ERIC KRAUSE

In business since 1996
- © Krause House Info-Research Solutions -

62 Woodill Street, Sydney, NS,
Canada, B1P 4N9

krausehouse@krausehouse.ca
 

ERIC KRAUSE REPORTS

MY HISTORICAL REPORTS
PUBLISHED ON THE INTERNET

BACK


CONSTRUCTION CHRONOLOGY FOR THE ROYAL BATTERY:
ACTUAL AND PROPOSED
1714 - PRESENT

BY

ERIC KRAUSE

SEPTEMBER, 1982

Report H B 16

1740 - 1749

           ABBREVIATIONS:

Date P A PA Description of Activity Comment Reference
1740   A   - platforms of the faces 4 pieds above "street"  in front of the barracks
 

- "street" between barracks and platform 12 pieds wide
 

- "street" cleared of snow by throwing snow up onto platform and then out the embrasures
 

- seaward faces made of large irregular rubble-stones
 

- crepissage of the sea-wall faces falling off

  1740-2; 8 February 1740, C11B, Vol. 22, folio 27-28; 7 February 1740, C11B, Vol. 22, folio 252-252v, 145; 30 October 1740, C11B, Vol. 22, folio 193v-194; 7 November 1740, C11B, Vol. 22, folio 244v.
      PA three mortars in the left flank and seven embrasures   ditto
    A   - Lips of the embrasures of the seaward face 6-7 pieds above beach level (opposing the
claims they were 7-8 pieds or 6-8 pieds) without any flanking works that protect
the seaward face

- planking of the platforms of the face rotten

- the underpinning entirely rotten and rebuilt, with completion between October and November

  ditto
  P     - deposit earth to raise the platforms 3 or 4 pieds

- fill in the embrasures to the new height of the platforms resulting in a barbette battery or build new embrasures at the new platform level by raising sod merlons

- "Plan de la Batterie Royalle ou on a presenté en couleur jaune le petit Bastion projetté pour flanquer les faces de la dite "Batterie"

1. flanks loopholed at ground level
2. timber gallery within the bastion, forming a firing platform above the loopholes of the flanks, and providing a double fire

  ditto
    A   flooring of barracks in poor condition
 
  8 October 1743, C11B, Vol. 25, folio 21; 30 October 1742, C11B, Vol. 24, folio 40.
  P     to fill in the cellars of barracks to a depth of nearly 4 pieds   ditto
             
1744   A   - Lower a small hill in front of the Royal Battery's entrance gate

1. excavation: 146 pieds 6 pouces
2. total length x 46 pieds 4 pouces
3. reduced width x 2 pieds reduced depth

- Excavation of

1. 432 pieds total length x 12 pieds
2. reduced width x 2 pieds 1 pouce
3. reduced depth: in front of one of the faces

- lower a mountain vis-a-vis the battery with an excavation of

1. 56 pieds x 33 pieds x 5 pieds
2. 9 pouces reduced depth

 - lower a mountain vis-a-vis the left tower

1. excavation: 52 pieds x 39 pieds x 4 pieds reduced depth

  30 October 1744, DFC Order 202; 1745-13; 1745-13a; 1751-16; 22 August 1745, C11B, Vol. 27, folio 42; 24 July 1749, C11B, Vol. 28, folio 301-301v; [William Pepperell] An Accurate Journal and Account ..., p. 13; 14 December 1751, C11B, Vol. 31, fol. 169-171; 1730-4; 1730-7; ND 86; 1740-2; 1740-2a; 22 November 1744, DFC Order 211; 18 November 1744, DFC Order 209; 30 October 1744, DFC Order 203.
    A   - Modifications to the Left Flank Redoubt in order to establish a four mortar Battery in the left flank

