Some of their siblings had more than 6 children (my first cousins), so yes, 'New France' had a high birth rate! There's nothing else to do in winter, it's too cold!!
Navies during the Prelude to War
Since the last conflict, the French began expanding their navy to protect the valuable overseas commerce. France is the world's leading mercantile power, accounting for 18% of all global trade in 1755. They could not allow the British to blockade their coast once again. To that end, much of New France's revenue went into securing naval expansion, as the export trade has become the lifeblood of the colony.
Though Britain's Royal Navy was still larger than France's, in 1755, France was quickly catching up. One important thing to remember is that in 1750, France had 25 million inhabitants vs the fewer than 7 million in the British Isles. Though Britain's finances were somewhat better organized than France's, the French crown had a budget of more than 650 million livres in 1755 (when the French colonies are included). The British revenues only amounted to £7 million in 1755 (168 million livres). Also, though Britain received income from its West Indian colonies, none came from North America. in 1755 the British parliament had to grant £1 million for defence of North America.
France's naval budget is 75 million livres for 1755 but is raised to over 100 million for 1756. Britain spends £3.9 million (93.5 million livres). Much of this new spending comes on the French crown borrowing larger sums of money, however for the time being, Louis XV is not worried about finances. In 1756, a total of 3 British ships of the line are launched, whereas the French launch another 10. Also, France is making use of the dockyards at Québec to build smaller frigates.
Below is a timeline of the naval events leading up to the formal declaration of war in May of 1756.
27 April 1755
Admiral Edward Boscawen sails with 11 ships of the line to Boston. They manage to capture a single French frigate off the cost of Newfoundland. However, fever spreads throughout his squadron and kills over 2,000 of his men. The fleet is forced to return to England.
21 June 1755
Six more ships of the line arrive in Boston and two head to Virginia carrying reinforcements.
July 1755
5 shiploads of timber arrive in France. These are essential to the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry.
28 July 1755
A large fleet under Vice Admiral Edward Hawke consisting of 16 ships of the line arrives in the Bay of Biscay. The Duke of Cumberland advocates using this fleet to attack French commerce, however Newcastle favours being cautious as the two nations are still not at war. However, Hawke's squadron is battered by bad weather and its crews weakened by sickness, they return to port by September.
August 1755
Toulon is rearmed and 14 ships of the line are based at France's Mediterranean base.
September 1755
Six new ships of the line are launched in France (4 90-gun ships and 2-80 gun ships), these will be the largest of France's fleet. Brest and Rochefort each have 12 ships of the line based there.
October 1755
Four ships of the line are launched in France (2 74 gun ships and 2 64 gun ships).
18 October 1755
4 ships of the line and 5 frigates sail from Brest for Saint-Domingue, 2 ships of the line and 2 frigates sail from Rochefort to Martinique. France's West Indies fleet is now larger than Britain's.
15 October 1755
Vice Admiral John Byng sails to the Bay of Biscay with Hawke's squadron. The British cabinet has given authorization to attack French warships, however they only manage to capture the French navy's oldest ship.
November 1755
Boscawen's fleet returns from America, leaving Boston with only four ships of the line to guard New England.
December 1755
The Royal Navy has 88 ships of the line (with an additional 22 under construction), France has 75 (with an additional 10 under construction) and Spain has 40 (with an additional 5 under construction). Britain is hoping that Spain will stay out of the war long enough for it to maintain its naval superiority.
December 1755 to February 1756
France has 48 ships of the line based at Brest and Rochefort with 70,000 troops in coastal cities. The French hope they can intimidate the British into thinking an invasion is imminent. With so few troops in England, this tactic works. The British begin pulling over half of its navy to home port by spring of 1756. However, they are short 10,000 men, and the royal navy attempts to recruit foreigners. Typhus and scurvy aboard British naval ships cost the lives of 2,000 sailors and and another 1,200 are discharged by the end of 1755. Only 36,000 sailors are England and 6,000 of those are too ill.
