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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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118 LOUISBOURG TAKEN. [1745.could defend them.N<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> ten <strong>of</strong> the men had nobayonets, many ^ had no shoes, <strong>and</strong> it is said that thescal<strong>in</strong>g-hidders they had brought from Boston wereten feet too short.^ Perhaps it was unfortunate forthe French that the army was more prudent than itsleaders ; <strong>and</strong> another council be<strong>in</strong>g called on the sameday, it was "Advised, That, <strong>in</strong>asmuch as thereappears a great Dissatisfaction <strong>in</strong> many <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>ficers<strong>and</strong> Soldiers at the designed attack <strong>of</strong> the Town byStorm this Night, the said Attack be deferred for thepresent."^Another plan was adopted, hardly less critical,though it found favor with the army.This was theassault <strong>of</strong> the Isl<strong>and</strong> Battery, which closed theentrance <strong>of</strong> the harbor to the British squadron, <strong>and</strong>kept it open to ships from <strong>France</strong>. Nobody knewprecisely how to f<strong>in</strong>d the two l<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g-places <strong>of</strong> thisformidable work, which were narrow gaps betweenrocks lashed with almost constant surf ; but Vaughanwould see no difficulties, <strong>and</strong> wrote to Pepperrellthat if he would give him the comm<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> leavehim to manage the attack <strong>in</strong> his own way, he wouldengage to send the French flag to headquarters with<strong>in</strong>forty-eight hours.* On the next day he seems tohave thought the comm<strong>and</strong> assured to him, <strong>and</strong>writes from the Gr<strong>and</strong> Battery that the carpenters1 Shirley to Newcastle, 7 June, 1745.2 Douglas, Surnmarji, i. 347.3 Record <strong>of</strong> the Council <strong>of</strong> War, 9 ^^ay, 1745.* VaiKjhan to Pepperrell, 1\ May, 1745.

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