1. ditch excavation along the flank:  64 pieds 6 pouces long x 24 pieds wide and 3 pieds deep
2. 71-3-0 toise cube of earth used to shape the covered way of the left flank
3. excavation for the foundation of the mortar battery: 240 pieds total length x 7 pieds long x 2 pieds 5 pouces deep
4. 37-3-4 toise cube of earth used to elevate the terre-plain of the mortar battery
5. rubblestone foundation and elevation of a part of the large wall of the, mortar platform 41 pieds 6 pouces long x 5 pieds 6 pouces high x 6 pieds wide
6. four rubblestone bases with earthen mortaras support for the platforms - each: 10 pieds long x 9 pieds wide x 5 pieds high
7. removal of the glacis revetment wall and excavation in the glacis in order to extend the ditch northward.
8. removal and reconstruction of a straightened left flank wall (with new platforms) in order to reduce the number of embrasures to sit and permit a future extension; northern extension of the wall to accommodate the mortar battery
9. demolition of the epaulement walls of the landward side
10. removal and reconstruction of the crenellated wall of the redoubt
11. reconstruction of a new glacis revetment wall further to the south
12. filling in of the former ditch to the south of the new glacis revetment wall

- The Contractor Muiron was unable to complete all the work by 1745 and 1751 plans suggest that the mortar extension did not proceed beyond this preliminary
stage. In fact, the 1751 plans do not even confirm the masonry platform construction activity which Verrier claimed occurred in 1744. The 1751 plans also suggest  that Verrier or others authorized work in 1744-1745 for which no written record exists.
ditto
  P     - Nouvelle Brie de mortiers

1. two mortar emplacements

  ditto
    A   - Construction of an eperon in the salient angle of the Royal Battery completed by 18 November

1. 49-1-2 toise cube of earth used to form the eperon, its banquettes and its platforms
2. 6-3-5 toise cube of rock used for the foundation
3. rubblestone foundation and elevation: 81 pieds 6 pouces for the total length of the two sides x 14 pieds 3 pouces of adjusted height x 6 pieds 6 pouces of adjusted thickness
4. rubblestone faces: 21 pieds 6 pouces total length x 18 pieds high x 6 pieds 6 pouces thick
5. rubblestone along the original two faces of the Royal Battery. Along one face: 8 pieds long x 6 pieds wide x 2 pieds 6 pouces of adjusted height. Along the other: the same
6. rubblestone buttress inside the Salient angle: 10 pieds high x 9 pieds wide
1 pieds 6 pouces adjusted thickness
7. 2 pouce thick pine planks nailed to iron cramped 8 x 9 pouce pine nailers set into the exterior rubblestone sides and faces

(a) planks required for the sides: 84 pieds total length x 16 pieds adjusted height
(b) planks required for the faces: 30 pieds total length x 18 pieds
adjusted height

8. 1 pouce thick local boards nailed to iron cramped 6 x 7 pouce pine nailers set into the interior of the parapet: 105 pieds 6 pouces of total length x 5 pieds adjusted height
9. flag pole - pine timber pieces set into the salient angle: 10 x 10 pouces x 28 pieds long - with 2 bolts, one collar, one crampon, 2 pairs of large hinges and lead sheeting for the timber piece which supports the flag staff
10. Ibid., two other pine timber pieces: 6 x 7 pouces x 14 pieds total length
11. Wooden drain: one piece of 10 x 12 pouce timber x 8 pieds long
12. Wooden drain under the banquettes: 24 pieds total length of two pouce planks x 3 pieds developed width

- Number of Embrasures

1. 7 embrasures of left flank reduced to six by 30 October
2. 3 embrasures of right flank reduced to two between 30 October and 22 November
3. [15 ?1 embrasures per face reduced to 10 per face with construction of the eperon
4. 2 embrasures per eperon flank

 Levelling and Rebuilding of embrasures

1. The seven embrasures in the left flank reduced to six with the levelling of one before 30 October
2. The three embrasures in the right face reduced to two with the levelling of one between 30 October and 22 November
3. The fifteen embrasures in the left and right faces reduced to 10 in each face with the levelling of 5 in each face
4. New platforms
required

- Shoulder walls of the interior of the Royal Battery and of the Place d'armes of the covered way

1. demolished
 

- Left flank Redoubt

1. 2 mortars

- Earth for the Parapets and merlons: 62 toise cube 2 pieds 4 pouces

- Sod (40 toise cube 3 pieds) for returfing the parapets and merlons of

1. the 2 large faces
2. the eperon
3. the 2 batardeaux
4. the 2 profiles
5. the 2 flanks

- Remade Gun platforms

1. left flank: 5 platforms each measuring 16 pieds x 13 pieds 6 pouces, each constructed from three 8 x 9 pouce pine timber pieces with a flooring of 3 pouce hardwood planks
2. both the left flank and the right flank platforms (also possibly remade in 1744) were probably trapezium in shape, requiring 147 solives 0 pied 8 pouce of sleeper,
60 square toise of 3 pouce thick planks

