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

© Fortress Press

Chapter 10

APPENDIX

A. THE CAPTURE OF THE " VIGILANT 

The principal accounts of the engagement are in the Logs. That of the Mermaid is as follows: 

MERMAID, 20th May

Hazey Wear., Gave Chace to the S.W. at I wore Ship to the No. Wd. the Chace hoistd. a French Ensign & Pendt. We fired our Stern Chace on her wch. she returned from her Bow we made ye Sigl. of Discovering a Strange Ship to ye Fleet who were all in shore at 2 the chace perceivg. our Fleet wore to ye So. Wd. & gave us his Broadside we wore after him and returned it he made all the Sail Possible we kept Close under his Starboard Quarter he kept Plying his stern Chase as we did our Bow we Portd. our Helm twice and gave him two Broadsides at 6 Came up Capn. Rouse in a Privateer Snow who Ply'd his Bow Chace very well at 8 the Commodr. in the Superbe and Eltham Joyn'd us the Chace Engaged us Large the Superbe on the Starbd. & we on the Larboard quarter at 9 the Chace, struck sent on bd. our boats and brot. from thence the ist and 2d. Caps. & part of the Officers it being a Thick Fogg could see no other Ship but the Prize wch. was a French Man of War of 64 Guns & 500 Men Called the Vigilant Capn. Maisonfort Am Imployed shifting Prisoners & Securing our Riggin Recd. on board I3o Prisoners at 8 A.M. the Commodr. Joynd us ...

21stt May.-Modt. & Foggy sent on board the 1st Mate 1 Midshipman 20 Men Laying too in Compy. the Eltham and Commodr. at 4 A.M. the Commodr. stood in for the Land sent on bd. the Prize 1 Midshipman and 15 Men to Assist she being much shattered (R.O. Captain's Logs. No. 820). 

The Captain of the Eltham on the 20th enters :

At 7 P.M. came up with chace she tackt. & Came Close to our Larboard side & Discharged a broad Side & A Volley of Small arms which killed one man & wounded two: we immediately Returned a broad side a low & a loft with a Volley of Small Arms which Shott his fore top saile Yard & mizon Yard away in ye Slings and he called out for good quarters. we had Several Shott holes in all our Sailes ye fore Spring Stay was Shott away Main braces Driver yard: ye Cacsce (sic) proved to be a trench Ship of Warr called ye Vigilant of breast of 64 guns bound to Lewisbourg : Recd. much damage in ye rigging (R.O. Master's Logs No- 393)-

Pepperrell, than whom none could be better authority, as he would get an authentic account from Warren, thus relates the incident : 

About noon a large French ship (which proved to be the Vigilant a ship of war mounting 64 guns) came up with the Mermaid (in sight of the camp) & fired upon her, & soon after with Capt. Rouse in ye Shirly Gally. Both of those ships fired frequently at the Vigt. but did not care to come too near therefore bore away towards the Commodore & other of our ships which were nearer ye shore. The Com. & other ships soon discovered yr. fire and motions & being to windward of her bore down & in the evening came up with her. We heard a pretty constant firing all the Afternoon & in ye evening at a considerable distance & hood they will be able to give a good acct. of her to-morrow. . . . After some dispute the Frenchmen having about 20 men killed & abt. as many wounded, strook, but it being foggy & a large sea, the Com. not hearing ye cry for qr. gave him a broadside & then lost the prize, it being dark, but the Mermaid being near and knowing she had strook sent her boat with 4 men on board the prize where yy. stayed all nt. The next morn. the Com. discovd. her at a little distance in much confusion her rigging, yards & masts much hurt & soon went to work to make ye proper distribution of the prisoners & rectifie the ship in order to bring her in. [The discrepancies are illuminating.] 

B. THE SUMMONS AND REPLY 

LETTER FROM MESSRS. PEPPERRELL AND WARREN TO MONS. DU CHAMBON 

THE CAMP BEFORE LOUISBOURG, May 7, 1745.

Whereas there is now encamped upon the Island of Cape Breton near the city of Louisbourg, a number of his Brittanic Majesty's Troops under the Command of the Honble. Lieut. General William Pepperrell, Esq., and also a Squadron of His Majesty's Ship of War, under the Command of the Honble. Peter Warren, Esq., is now lying before the Harbour of said city ; for the reduction thereof to the obedience of the Crown of Great Britain. We, the said William Pepperrell and Peter Warren, to prevent the effusion of Christian Blood, do in the name of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, etc., Sommons you to Surrender to his said Majesty's obedience, the said city, fortresses and territories ; together with the Artillery, arms and stores of War, thereunto belonging. 