January 30, 1756
3 French ships of the line sail for New Orleans from Rochefort. They manage to capture 1 British ship of the line.
February 1756
Britain requests Dutch assistance in the form of 6,000 troops. The Netherlands prefers to remain neutral.
February 1756
France's ships of the line
Atlantic Ports 43
India 5
Mediterranean 14
New France 8 (3 heading to Lousiana)
West Indies 6
Febuary 23, 1756
6 Ships of the line sail for Saint-Domingue under Etienne Perier. The British squadron commander in Jamaica is fearful of a French invasion. There are too few British ships in the Caribbean and French privateers are raiding British commerce.
April 6, 1756
Admiral John Byng sails from Portsmouth for the Mediterranean with 10 ships of the line. He encounters the French, and in a short battle and 2 British ships of the line are sunk and 2 more are captured Only a single French ship is sunk. Byng returns to Gibraltar to repair his ships.
May 1756
8,600 Hanoverians and 6,500 Hessians sent to southern England to assist in combating the possibility of French invasion. They join the small force of 35,000 British soldiers. It is rumoured in Britain that the French have an invading army of 60 to 65,000 men ready.
May 1756
The Royal Navy's situation in the Mediterranean is critical. Gibraltar only has 12 serviceable ships of the line and these are undermanned. The French had 14 in Toulon.
May 1756
3 36-gun frigates are fitted and launched from Québec including the Abénaquise.
20 May 1756
The Royal Navy sends 5 more ships of the line to reinforce Byng's fleet at Gibraltar. Also, three regiments are sent to Gibraltar. However, these are to sail for Minorca. Gibraltar remains vulnerable and the British are hopeful that Spain will remain neutral.
By 1756 French privateering becomes a major problem for both the English and French. French privateers operate out of Bayonne and Dunkirk in the Atlantic along with Port-Royal in Acadia, Mobile in Louisiana and Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indies. British privateers are particularly active in Minorca in the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Since the last conflict, the French began expanding their navy to protect the valuable overseas commerce. France is the world's leading mercantile power, accounting for 18% of all global trade in 1755. They could not allow the British to blockade their coast once again. To that end, much of New France's revenue went into securing naval expansion, as the export trade has become the lifeblood of the colony.
Though Britain's Royal Navy was still larger than France's, in 1755, France was quickly catching up. One important thing to remember is that in 1750, France had 25 million inhabitants vs the fewer than 7 million in the British Isles. Though Britain's finances were somewhat better organized than France's, the French crown had a budget of more than 650 million livres in 1755 (when the French colonies are included). The British revenues only amounted to £7 million in 1755 (168 million livres). Also, though Britain received income from its West Indian colonies, none came from North America. in 1755 the British parliament had to grant £1 million for defence of North America.
France's naval budget is 75 million livres for 1755 but is raised to over 100 million for 1756. Britain spends £3.9 million (93.5 million livres). Much of this new spending comes on the French crown borrowing larger sums of money, however for the time being, Louis XV is not worried about finances. In 1756, a total of 3 British ships of the line are launched, whereas the French launch another 10. Also, France is making use of the dockyards at Québec to build smaller frigates.
Below is a timeline of the naval events leading up to the formal declaration of war in May of 1756.
27 April 1755
Admiral Edward Boscawen sails with 11 ships of the line to Boston. They manage to capture a single French frigate off the cost of Newfoundland. However, fever spreads throughout his squadron and kills over 2,000 of his men. The fleet is forced to return to England.
21 June 1755
Six more ships of the line arrive in Boston and two head to Virginia carrying reinforcements.
July 1755
5 shiploads of timber arrive in France. These are essential to the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry.
28 July 1755
A large fleet under Vice Admiral Edward Hawke consisting of 16 ships of the line arrives in the Bay of Biscay. The Duke of Cumberland advocates using this fleet to attack French commerce, however Newcastle favours being cautious as the two nations are still not at war. However, Hawke's squadron is battered by bad weather and its crews weakened by sickness, they return to port by September.
