PRINCESS BASTION REPORT:
A SURVEY OF THE AREA FROM THE RIGHT REENTRANT 
ANGLE OF THE PRINCESS BASTION TO THE RIGHT REENTRANT 
ANGLE OF THE BROUILLAN BASTION, AND THE RELATION OF THIS 
AREA TO CAP NOIR

BY

MARGARET FORTIER

February, 1966

(Supervision: W. Stevenson, J. Hanna)

(Fortress of Louisbourg Report H B 3)

Presently, only some illustrations are included here.
For all of them, please consult the original report in the archives of the Fortress of Louisbourg

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SECTION III

CHAPTER 1

Projects of Louis Franquet

Louis Franquet was appointed to go to Louisbourg to act in the capacity of Chief Engineer in 1750. Those at Louisbourg were ordered to make only the necessary repairs until such time as he should reach his destination. After his arrival in September of 1750, Franquet formulated several
projects intended to bolster the literally "sagging" fortifications. In 1751 Franquet compiled extensive descriptions of the existing works and outlined in detail the alterations, additions and repairs which he proposed.

Commonly it is said that Franquet had three basic projects in mind. However, in studying the Princess Bastion, it becomes apparent that there was nothing hard and fast about these projects. Indeed, it is almost impossible to state with certainty what the three projects involved. For the Princess alone there are at least seven possibilities. Therefore, until a thorough study can be made of the various projects in terms of the Fortress of Louisbourg as a whole, it might be best to treat each proposal for the Princess Bastion area as a separate entity, and not try - except in the most general way - to relate it to the projects at the other parts of the fortification.

PROJECT I

The earliest mention by Franquet concerning what he had in mind for the fortifications came in 1750, soon after his arrival in Louisbourg. He said then that he planned to bring the three landward fronts of the Fortress to equal strength by the addition of some new works. The existing works were not to be changed in any way. No details of the proposed additions were given at that time. [478] However, it is likely that he was intending to suggest the construction of a demi-lune on each front. This is assumed because, as will be seen, the building of demi-lunes was mentioned on several other occasions as a good means of increasing the strength of the fortifications. And, an undated, unsigned reference spoke of the idea conceived by Franouet for strengthening all the fronts of the existing works by adding demi-lunes and contregards. [479]

PROJECT II

The defense of Franquet given in 1758 stated that the Engineer had had three projects in mind in 1751. One of these was described as including the erection of demi-lunes on the three fronts which faced the land, of contregards on the bastions, and of two redoubts. One of the redoubts proposed was to be located on Cap Noir, while the other would be placed on the hill before the Porte Dauphin. This would have proved a very costly and time consuming program, and it seems hard to believe that Franquet would ever have considered the building of both demi-lunes and redoubts. [480]

PROJECT III

On November 24, 1751 Franquet wrote the Minister that he was sending for his consideration two projects which he had drawn up. As far as he was concerned the better of the two was the one which provided for the establishment of a redoubt on Cap Noir which would communicate with the Fort.
Were this redoubt built, he said, Cap Noir would no longer be a danger to the city, but, instead, would be a disadvantage to all besiegers. It would protect on the right all the works from Cap Noir to the Maurepas Bastion, and on the left every thing to the King's Bastion. All enemy trenches would be enfiladed. [481] The communication which would connect the redoubt with the city would hold back the water of the marsh, forming
an area so flooded that an attack there would not be practical. [482]

The plan drawn of this redoubt shows that it would be reached by means of a long passage which would start at the covert way in front of the right face of the Princess Bastion. Two openings would be cut in the covert way, the area in between forming a kind of traverse complete with firing step. All along the passage there would be a firing step facing west. A ditch and glacis span the length of the communication on its west side. The redoubt itself appears to be a square, with several smaller squares contained within the larger one. The northeast corner of the redoubt is broken, and the covert wav is turned to face south; this turned portion reaches the shore line. The interior of the redoubt is the smallest square. A slope leads up to the banquette; the latter allowing for firing over the parapet. Passage to the interior would be made via an opening cut through the parapet and the banquette on the northeast side. A ditch lies between the body of the redoubt and its covert way. There does not appear to have been any provision made for reaching the covert way from the ditch. The firing step around the covert way is broken by six traverses - two on the southeast and southwest sides, and one on the northeast and northwest sides. The glacis extends around the redoubt - except for the area between the turned covert way and the passage to the Bastion - ending at the shore line of the eastern and western sides of the point of land on which Cap Noir stood. [483] (Plate 7) No terreplein appears on the plan. However, there is a terreplein shown on the profile of the same redoubt. [484]