- Battery and flank embrasures

1. 6 x 7 pouce pine timber pieces used as stops in front of the knee pieces

- Construction of three wooden Guerites, each

1. made from rafters
2. sitting on a timber base
3. walls covered with bevelled boards
4. plank flooring
5. shingle roof

- "ancienne" latrines standing opposite the contrescarpe of the left flank

- "ancienne" latrines standing opposite the contrescarpe of the right face

- the 2 pouce thick pine board and batten latrine doors for beside the former [latrines] 5 pieds of total width x 5 pieds 6 pouces of height

- Repair of a floor in one of the officer's rooms 12 pieds 1 pouce long x 7 pieds 6 pouce wide using 2 pouce thick planks
 

- Doorways in the shoulder walls for movement between the batteries (i.e. between the Royal Battery and its flanks)

1. 88 pieds of 12 x 12 pouce pine timber sills placed
2. 1 pouce local boards placed on the reveals; 23 pieds of total length x 2 pieds wide
3. 2 pouce thick pine batten doors placed; 7 of total width x 6 pieds of height

- Hanging shelves placed in the officers cabinets and garde managers using 1 pouce thick local boards

- Palisades

the ones of the covered way are rotten

- Removal of rubblestone in order to imbed cramped nailers (either 8 x 9 or 6 x 7 pouce) for a wooden revetment (388 cramps large and small used altogether)