August 1755
Toulon is rearmed and 14 ships of the line are based at France's Mediterranean base.
September 1755
Six new ships of the line are launched in France (4 90-gun ships and 2-80 gun ships), these will be the largest of France's fleet. Brest and Rochefort each have 12 ships of the line based there.
October 1755
Four ships of the line are launched in France (2 74 gun ships and 2 64 gun ships).
18 October 1755
4 ships of the line and 5 frigates sail from Brest for Saint-Domingue, 2 ships of the line and 2 frigates sail from Rochefort to Martinique. France's West Indies fleet is now larger than Britain's.
15 October 1755
Vice Admiral John Byng sails to the Bay of Biscay with Hawke's squadron. The British cabinet has given authorization to attack French warships, however they only manage to capture the French navy's oldest ship.
November 1755
Boscawen's fleet returns from America, leaving Boston with only four ships of the line to guard New England.
December 1755
The Royal Navy has 88 ships of the line (with an additional 22 under construction), France has 75 (with an additional 10 under construction) and Spain has 40 (with an additional 5 under construction). Britain is hoping that Spain will stay out of the war long enough for it to maintain its naval superiority.
December 1755 to February 1756
France has 48 ships of the line based at Brest and Rochefort with 70,000 troops in coastal cities. The French hope they can intimidate the British into thinking an invasion is imminent. With so few troops in England, this tactic works. The British begin pulling over half of its navy to home port by spring of 1756. However, they are short 10,000 men, and the royal navy attempts to recruit foreigners. Typhus and scurvy aboard British naval ships cost the lives of 2,000 sailors and and another 1,200 are discharged by the end of 1755. Only 36,000 sailors are England and 6,000 of those are too ill.
January 30, 1756
3 French ships of the line sail for New Orleans from Rochefort. They manage to capture 1 British ship of the line.
February 1756
Britain requests Dutch assistance in the form of 6,000 troops. The Netherlands prefers to remain neutral.
February 1756
France's ships of the line
Atlantic Ports 43
India 5
Mediterranean 14
New France 8 (3 heading to Lousiana)
West Indies 6
Febuary 23, 1756
6 Ships of the line sail for Saint-Domingue under Etienne Perier. The British squadron commander in Jamaica is fearful of a French invasion. There are too few British ships in the Caribbean and French privateers are raiding British commerce.
April 6, 1756
Admiral John Byng sails from Portsmouth for the Mediterranean with 10 ships of the line. He encounters the French, and in a short battle and 2 British ships of the line are sunk and 2 more are captured Only a single French ship is sunk. Byng returns to Gibraltar to repair his ships.
May 1756
8,600 Hanoverians and 6,500 Hessians sent to southern England to assist in combating the possibility of French invasion. They join the small force of 35,000 British soldiers. It is rumoured in Britain that the French have an invading army of 60 to 65,000 men ready.
May 1756
The Royal Navy's situation in the Mediterranean is critical. Gibraltar only has 12 serviceable ships of the line and these are undermanned. The French had 14 in Toulon.
May 1756
3 36-gun frigates are fitted and launched from Québec including the Abénaquise.
20 May 1756
The Royal Navy sends 5 more ships of the line to reinforce Byng's fleet at Gibraltar. Also, three regiments are sent to Gibraltar. However, these are to sail for Minorca. Gibraltar remains vulnerable and the British are hopeful that Spain will remain neutral.
By 1756 French privateering becomes a major problem for both the English and French. French privateers operate out of Bayonne and Dunkirk in the Atlantic along with Port-Royal in Acadia, Mobile in Louisiana and Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indies. British privateers are particularly active in Minorca in the Caribbean and Bermuda.
With a PoD that far back, Bradford's still sent to Virginia? Butterflies.
Edit: Sorry, I was NOT trying to make his name into an obscenity. As much has he deserved it.
Edit: Sorry, I was NOT trying to make his name into an obscenity. As much has he deserved it.