In consequence of which surrender, We, the Sd. William Pepperrell and Peter Warren, in the name of our said Sovereign do assure you that all the subjects of the French King, now in said city and territories, shall be treated with the utmost humanity ; have their personal Estates secured to them and have leave to transport themselves and sd. effect to any part of the French King's Dominions in Europe. Your answer hereto is demanded at or before five of the clock this afternoon. 

 WM. PEPPERRELL. 
 P. WARREN. 

To the Commander in Chief of the French 
King's troops, in Louisbourg, on the Island 
of Cape Breton. 

LETTRE DE MONSIEUR Du CHAMBON A MM. WARREN ET PEPPERRELL 

    A LOUISBOURG, le 18 mai I745. 

Nous, Louis Du Chambon, Chevalier de l'ordre militaire de St. Louis, Lieutenant du Roy, Commandant pour Sa Majestié Très Chrétienne des Isles Royale, Canso, St.-Jean et terres adjacentes. 

Sur la sommation qui nous a été faite ce jour septième may vieux stylle, de la part du Sicur honorable Pepperrell, Lieutenant Général, commandant les troupes qui forment le siège de Louisbourg, et du Sieur honorable Pietre Warren, commandant l'escadre des vaisseaux du Roy de la Grande Bretagne, mouillés près du port de la dite ville, que nous ayons à lui remettre la dite ville, avec des dépendances, artillerier armes et munitions de guerre sous l'obéissance du Roi leur maître. 

Le Roi de France, le nôtre, nous ayant confié la défense de la dite ville, nous ne pouvons qu'après la plus vigoureuse attaque écouter une semblable proposition ; et nous n'avons de réponse à faire à cette demande que par la bouche de nos cannons. 

C. LETTERS RELATING TO CAPITULATION 

LETTER FROM MESSRS. WARREN AND PEPPERRELL TO GOV. DU CHAMBON 

                                                                                   CAMP, June 15, 1745, at 1/2 past 8 o'clock, P.M.

We have yours of the date proposing a suspension of hostilities for such a time as shall be necessary for you to determine upon the conditions of delivering up the garrison of Louisbourg, which arrived at a happy juncture to prevent the Effusion of Christian Blood as we were together and had just determined upon a general attack. We shall comply with your desire until eight of the clock to-morrow, and in the meantime you surrender yourselves prisoners of war, You may depend upon honour and generous treatment. - We are, your humble servants, 

                                                                                                            P. WARREN. 
                                                                                                           W. PEPPERRELL. 

LETTER FROM M. PEPPERRELL TO GOV. DU CHAMBON 

                                                                                         CAMP BEFORE LOUISBOURG, June 16. 

SIR, - I have yours by an hostage signifying your consent to surrender of the town and fortresses of Louisbourg and the territories adjacent, etc., etc., on the terms this day proposed to you by Com. Warren and myself; excepting only that you desire your troops may march out of the garrison with their arms and colours flying, to be there delivered into our custody till the said troop's arrival in France, at which time to have them returned to them which I consent to, and send you a hostage for the performance of what we have promised, and have sent to Com. Warren that if he consents to it he would send a detachment on Shore to take possession of the Island Battery. - I am, Sir, your humble servt., 

                                                                                                                 W. PEPPERRELL. 

LETTER FROM COM. WARREN TO GOV. DU CHAMBON 

                                                                                       "SUPERBE," OFF LOUISBOURG, June 16. 

SIR, - I have received your letter of this date, desiring that His most Christian Majesty's Troops, under your command, may have the honours of war given them so far as to march to my Boats at the Beach, with their musquets, and Bayonets, and colours  flying, there to deliver them to the officers of his Brittanic Majesty whom I shall appoint for that, purpose, to be kept in my custody till they shall be landed in the French King's Dominions, then and there to be returned to him, which I agree to in consideration of your gallant defense, upon the following conditions. 

First. - That you deliver up immediately to the officers and troops, whom I shall appoint, the Island Battery with all the ammunition, cannon warlike and other King's stores belonging in the condition they now are. 

Secondly. - That all the ships of war and other vessels do enter the Harbour without molestation at any time after daylight to- morrow morning, and that the keys of the town be delivered to such officers and troops as I shall appoint to receive them, and that all the cannon, warlike and other King's stores in the town be also delivered up to the said officer. 

I expect your immediate complyance with these terms and beg to assure you, that I am with regard, Sir, your most obt. and humble servant, 

                                                                                                                         P. WARREN.[1] 

1. Quebec MSS. vol. 3 ; Moreau St. M. vol. 50.