J.S. McLennan, Louisbourg: From Its Foundation To Its Fall (Sydney: Fortress Press, 1969)

© Fortress Press

Chapter 9

APPENDIX

Governor Wanton to the Agent of Rhode Island in London 

Newport, on Rhode Island, Xber, 1745

Sir : The conduct of this colony relating to the Cape Breton expedition having been, as your letters advise, very unjustly misrepresented at home, with a view to prejudice the ministry against us, the General Assembly have directed that a true account thereof should be transmitted to you, which, we doubt not, will enable you fully to vindicate our colony, which bath always distinguished itself by joining with readiness and zeal in all expeditions ordered by the crown. 

The reduction of Louisbourg, we always thought, would be of very great importance, as well to the trade and commerce of Great Britain, as of the northern plantations, and therefore expected and hoped it would be undertaken at home in the course of the war ; but we judged the attempt to reduce that prodigiously strong town, regularly fortified, and furnished with a garrison of regular forces, to be much too hazardous, as well as too expensive for New England, as not having one officer of experience or even an engineer, and the people being entirely ignorant in the art of encamping and besieging towns, and were therefore greatly surprised at hearing that the Province of the Massachusetts had voted to make said attempt. 

At first, while it was supposed that Governor Shirley had secret instructions to raise men, and an assurance of a sufficient addition of sea and land forces from Great Britain', our people were zealous in the affair ; but when it was known that he had no orders at all , not so much as a discretionary power to stop some of His Majesty's ships then at Boston, a thing of the last importance to the blocking up the harbour of Louisbourg, no assurance that the ministry would approve of the undertaking, or make any provision to support it, or that the state of affairs in Europe would permit the sending such a force from Great Britain, as seemed necessary, to render the expedition successful, surely, 'tis no wonder that our zeal abated, and that we were not very forward to precipitate an attempt., in which a failure must needs have been a fatal consequence, as it would have exposed the weakness of the northern plantations, and disabled them from assisting, if the crown should think fit to order such an expedition ; that the Massachusetts themselves were very doubtful of success, cannot be denied, for the undertaking of the expedition was carried but by one single voice, in their house of representatives. 

... But notwithstanding all this, the General Assembly voted to send our colony sloop well manned, permitted the Governor of Boston to endeavour to raise men in the pay of the Province, and voted an additional bounty of forty shillings a man to induce them to list, but to no effect. 

On further application to us in March last, the General Assembly voted to raise three companies of fifty men each, exclusive of officers ; and offered a large pay, and a higher bounty than the Province of Massachusetts had given ; but it being found impracticable to fill the companies in season, the then Governor, after we have been at a considerable expense, ordered the men that were raised to be disbanded. However, our colony's sloop, mounting fourteen carriage and twelve swivel guns, well fitted and manned, convoyed the Connecticut forces, and proved of singular service, by preventing their entire ruin from a French two-and-thirty gun ship ; and afterwards in the Gut of Canso, by repelling, in conjunction with two other cruisers, a large body of French and Indians, who were going to the relief of Louisbourg. 

...  In May, we had advice that the ministry approved of the expedition, and that Commodore Warren was arrived off Louisbourg with a squadron of His Majesty's ships. The General Assembly did then renew their vote to raise three companies ; and that it might be effectual, increased the bounty, and raised the pay to £10 per month a man, double of what the Massachusetts allowed theirs. But to complete said companies (we) were notwithstanding obliged to order that men should be impressed into the service, as several actually were; a thing not done by order of Assembly in any other part of New England, and scarce ever practised here before ; and on notice that seamen were wanted to man the ship Vigilant, voted to raise two hundred, allowing a bounty of  £17 to a man. But such was the scarcity of men, that though the bounty was so large, and the most effectual means used (for we had again recourse to impressing, and allowed said bounty even to the impressed men), that we could raise only about seventy. The good news of the surrender of Louisbourg had reached Boston before our transports sailed from thence, having lain there some days for convoy ; yet they proceeded (on) the voyage, and are now in garrison ; and we have lately sent a vessel to Louisbourg, with clothing and provisions sufficient for their support till late in the spring. 

This is the assistance we have given, which was really the utmost we were able to give, the colony having never exerted itself with more zeal and vigour on any occasion ; and it ought to be observed, that no other of the neighbouring governments, besides Connecticut and New Hampshire, could be induced, at the first, to give any assistance at all ; nor afterwards, of all of them together, to give so much and such effectual assistance, as this little colony cheerfully afforded, at the hazard of leaving our sea coast unguarded, and our navigation exposed to the enemy's privateers, from the beginning of April to the latter end of October, during which time our colony's sloop was in the service. [1]

1. Rhode Island Colonial Records vol. 5, pp. 145-147.