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I know, I'm unoriginal...I just didn't want to start having to come up with random people's names etc. However, the Seven Years War is definitely going to be different and change the course of the 18th and 19th centuries. I'm not sure if I'm being too detailed, but I wanted to portray as accurately as possible what this New France would look like.
Disaster at Minorca
As early as October of 1755 the British knew that the French were preparing an assault on the British island of Minorca in the Mediterranean. At the beginning of the 1756 only a small squadron of 3 ships of the line and 5 frigates protected the British base.
8 March 1756 a squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Byng with 10 ships of the line was sent to Minorca along with a reinforcement of troops. Meanwhile the French began their preparations at Toulon in early April.
10 April a French fleet of 14 ships of the line and 7 frigates under de la Galissonière sails from Toulon escorting 198 transports with 16,000 men commanded by the Duke of Richelieu. on the 18 April the French reach Mahon Harbour.
23 April the siege of Fort St. Philip begins. Byng attempts to relieve the siege but after losing half of his ships, he retreats to Gibraltar. For his inaction, Byng is court martialled and executed the following year.
28 June the British garrison surrenders and on July 7 the remnants of the British forces are withdrawn to Gibraltar. A fleet under Sir Edward Hawke had arrived in the Mediterranean, but it was too late and it too withdrew to Gibraltar.
The British are eager to regain the island, but prefer to keep the majority of their ships in home waters to stave off a French invasion. The French begin to use the capture of Minorca as a way to lure the Spanish to join them into a war against the British. They also begin to plan an assault on Gibraltar.
As early as October of 1755 the British knew that the French were preparing an assault on the British island of Minorca in the Mediterranean. At the beginning of the 1756 only a small squadron of 3 ships of the line and 5 frigates protected the British base.
8 March 1756 a squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Byng with 10 ships of the line was sent to Minorca along with a reinforcement of troops. Meanwhile the French began their preparations at Toulon in early April.
10 April a French fleet of 14 ships of the line and 7 frigates under de la Galissonière sails from Toulon escorting 198 transports with 16,000 men commanded by the Duke of Richelieu. on the 18 April the French reach Mahon Harbour.
23 April the siege of Fort St. Philip begins. Byng attempts to relieve the siege but after losing half of his ships, he retreats to Gibraltar. For his inaction, Byng is court martialled and executed the following year.
28 June the British garrison surrenders and on July 7 the remnants of the British forces are withdrawn to Gibraltar. A fleet under Sir Edward Hawke had arrived in the Mediterranean, but it was too late and it too withdrew to Gibraltar.
The British are eager to regain the island, but prefer to keep the majority of their ships in home waters to stave off a French invasion. The French begin to use the capture of Minorca as a way to lure the Spanish to join them into a war against the British. They also begin to plan an assault on Gibraltar.
Capture of Philadelphia
As early as February of 1756, instructions had arrived in Québec for Vaudreuil to prepare an offensive against the British colonies. To that end, he began preparing troops with the goal of capturing both Philadelphia and New York.
In February, Vaudreuil had sent two expeditionary forces from Fort Niagara to capture the British forts in Iroquois territory. In March, Fort Bull (Rome, NY) had been captured and the Oneida Indians joined the French. The remnants of Shirley's forces there were either killed or taken prisoner. The fort itself was burned. Only the Mohawk still remain loyal to the British. The remaining British forces in New York now concentrated on defending Albany.
Meanwhile, Indian raids continued to descend on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and New York, also reaching New Jersey. By spring they had spread to the Carolinas and Georgia, with over 3,000 settlers killed or captured, by the spring. Fort Cumberland was an isolated outpost of the British in a hostile area with a small garrison of fewer than 400 men.
To that end, the French in Fort Duquesne began to prepare for an assault on Fort Cumberland, and eventually to take Philadelphia and afterwards attack Virginia. In April and May regiments from Détroit and Chatres began pouring into the expanding Fort Duquesne, where the number of French soldiers and militia had swelled to 16,000 men. In addition the French had a force of 2,000 Indian allies, many of whom were to be used as scouts.