1. left face - exterior: removed 197 pieds of length x 11 pieds of adjusted height x 3 pieds of adjusted thickness: 2 pouce thick pine planks placed
2. left face parapet - interior: removed 197 pieds of length x 2 pieds 6 pouces
of height x 1 pied 3 pouces of thickness: 1 pouce thick local boards placed
3. left face - above the exterior and interior of the preceding wall, which includes the embrasures and merlons: removed 197 pieds of length x 8 pieds 6 pouces of width x 1 pied 6 pouces of thickness
4. left face - batardeau: removed 24 pieds of length x 13 pieds of height x 6 pieds 6 pouces of adjusted thickness (less 2 cubic toise of old masonry): 2 pouce thick pine planks placed on exterior; 1 pouce thick boards on interior
5. left face to the shoulder angle (i.e. the profile wall) - exterior: removed 25 pieds 8 pouces of length x 13 pieds 6 pouces of  height x 2 pieds 6 pouces of adjusted thickness: 2 pouce thick pine planks placed
6. left face parapet of the profile wall interior: removed 17 pieds of length
x 2 pieds 6 pouces of height x 1 pieds 3 pouces of thickness: one pouce thick local boards placed
7. left face parapet - above the exterior and interior of the preceding wall: removed
25 pieds 8 pouces of length x 8 pieds of width x 1 pied 6 pouces of thickness
8. left flank including the 6 embrasures up to the shoulder wall of the mortar battery: removed 112 pieds 6 pouces of length x 10 pieds 10 pouces of height x 5 pieds of adjusted thickness: 2 pouce thick pine planks placed
9. left flank: shoulder wall that closes off the battery on the side of the left flank
18 pieds long x 18 pieds of adjusted height of 1 pouce thick local pine board
10. left flank - interior wall of the parapet: removed 106 pieds of length x 2 pieds
6 pouces of height x 1 pieds 3 pouces of adjusted thickness: one pouce thick local boards placed
11. left flank - parapet above including the embrasures and merlons: removed 106 pieds of length x 8 pieds 6 pouces of width x 1 pieds 6 pouces of thickness
12. left flank - part of the contrescarpe opposite the former latrines: removed
26 pieds of length x 13 pieds 6 pouces of height x 2 pieds of thickness: 1 pouce local boards placed
13. left face - wall between the former latrine and the batardeau: removed
17 pieds 6 pouces of length x 8 pieds 6 pouces of height x 2 pieds of adjusted thickness: perhaps 1 pouce thick pine boards placed
14. left face - crenelated wall above the preceding wall, separating the two batteries: removed 17 pieds 6 pouces of length x 1 pied 3 pouces of height  x 2 pieds of  thickness: perhaps 1 pouce thick pine boards placed
15. left face ~ continuation of this wall as it passes over the batardeau: removed
6 pieds of length x 7 pieds 6 pouces of height x 2 pieds of thickness: 1 pouce thick local boards placed
16. Right face - Exterior: Removed 195 pieds of length x 11 pieds 9 pouces of height x
pieds 6 pouces of adjusted thickness: 2 pouce thick pine planks placed
17. Right face - Interior: Removed 192 pieds of length x 2 pieds 6 pouces of height x
1 pied 3 pouces of adjusted thickness, 1 pouce thick local boards placed
18. Right face - above the exterior and interior of the preceding wall, which includes the embrasures and merlons. Removed 192 pieds of average length x 8 pieds 6 pouces of width x 1 pied 6 pouces of height
19. Right face - batardeau 23 pieds of length x 13 pieds 6 pouces of height x 6 pieds 6 pouces of thickness less 2 cubic toise of old masonry): 2 pouces thick pine planks placed on exterior; 1 pouce thick local boards on interior.
20. Right face to the shoulder angle (i.e. the profile wall) - exterior 24 pieds of length x 12 pieds 11 pouces of height x 2 pieds 6 pouces of adjusted thickness: 2 pouces thick pine planks placed
21. Right face parapet of the profile wall Interior: Removed 16 pieds of length x 2 pieds 6 pouces of height x 1 pied 3 pouces of thickness: 1 pouce thick local boards placed
22. Right face parapet - above the exterior and interior of the preceding wall: Removed 24 pieds of length x 8 pieds 6 pouces of width x 1 pied 6 pouces of thickness
23. Right flank including the 3 embrasures: Removed 44 pieds of length x 12 pieds of height x 2 pieds 6 pouces of adjusted thickness: 2 pouces planks used
24. [Right flank: shoulder wall that closes off the battery on the side of the right flank
18 pieds long x 18 pieds 1 pouce of adjusted height of 1 pouce thick local pine board]
25. Right flank - Interior wall of the parapet 37 pieds of length x 2 pieds 6 pouces of height x 1 pied 3 pouces of adjusted thickness: 1 pouce thick local boards placed
26. Right flank - parapet above including the embrasures and merlons 37 pieds of length x 8 pieds 6 pouces of width x 1 pied 6 pouces of thickness
27. Right flank - part of the counterscarp opposite the former latrines 26 pieds of length x 11 pieds of height x 2 pieds of adjusted thickness: 1 pouce local boards placed
28. Right face - wall between the former latrine and the batardeau 18 pieds of length x 10 pieds of height x 2 pieds of thickness: perhaps 1 pouce thick local boards placed
29. Right face - crenelated wall above the preceding wall which separates the two batteries 18 pieds of length x 8 pieds of height x 2 pieds of thickness: perhaps 1 pouce thick local boards placed
30. Right face - continuation of this wall as it passes over the batardeau 6 pieds of length x 6 pieds 6 pouces of height x 2 pieds of thickness: 1 pouce thick local
boards
31. Glacis - wood revetted with planks

  ditto
      PA - Covered Way

1. wall in the right flank reconstructed further north in the covered way

  ditto
    A   - Towers

1. [crepis] facings ready to fall off
 

- Brick stoves placed in the magasin des vivres, officers' rooms and soldiers' rooms.

  ditto
             
1745 P    

- To complete the new work in the battery, the
following required

1. Excavation of the ditch in front of the mortar  battery of the left flank
2. Masonry work
3. Timber work order
4. Boards - Boston and local
5. Palisade work
6. Platforms
7. Platform joists
8. Iron work
9. Military barrier gates
10. Bridge
11. Sod work

 

  4 November 1744, DFC order 206; 22 November 1744, DFC order 211; 22 August 1745; C11B, Vol. 27, folio 42; 19 March 1744 (OS), MHS Vol. 1, item 66; 2Sept. 1745, F3, Vol. 50, folio 277-278; 18 November 1744, DFC order 209; Journal of Roger Wolcott at the Siege of Louisbourg, p. 154; Deforest, Louisbourg Journals, 1745, p. 18, 52, 113; 28 June 1745, Admiralty 1, Volume 2655; 24 July and 30 August 1749, C11B, Vol. 28, folio 301v, 314-314v; 28 June 1745, War Office 55, Volume 352B, folios 34v-35; 21 September 1745, C.O. 5, Vol. 900, folio 233; 26 September 1745, C.O. 5, Vol. 900, folio 234; 19 January 1746, DFC, No. d'order 220.
    A  

