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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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150 DUG D'ANVILLE. [1745,1746.axe & spade, they w'd dig ye way to Hell & stormit."iWilliams was sorely smitten with homesickness,but he sturdily kept his post, <strong>in</strong> spite <strong>of</strong> grievousyearn<strong>in</strong>gs for family <strong>and</strong> flock. The pestilenceslowly abated, till at length the bury<strong>in</strong>g-parties thatpassed the Maurepas Gate counted only three or foura day. At the end <strong>of</strong> January five hundred <strong>and</strong>sixty-one men had died, eleven hundred were on thesick list, <strong>and</strong> about one thous<strong>and</strong> fit for duty.^ Thepromised regiments from Gibraltar had not come.Could the French have struck then, Louisbourgmight have changed h<strong>and</strong>s aga<strong>in</strong>. The Gibraltarregiments had arrived so lateupon that rude coastthat they turned southward to the milder shores <strong>of</strong>Virg<strong>in</strong>ia, spent the w<strong>in</strong>ter there,<strong>and</strong> did not appearat Louisbourg till April. They brought with thema commission for Warren as governor <strong>of</strong>the fortress.He made a speech <strong>of</strong> thanks to the New Engl<strong>and</strong>garrison, now reduced toless tlian n<strong>in</strong>eteen hundredmen, sick <strong>and</strong> well, <strong>and</strong> they sailed at lastfor home,Louisbourg be<strong>in</strong>g now thought safe from any attempt<strong>of</strong> <strong>France</strong>.To the zealous <strong>and</strong> energetic Shirley the capture<strong>of</strong> the fortress was but a beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> greatertriumphs. Scarcely had the New Engl<strong>and</strong> militia1 The autograph diary <strong>of</strong> Rev. Stephen Williams is <strong>in</strong> my possession.The h<strong>and</strong>writ<strong>in</strong>g is detestable.2 On May 10, 1746, Shirley M-rites to Newcastle that eight hundred<strong>and</strong> n<strong>in</strong>ety men had died dur<strong>in</strong>g the w<strong>in</strong>ter.garrison from cold were extreme.The suffer<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> the

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