Pennsylvania, which until now had no provincial militia began to organise one. Forts were built at Carlise and Shippensburg to protect Philadelphia, but they were nothing more than wooden palisades. There were also smaller forts constructed further north, however the largest fort is Fort Augusta (Sunbury, PA). In the entire Province of Pennsylvania there are only 2,700 provincials to defend the colony, however most are poorly trained with no combat experience. To make matters worse, throughout 1755-1756 the Pennsylvania General Assembly became locked in a political stalemate with the proprietors of the colony (the Penns) backed by the Lieutenant-Governor Morris refusing to levy any taxes. Benjamin Franklin had been a proponent of levying taxes for defence, the government finally relented by granting £50,000 for defences in 1756.
By mid-May of 1756 a force of 14,000 French and 1,000 Indians following the Kittanning Trail. The reached the Delaware Indian village of Kittaning on the 27 of May, where the French paid the Delaware and Shawnee to enlist another 1,000 warriors. Heading southward, they were able to capture Fort Cumberland and the garrison of British regulars and provincials there. On 15 July, they reach the outskirts of Philadelphia. Many fled the city on the news of French arrival, and without so much as a shot fired, the city which had not a single fort was surrendered to the French. Benjamin Franklin himself left in June for New York to meet with Massachusetts governor Shirley who was still commander-in-chief of British forces in North America.
The largest city in British North America was now in French hands, French engineers began to build up their defenses of the city by erecting a fort from which they could plan an attack southwards. Within two weeks, the French have overrun most of Maryland and Delaware, the remaining provincials, a force of around 3,000 heads to New York.
To the South, Virginia has few soldiers with only 2,000 provincials dispersed amongst 14 hastily built forts along the frontier. Among them is George Washington, who only learns of the fall of Philadelphia by August. By September, the French forces, increased by 8,000 men from Louisiana and Illinois have overrun Virginia and most of the Carolinas. The situation in British America looks bleaker than ever.
As early as February of 1756, instructions had arrived in Québec for Vaudreuil to prepare an offensive against the British colonies. To that end, he began preparing troops with the goal of capturing both Philadelphia and New York.
In February, Vaudreuil had sent two expeditionary forces from Fort Niagara to capture the British forts in Iroquois territory. In March, Fort Bull (Rome, NY) had been captured and the Oneida Indians joined the French. The remnants of Shirley's forces there were either killed or taken prisoner. The fort itself was burned. Only the Mohawk still remain loyal to the British. The remaining British forces in New York now concentrated on defending Albany.
Meanwhile, Indian raids continued to descend on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and New York, also reaching New Jersey. By spring they had spread to the Carolinas and Georgia, with over 3,000 settlers killed or captured, by the spring. Fort Cumberland was an isolated outpost of the British in a hostile area with a small garrison of fewer than 400 men.
To that end, the French in Fort Duquesne began to prepare for an assault on Fort Cumberland, and eventually to take Philadelphia and afterwards attack Virginia. In April and May regiments from Détroit and Chatres began pouring into the expanding Fort Duquesne, where the number of French soldiers and militia had swelled to 16,000 men. In addition the French had a force of 2,000 Indian allies, many of whom were to be used as scouts.
Pennsylvania, which until now had no provincial militia began to organise one. Forts were built at Carlise and Shippensburg to protect Philadelphia, but they were nothing more than wooden palisades. There were also smaller forts constructed further north, however the largest fort is Fort Augusta (Sunbury, PA). In the entire Province of Pennsylvania there are only 2,700 provincials to defend the colony, however most are poorly trained with no combat experience. To make matters worse, throughout 1755-1756 the Pennsylvania General Assembly became locked in a political stalemate with the proprietors of the colony (the Penns) backed by the Lieutenant-Governor Morris refusing to levy any taxes. Benjamin Franklin had been a proponent of levying taxes for defence, the government finally relented by granting £50,000 for defences in 1756.