 - Reconstruction of the demolished epaulement  Walls on the landward side of the left flank mortar battery not begun by April

 - "The attack at the Grand battery you must order Sir, to be, by entering at a low part of the Wall, that is, that is unfinished, at the East end, for which Facines & Ladders
are sent on purpose, though they may perhaps not be wanted; as also longer ladders for  scaling the Dead wall, or back of the Barracks of said battery if occasion;"

- The palisades of the covered ways not in place

  ditto
  P     - Redo all the demolished shoulder walls of the Interior of the Royal Battery and of the Place d'armes of the Covered Way

- Skin off all the facings in the towers

- Revet the towers with Boston boards

- New palissades in place of the rotten ones of the covered way
 

  ditto
    A  

- Height of the Sea Wall

1 . "about twelve feet high to the embrasures"

 - Proposal to blow up the battery rejected

- Siege Damage

1. "1 hear we have Broke another Cannon at the Grand Battery ... A Large Piece of Sd Gun About Six Hundres Weight flow up in the air and fell on the House and fell thro' all the floors to the bottom of the Cellar"
2. "There Was A Bomb Came from the I-land Battry which fell by the Edge of the water at low Tide which blew Up a Large rock and Carried a Piece of Sd Rock (about 300 weight) Up over The Wall and house [barracks] which is att Least twenty rods the rock I've often Seen and Lifted"
3. Exterior of towers damaged because of artillery fire
4. Tower and barracks roofs hit in several locations by cannon fire

  ditto
  P    

- Proposed Repairs after the Siege

1. Masonry walls
2. Embrasures
3. Breeches
4. Roof
5. Doors
6. Windows
7. New glazing the greatest part
8. Pallisading
9. Cleaning the ditch

  ditto
    A  

 - "The Grand Battery may Lodge Exclusive of four rooms for officers, the Hospitall
Chapell Bake house and Smiths Shops and one garett with a Chimney ab+ 200 [private men]
"

- No defense on the Back or land side except against very small guns or small arm

- Pallisading underway

- Can receive its stores and supplies by water

- Magazine usable

- Description

1. 4800 feet from the Island Battery
2. 1 1/4 miles from the city by water
3. 2 miles (less a few rods) from the city by land
4. 42 rods long x 8 rods wide
5. Walls 16 feet high x 10 feet thick
6. 40 embrasures
7. 2 flanks of 2 guns each point from henceagainst the town, a line of 10,against the Island battery, the remainder to the North East of the harbour
8. Barracks is 26 Rods long x 40 feet wide
9. Barracks built of stone 2 1/2 feet thick
10. Chapel within
11. Trench around the barracks
12. Bridge over the trench
13. Large round tower or watch house at each end of the barracks
14. Towers 90 feet round and near 60 feet high
15. Hewn stone arch on the tops of the towers to make them bomb proof

- New works by 19 January 1746

1. A palissade on the battery's sea side about 10-12 pied distance from the high tide
2. A type'of square fort (like the one near White Point) on the height overlooking the
Battery

  ditto
             
1745 - 1749   A  

- Oven - Demolished Completely

1. 6 cubic toises, 2 pieds of rubblestone removed
2. 1 cubic toise of bricks for the hood, the chimney stack, the floor, the arch and the hearth removed
3. Room converted into two soldiers rooms

- Staircase

1. Tower staircases removed

- Ditch

1. Earth has fallen in
2. Refuse has fallen in

- Towers - Walls

1. 6 cubic toises and 4 pieds of degradation and rubblestone wall collapse in the left tower because of artillery fire and neglect
2. 234 square toises of crepissage a pierre apparante
degradation in both towers
 

- Counterscarp

1. 7 cubic toises and 4 pieds of rubblestone collapse and degradation
2. 73 square toises and 2 pieds of crepissage degradation

- Interior wall of the large platform

1. 5 cubic toises of degradation and rubblestone collapse
2. 50 square toises of crepissage degradation

- Crenelated wall serving as retrenchment in the place d'armes protecting the entrance gate to the Royal Battery