A profile drawn from northeast to southwest through the redoubt provides much useful information about the proposed structure. It passes through the northeast side near the turned covert way, so that the measurement given for the glacis on this side is the length of the glacis of the turned portion, not the width of the northeast side itself. Besides the measurements, the profile also gives an indication of how much levelling would have to be done at Cap Noir before the redoubt could be constructed . [485] (Figure 27)

The Memoire drawn up by Franquet in 1751 outlining the works to be done, the materials needed, and the cost involved contained an account of the redoubt to be constructed of masonry, earth and sod, surrounded by a covert way and connected to the covert way of the right face of the Princess Bastion by a communication. The communication would, it was said, also act as an aqueduct. The necessary materials and their cost were listed: [486]

1428 cubic toises of earth at 9" .....................................................................  12812: 0: 0:
2657 cubic toises of rock at 30" ....................................................................   85710: 0: 0:
1008 cubic toises of masonry at 125" ...........................................................  126000: 0: 0:
  674 pine wood beams at 3" .........................................................................      2022: 0: 0:
  681 square toises of planks 2 pouces thick at 12" 16^s ..................................  8716: 0: 0:
8720 L of iron at 9^s ...........................................................................................  3924: 0: 0:
                                                                                                                             ___________
                                                                                                                           239844: 0: 0:

PROJECT IV

According to the complete discussion of his projects which Franquet compiled in 1751, his first project has as its most significant point the razing of Cap Noir eighteen pieds in order to render it the same level as the summit of the covert way of the right face of the Princess Bastion. At the same time the covert way would be extended eastward and turned to face the sea. The covert way would, therefore, replace the batardeau as the part of the fortifications which closed the east end of the ditch. All repairs needed to bring the fortifications up to their best state of defense would also be made. [487]

Plans of this project show the escarp of the right face of the Princess Bastion slightly extended to meet the turned covert way. The right face itself appears with a firing step all along its length, and the right flank is pierced by five embrasures. The face and the flank have parapets of the same thickness. The terreplein of the rampart also turns to face the sea, the loophole wall which it overlooks apparently replaced by one of solid construction. The three embrasures of the retired battery are shown superceded by two newly formed openings. A palisade extends from the retired battery to the turned portion of the covert way. And, the Crenelated Wall appears with both terreplein and banquette. It would seem that the forming of a rampart along the Wall was part of the project. The banquette of the Crenelated Wall extends from the right reentrant angle of the Brouillan Bastion to the terreplein of the retired battery, while the terreplein begins at the left reentrant angle of the Princess Bastion and continues all around the Brouillan Bastion. The specific alterations have previously been discussed in the chapters on the individual parts of the Princess Bastion [488] (Plate 6)

The materials for this project and their cost were listed by Franquet in 1751. To extend the covert way 11 toises 3 pieds and turn it across the ditch 12 toises 3 pieds, they would require:

597 cubic toises of earth at 9" ...............................................  3373: 0: 0:
  21 cubic toises of rock at 30" ..............................................    630: 0: 0:
161 cubic toises of masonry at 125" .................................... 20125: 0: 0:
    3 square toises of sod at 5" .............................................        15: 0: 0:
105 pine wood beams at 3" ..................................................     315: 0: 0:
108 square toises of plank 2 pouces thick at 12" 16^s ........... 1382: 8: 0:
1446 L of iron at 9^s ..............................................................    650: 14: 0:
                                                                                            _______________
                                                                                               38491:14: 0:

The demolition of the batardeau and the erection of a new one on the extension of the right face of the Princess Bastion called for:

2 cubic toises of earth at 9" .................................................    18: 0: 0:
2 cubic toises of rock at 30" ................................................    60: 0: 0:
10 cubic toises of masonry at 125" ....................................  1250: 0: 0:
378 square pieds of cut stone at 2" 10^s  ............................     915: 0: 0:
                                                                                             ____________
                                                                                                2243: 0: 0:

And, to raze Cap Noir it was estimated that 890 cubic toises of earth at 9" and 1780 cubic toises of rock at 30" would be needed. The total cost of the hill's destruction would, therefore, be 61410". [489]

PROJECT V

A plan, ostensibly of the first project, shows the fortifications altered in the manner described above, but, instead of razing Cap Noir, the project was to include the construction of the redoubt discussed in connection with Project 111. [490] There is no written reference to this project as far as is known. (Plate 7)

PROJECT VI

In 1759 it was briefly stated that one of Franouet's 1751 projects consisted only in the repairing of the existing works, with no additions planned. Even the levelling of Cap Noir is not mentioned, though this may have been a part of such a project if it existed at all. [491]

PROJECT VII

The unsigned reference mentioned in connection with Project I declared that when Galissoniere, Governor of Canada, visited Louisbourg, he saw too many disadvantages in the various Franquet proposals. For this reason, he was said to have formulated a plan of his own which he forwarded to France. His idea included the construction of two demi-lunes; one before the Porte de la Reine, and one opposite the Porte Dauphin. Such a project, he felt, would not be as costly as the redoubts suggested by Franquet because the earth to be used in construction would be taken from the hills which had to be lowered for the security of the place. [492]

Franquet's 1758 Defense credits this proposal to the Engineer. [493] And, plans drawn up by Franquet in 1751 and 1754 present this project in detail. The demi-lune opposite the Porte de la Reine was to be connected to the Princess-Queen's Curtain by a draw bridge. There were to be two flights of stairs - one on either side of the bridge - leading down to the ditch. Pentagonal in shape, the demi-lune is shown with four embrasures and gun platforms on either flank. A firing step appears around the two faces, broken on the right face by a sally port which pierces the terreplein and parapet of this face as well. Two ramps were to lead up to the terreplein from the interior at the salient angle. Another draw bridge is shown connecting the demi-lune with the covert way. [494]

A contregard was also to be built. This was to be located in front of the right face of the Princess Bastion. Two stairways - one at either end - are shown leading from the contregard to the ditch. Besides the terreplein, there were to be two banquettes formed on this structure. The outer works were to be changed to accommodate the new demi-lune and contregard. The covert way was to be extended eastward, and three places of arms would be constructed surrounding the demi-lune. The two reentrant places of arms appear with two flights of stairs leading to the ditch, and two traverses at their reentrant angles. The large salient place of arms was to have a rounded contrescarp and terreplein, with two curved flights of stairs. Two traverses were to be located near the stairways. There were to be two sally ports cut in the faces of the reentrant places of arms. There was also to be a sally port in the right face of the salient place of arms. [495] (Plates 9, 10, 11 and 12)

The Princess Bastion itself was to undergo considerable alteration:

1 - Right Flank

To receive 5 new embrasures cut into a wider parapet.

2 - Right Face

a - To be extended further toward the sea.
b - To receive a firing step all along its length.
c - To be backed by a cavalier which would have five embrasures, be reached by a ramp leading from the terreplein of the right flank, and have beneath it an underground casemate.

3 - Loophole Wall, Retired Battery and Small Left Face

To be replaced by one left face in the form of a profile facing the sea which would continue on to meet the contregard and the extended covert way.

4 - Small Left Flank

To be replaced by a larger left flank.

5 - Crenelated Wall

a - Rampart to be formed.
b - Banquette to extend from the cavalier to the Brouillan Bastion.
c - Terreplein to extend from the cavalier to the Brouillan Bastion.

6 - Cavalier (Original)

To be removed.

7 - Ramps

One to lead up to the terreplein of the rampart of the Bastion at the right reentrant angle, while another would lead up to the terreplein of the Crenelated Wall at the left flank. [496]

1751 PROJECTS OF LOUIS FRANQUET

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