By mid-May of 1756 a force of 14,000 French and 1,000 Indians following the Kittanning Trail. The reached the Delaware Indian village of Kittaning on the 27 of May, where the French paid the Delaware and Shawnee to enlist another 1,000 warriors. Heading southward, they were able to capture Fort Cumberland and the garrison of British regulars and provincials there. On 15 July, they reach the outskirts of Philadelphia. Many fled the city on the news of French arrival, and without so much as a shot fired, the city which had not a single fort was surrendered to the French. Benjamin Franklin himself left in June for New York to meet with Massachusetts governor Shirley who was still commander-in-chief of British forces in North America.
The largest city in British North America was now in French hands, French engineers began to build up their defenses of the city by erecting a fort from which they could plan an attack southwards. Within two weeks, the French have overrun most of Maryland and Delaware, the remaining provincials, a force of around 3,000 heads to New York.
To the South, Virginia has few soldiers with only 2,000 provincials dispersed amongst 14 hastily built forts along the frontier. Among them is George Washington, who only learns of the fall of Philadelphia by August. By September, the French forces, increased by 8,000 men from Louisiana and Illinois have overrun Virginia and most of the Carolinas. The situation in British America looks bleaker than ever.
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New York Campaign
By May of 1756 when a Council of War is held at Albany, the city is a stronghold of 7,000 British regulars with an additional 8,000 Provincials. The French, led by Baron Dieskau begin a siege of the fortification in late April with a force 16,000 French troops.
In July of 1756 more regiments and new British commanders arrived in America. Unfortunately, the British sent some of their least competent commanders to the field. The new Commander-in-Chief, the 4th Earl of Loudoun was initially set to send his regiments of 5,000 men to New York, to defend Albany. Shortly after reaching New York he was informed of the fall of Philadelphia.
Loudoun was criticized shortly after arriving, firstly for quartering British soldiers in civilian homes, and secondly for being overly obsessed with small details. His regiments in New York spent weeks drilling rather than heading to assist in Albany. His aide-de-camp Daniel Webb proved to be an even bigger disappointment. In June, under the command of General James Abercromby, they led a force of 8,000 troops to engage the French, however, this soon turned to chaos as a column led by Colonel Webb fled in panic. This cost the lives of 833 British troops and over 1,000 were taken prisoner.
Perhaps the most competent British officers in America are Lieutenant Colonels Frederick Haldimand and Henry Bouquet, both Swiss. Haldimand and Bouquet were both of the 60th Regiment of Foot, largely made up of German immigrants from Pennsylvania was able to retreat with his men from Philadelphia northwards to New York. They were able to add 2,000 men from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey to aid in Albany.
In May an additional reinforcement of 5,000 troops from France had arrived and were being prepared to attack Albany. Among them was Louis-Joseph de Montcalm. 5 September of 1756, once French engineers had been able to breach the walls for Fort Frederick, Montcalm leads the charge from Schenectady against Albany.
Colonel Bouquet and Haldimand's soldiers stood firm and were able to halt the French advance temporarily, inflicting heavy casualties on the French force. However, another French column from the north overwhelmed the British forces and they began to retreat. During the battle, Baron Dieskau is wounded and will give up his command of French forces to Montcalm. A French force failed to approach the British from behind, allowing nearly 14,000 British soldiers to retreat to New York. The French decision to entrench their army instead of pursuing the British, would allow the war in America to continue.
With the onset of winter, the French decide to winter at Albany and build up there defences to plan for an attack on New York itself. Once news of the fall of Albany reaches Britain, it causes The Duke of Newcastle's government to fall in November, coupled with the loss of Minorca and Philadelphia the war has been a tremendous blow to British prestige. He is replaced by the Duke of Devonshire as prime minister.
Montcalm at the Battle of Albany
By May of 1756 when a Council of War is held at Albany, the city is a stronghold of 7,000 British regulars with an additional 8,000 Provincials. The French, led by Baron Dieskau begin a siege of the fortification in late April with a force 16,000 French troops.