1. Entirely demolished [hence, stable demolished tool]
2. 8 cubic toises of rubblestone wall involved
3. 90 square pieds of cut stone for the demolished barrier gateway of the passage through the crenelated wall

- Flooring

1. [pine timber] joist degradation in the chapel, magasin, and 5 barracks rooms
2. [2 pouces plank] flooring totally rotten inthe chapel, magasin and 5 barracks rooms
3. Two floor levels in the bakery degraded  

- Gun platforms of the two faces of the large battery 205 square toises of [3 pouces merisier] planking, i.e. the entire platform, totally out of service

- Roofs - Barracks

1. Battery side, on two slopes: 35 [321 square toises of slate changed to shingles while 123 square toises and 4 pieds remained unchanged in slate
2. Land side: 17 square toises of shingles replaced slate damaged by artillery fire

- Roofs - Towers

1. 12 square toises of roofing of both towers damaged in the siege remain un-repaired in shingles

- Sod

1. 10 cubic toises of sod on the embrasures, merlons and parapet degradation

- Doors, Shutters and [Window] frames

1. Some removed
2. 112 square pieds of glass panes missing

- Hardware

1. Bolts, locks, targettes, hooks removed

  24 July, 30 August, 31 December, 1749, C11B, Vol. 28, folio 301v., 312-314, 350-350v.
             
1747   A  

- New Works

1 . Shifting powder at the Magasin at the Grand Battery
2. Making grates for the officers at the Grand Battery
3. Pointing the East Front of the Grand Battery barracks Congress,
4. White-wash the rooms
5. Fix the hearths and fireplaces
6. Repairs of the Grand Battery road
7. Repair the West Tower Magazine
8. Fitting soldiers rooms for Frampton's officers
9. Repairing the Causeway Road, Cross drains and ditches from the Grand Battery to Martezan's Bridge toward the town
10. Attending the survey of carriages, hand grenades and other stores, and of powder at the Grand Battery

- Bradstreet description

1. Exposed and overlooked by a high hill close to the back of it

  1 August, 29 August, 12 September, 30 September, 1 October, 1747, Library of Congress, AC-2444; 23 July 1757, War Office 71,Vol. 130, p. 20.
             
1749   A   - Oven and Bakery 31 December

1. Demolished the fireplaces that the English had constructed after demolishing the oven
2. Removal of the soldiers bunks from the converted soldiers rooms
3. Re-used 4 cubic toises 5 pieds 11 pouces of the bricks from the demolished fireplaces to rebuild the oven

1. main body
2. jambs
3. hood
4. chimney stack

4. Re-used iron bars from the demolished fireplaces for the arch of the oven opening
5. Placed a 6 cubic pieds of timber for the mantle
6. Temporarily re-established the two floor levels in the bakery using 7 square toises 5 pieds of Boston boards  

- Enduit and Repair Work

1. Commander's lodging }
2. Chapel }                                    19 cubic toises
3. Magasin }
4. Other spots
}

- Roof Repairs

1. Boards placed where fireplace chimneys demolished or where new ones were to exit -  3 square toises 3 pieds
2. Covered by shingles - 3 square toises 3
pieds

 - Furniture

1. Assorted pieces made from the demolished soldiers bunks - for a buffet in the commander's salle, 3 tables for the officers rooms, etc.

 - Glass

1. 48 glass panes placed
2. glazed with mastic

- Chimney Stacks

1. 48 swept at different times

 In a good state (though sod in a poor state)

1. Wood revetted walls
2. Sod covered and wood revetted faces
3. Sod covered and wood revetted eperon
4. Sod covered and wood revetted flank
5. Sod covered and wood revetted retours
6. Sod covered and wood revetted profiles of the covered ways and glacis
7. Sod covered embrasure and merlons
8. Interior of towers
9. Palissades
10. Advanced barrier gate

- In a poor state

1. The banquette
2. The parapets of the covered way
3. Interior wall of the platform
4. The counterscarp

- Ladders used in the towers in place of the demolished staircases

  31 December 1749, C11B, Vol. 28, folio 350-351v.; 24 July 1749, C11B, Vol. 28, folios 301 and 301v.; 22 September 1749, C11B, vol. 28, folio 79v.
  P     - Proposed to destroy the Royal Battery except for the barracks

- Proposed that barracks serve as a hospital for the King's vessels

  ditto