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

^122 LOUISBOURG TAKEN. [1745.of the French, surrendered to the number of onehundred and nineteen, including the wounded, threeor more of whom died almost immediately. By themost trustworthy accounts thedro"\vned,English loss in killed,and captured was one hundred and eightynine;or, in the words of Pepperrell, "nearly halfour party. "1 Disorder, precipitation, and weakleadership ruined what hopes the attempt ever had.As this was the only French success during thesiege, Duchambon makes the most of it. He reportsthat the battery was attacked by a thousand men,supported by eight hundred more, who were afraid toshow themselves; and, farther, that there werethirty-five boats, all of which were destroyed orsunk, 2 — though he afterwards says that two of themgot away with thirty men, being all that were left ofthe thousand.Bigot, more moderate, puts the numberof assailants at five hundred, of whom he saysthat allperished, except the one hundred and nineteenwho were captured.At daybreak Louisbourg rang with shouts oftriumph.It was plain that a disorderly militia couldnot capture the Island Battery. Yet captured orsilenced it must be ;and orders were given to plant a1 Douglas makes it a little less. " We lost in this mad frolicsixty men killed and drowned, and one hundred and sixteen prisoners."— Summary, i. 363.^ " Toutes les barques furent briseos ou coulees h. fond ; le feufut continuel depuis environ minuit jusqu'a trois heures du matin."— Duchambon au Ministre, 2 Septembre, 1745.8 Bigot au Ministre, 1 Aout, 1745.