In July of 1756 more regiments and new British commanders arrived in America. Unfortunately, the British sent some of their least competent commanders to the field. The new Commander-in-Chief, the 4th Earl of Loudoun was initially set to send his regiments of 5,000 men to New York, to defend Albany. Shortly after reaching New York he was informed of the fall of Philadelphia.
Loudoun was criticized shortly after arriving, firstly for quartering British soldiers in civilian homes, and secondly for being overly obsessed with small details. His regiments in New York spent weeks drilling rather than heading to assist in Albany. His aide-de-camp Daniel Webb proved to be an even bigger disappointment. In June, under the command of General James Abercromby, they led a force of 8,000 troops to engage the French, however, this soon turned to chaos as a column led by Colonel Webb fled in panic. This cost the lives of 833 British troops and over 1,000 were taken prisoner.
Perhaps the most competent British officers in America are Lieutenant Colonels Frederick Haldimand and Henry Bouquet, both Swiss. Haldimand and Bouquet were both of the 60th Regiment of Foot, largely made up of German immigrants from Pennsylvania was able to retreat with his men from Philadelphia northwards to New York. They were able to add 2,000 men from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey to aid in Albany.
In May an additional reinforcement of 5,000 troops from France had arrived and were being prepared to attack Albany. Among them was Louis-Joseph de Montcalm. 5 September of 1756, once French engineers had been able to breach the walls for Fort Frederick, Montcalm leads the charge from Schenectady against Albany.
Colonel Bouquet and Haldimand's soldiers stood firm and were able to halt the French advance temporarily, inflicting heavy casualties on the French force. However, another French column from the north overwhelmed the British forces and they began to retreat. During the battle, Baron Dieskau is wounded and will give up his command of French forces to Montcalm. A French force failed to approach the British from behind, allowing nearly 14,000 British soldiers to retreat to New York. The French decision to entrench their army instead of pursuing the British, would allow the war in America to continue.
With the onset of winter, the French decide to winter at Albany and build up there defences to plan for an attack on New York itself. Once news of the fall of Albany reaches Britain, it causes The Duke of Newcastle's government to fall in November, coupled with the loss of Minorca and Philadelphia the war has been a tremendous blow to British prestige. He is replaced by the Duke of Devonshire as prime minister.
Montcalm at the Battle of Albany
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1756 in Europe
Whilst France was busy overrunning most of British America, Frederick II of Prussia launched a preemptive invasion of Saxony in August 1756.
The Austrians under Field-Marshall Browne began to assemble an army of 60,000 men in Prague to relieve the Saxons. On 30 September, the Austrians under Browne encountered Frederick II's troops at Lobositz.
Frederick II's army was outnumbered with some 28,500 men vs Browne's 35,500 man force. After a 7 hour battle with around the same numbers of casualties on both sides, the outcome was indecisive. Browne's men had retreated, however he had met his objective, to be able to rescue the bottled up Saxon army at Pirna, and protecting Bohemia from a Prussian invasion. Throughout the winter of 1756 the Prussian army retreated across the Elbe to winter in Saxony. The war in Germany was at a stalemate, meanwhile France's alliance with Prussia is set to expire and Louis XV begins to negotiate an alliance with the Austrians.
Whilst France was busy overrunning most of British America, Frederick II of Prussia launched a preemptive invasion of Saxony in August 1756.
The Austrians under Field-Marshall Browne began to assemble an army of 60,000 men in Prague to relieve the Saxons. On 30 September, the Austrians under Browne encountered Frederick II's troops at Lobositz.
Frederick II's army was outnumbered with some 28,500 men vs Browne's 35,500 man force. After a 7 hour battle with around the same numbers of casualties on both sides, the outcome was indecisive. Browne's men had retreated, however he had met his objective, to be able to rescue the bottled up Saxon army at Pirna, and protecting Bohemia from a Prussian invasion. Throughout the winter of 1756 the Prussian army retreated across the Elbe to winter in Saxony. The war in Germany was at a stalemate, meanwhile France's alliance with Prussia is set to expire and Louis XV begins to negotiate an alliance with the Austrians.
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