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DAUPHIN BASTION

Preliminary Report

(1720 - 1745)

BY

MARGARET FORTIER

(Under the supervision of B. C. Bickerton)

January, 1966

(Fortress of Louisbourg Report H B 6)

NOTE:
Presently, the illustrations and graphs are not included here.
For these, please consult the original report in the archives of the Fortress of Louisbourg

CHAPTER 4

LEFT FLANK

One of the two sections of the Dauphin Bastion built in keeping with the form of a "regular" bastion, the left flank  was projected in 1727 with seven embrasures cut through its was parapet. Each of the embrasures was backed by a firing step. Another small step was indicated between the terreplein of the rampart and the firing step. [17] (Plate 1)

The year 1728 saw work on the flank begin in earnest, and by June Verrier was able to report that the laying of its foundation had nearly been completed. The presence of the pond made this area's needs particularly pressing. To hasten work there, the engineer ordered the masons to continue their tasks as long as the weather and funds would permit. [18]

Its parapet still to be formed, the left flank was within 6 or 7 pieds of its full height by November of the same year. [19] Verrier indicated that the height reached was 15 pieds, [20] but de Mezy gave his estimate of the wall's height as 13 pieds. [21] Both men reported that work was being continued on the cut stones during the winter months so that the embrasures of the Bastion might be established during the next season. [22] And, by August, 1729 the enbrazures in the flank had been completed. [23]

The number of embrasures in the flank is open to question, but it would seem safe to assume that there were seven. Several otherwise generally reliable plans indicate the presence of six embrasures. [24] (Plate 7 ) However, these are all concerned with bringing, attention to some area other than the DSauphin Bastion. Those plans which place seven embrasures in the flank are often concerned with the Bastion and no more. [25] (Plates 2-5) These plans would, therefore, be more apt to be mindful of the details of that work. Furthmore, in 1749 when Boucher was involved in repairing the fortifications, he wished to make provision for
the remaking of the seven embrasures present in the left flank prior to the alterations made by the English. [26] (Figure 14)

In December of 1729 it was reported that before work had been stopped that year all the masonry of the Dauphin Bastion had been completed and part of the rampart had been banked. [27] How the individual parts of the Bastion fitted into this general picture is not known.

A roung guerite appears on two plans at the left shoulder angle of the Bastion. The passage to this guerite separates the parapets of the face and flank. [28] Due to the lack of any further evidence, it has been assumed that this guerite was never built. (Plate 3 and 4)

Several early plans - all pre-dating 1734 - indicate the presence of a planked platform or barbette on the terreplein of the flank. Spanning the length of the flank and occupying almost the whole width of its terreplein, [29] this platform would have been of a size worth noting. Yet, it is not mentioned in any of the documents of the same period. Boucher, in 1749, spoke of replacing "La platteforme des embrazures du flanc gauche du bastion Dauphin." [30] (Plate 2, 3, 4 and 5)

It is possible that the platform had occupied the terreplein during, the early years of the flank's history and had been removed some time in or near 1734. It is unlikely that it would have been ignored by every engineer after that date if it had, in fact, been there. Only one plan shows individual gun platforms on the flank. [31]

The presence of a ramp at the left shoulder angle of  the Bastion can be affirmed with a fair degree of certainty. Nothing specific is known of this ramp except that it seems to have run perpendicular to the rampart of the face with the rampart of the flank on its left and the barracks on its right. Judging from the plan evidence it would seem that the revetment of the ramp actually touched the east wall of the latter structure. [32] Only two plans show a space between the revetment and the wall of the barracks. [33] (Figure 14)

Nowhere are the dimensions of the ramp given. However, it is possible to hazard a few guesses on the basis of other known dimensions. Most plans show the ramp to be as long as the barracks is wide. [31] This would mean a length of some 25 pieds for the ramp. [35] Those plans which do not agree, show the ramp to be about 6 pieds shorter thin the building, or 19 pieds long. [36] Over its length the ramp had to climb to the height of the terreplein of the face's rampart. According to the profiles, this would be about 5 to 7 pieds. [37] The profile taken closest to the ramp indicates a height of 5 pieds. [38]

The action of the frost on the summits of the embrasures (the merlons) of the Dauphin Bastion was causing considerable damage by 1734. The slabs of cut stone, thoughy clamped down, were being knocked out of place when the spring thaw arrived. Verrier proposed to put 1 pied 6 pouces of sod on the merlons to forestall any further deterioration of this nature. [39] The sod to be used for this process had to be of a special nature, and, therefore, it was necessary for workers to spend some time very far from the place searching for the proper variety. [40]

The worikings of the frost-thaw cycle were also having a serious effect on the mortar of the Bastion's wall. Within 3 or 4 years of their erection, the walls would lose their mortar, and the stones of the facing would rest unprotected. As a result, the stones would easily work loose and tumble into the ditch. Rough casting was suggested as a means by which this might be prevented, though it was realized that this would be effective only if repairs were made regularly. [41] Both the rough casting and the sodding were completed in 1737. [42]

The condition of the flank's facing apparently failed to improve since, in November of 1744, it was reported that it was scheduled for repair the following year. This time planking was to be used to help ward off the ravages of time and weather. [43] It is not likely that the French were able to carry this project out before the arrival of the English in 1745.

The dimensions of the left flank of the Dauphin Bastion are almost a completed mystery. There are some post-siege dimensions, but the extensive repairs and alterations by both French and English make these almost useless in determining what stood on the site prior to the summer of 1745.

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