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Joseph F.W. Des Barres, A view taken from the entrance of Louisbourg Harbour [Library and Archives of Canada-NMC 028432]

I s l a n d  B a t t e r y

Report/Rapport © Parks Canada / Parcs Canada

                                                                                                                                 REPORT 2005-71

THE AS-BUILT HISTORY OF THE ISLAND BATTERY, 
 1713 - 1768 

BY

ERIC KRAUSE

KRAUSE HOUSE INFO-RESEARCH SOLUTIONS

December 31, 2005
Revised June 12, 2006

Table Of Contents

VOLUME ONE

A NARRATIVE CHRONOLOGY

PREFACE

It was claimed by the English who attacked the Island Battery in 1745 that the French regarded it as the palladium of Louisbourg. No doubt what was meant, in naval speak, was that it was regarded as the defensive bulwark of its inner harbour. Twice attacked, twice silenced, loved or hated, it represented in a startling microcosm all that Louisbourg itself as a military might was and was not. Here too loomed the battle between what was built and what was proposed. What was built was battered twice and finally knocked down beyond any use. What was proposed would have met the same fate - argumentatively just as quickly - though at a far greater financial cost.

In the record of the Island Battery there are many stories to be told, and these can be found, in part, in another report  entitled "The Chronology of Historical Events at the Island Battery, 1713-1768: Transcribed and Précised Documents." which is an on-going project of adding  documents as they are discovered. The narrative chronology below - the as-built history of the island - draws upon that events report.

1758: France: Bibliothèque Nationale (Paris), Cartes et Plans, Service Hydrographique de la Marine, 131-10-7

In the above image of the island, from left to right, top to bottom, is illustrated the epaulement wall, followed in order by the rounded portion of the Island Battery, its face overlooking the harbour entrance, the angled battery, and the stockade (estacade) . The long central feature is the barracks complex, with the powder magazine to the rear. To the left is the ocean and to the right the harbour.

1758: France, Bibliothèque Nationale (Paris), Cartes et Plans, Service Hydrographique de la Marine, 131-10-11

To the left and bottom of the island is the ocean, to the right is the harbour entrance overlooked by the face of the Island Battery, and to the top the harbour.

THE NARRATIVE CHRONOLOGY

To the port of the entrance to the Havre de Louisbourg stood Isle à Babord, the island they wished to fortify. Illustrated on Map 1714-1, it was to have two batteries, 25 cannons, a tower serving both as powder magazine and lighthouse, and a landing spot. But all of this was preliminary, as was the North Shore location for the town.

Equally preliminary, but more serious, was the avant toisé of 1716 where it was estimated, through a gross, though detailed, examination of materials, that the construction of a masonry barbette battery (180 pieds long x 16 pieds wide: 2560 livres), wooden gun platforms (1395 livres) and masonry mansard building (60 pieds x 24 pieds: 5075 livres) would cost 9,030 livres. Worked into the figures - as likewise for a battery on the peninsula - was the repair of some near-by gun carriages suggesting that the island, like other spots on the mainland, was already, or at least prepared to be, fortified in some manner. Noteworthy, it was reported on November 16 that 12 cannons had been dragged to opposite the island for transport to the island in the spring of 1717.

Map 1717-1 clearly illustrates fortification preparations for that year that including the raising on the island of several of the same tall survey posts that marked off proposed bastion and demy-bastion constructions on the peninsula. Whereas ND-3 shows the same bastion survey jalons  as Map 1717-1, and also sites accurately a former barracks, the new barracks, and Louisbourg's parish church, it adds four functioning Batteries de Canons  - one each on the island, on Rochefort Point, on lighthouse point, and on the north shore. Certainly there was a June 26 King's memoir desiring Governor Costebelle and Commissaire-Ordonnateur Soubras to establish une Batterie a Barbette sur LIsle qui est a Lentrée as well as another June 26 request to move cannons to the island.

According to the 1717 Arrangement pour les Ouvrages de Fortifications que le Conseil ordonne au Port de Louisbourg, a project concerning the Isle a l'Entrée envisioned - as for elsewhere too - some preliminary excavation work (120 pieds long x 12 pieds wide x 4 pieds of depth) to allow workman manoeuvring room for future masonry construction, as well some amassing of rubble-stone (120 pieds long x 12 pieds wide x 4 pieds of depth) and timber (500 solives) for the same.

On June 10 a new devis and avant toisé (9,916 livres 15 sols) was issued for a batterie de canons consisting of a masonry barbette battery (150 pieds long facing the entrance and 60 pieds the entrance opening), powder magazine, guard house, cistern, and latrines. In preparing a level site for the buildings - together the powder magazine and guard house measured 120 pieds long x 18 pieds - it would be necessary to blow up the rocks on the battery side, but because high swells swept over almost the entire island from time to time, it was critical that these rocks not be removed in their height. However, once this initial work was completed, further construction was to be put on hold.

On June 17 and September 20, it was clear that local officials no longer wanted to postpone the construction of  a battery on the island en entrant à Louisbourg à Babord. According to De Mesy (Commissaire-Ordonnateur), the place was perfectly suitable for construction: For example, it was 120 toise (720 pieds) long, or longer than previously indicated on the plans, and it would yield the necessary building stone (beautiful marble) and good earth. Furthermore, most suitable was the lay of the land to the placement of batteries and [powder] magazines.

On June 20 (and 24), a King's memoir directed Engineer Verville to place a work crew on the Batterie de l'entrée to prepare the foundations according to the approved plans. Later, on November 27, and probably in the same spirit, Governor St. Ovide requested that twenty 24-pounders -- together with their carriages and accoutrements - ought to be sent from Rochefort for this battery, notwithstanding the probability that cannons were already on the island.

On August 1, Verville reported that his sub-engineers had commenced excavation work for the battery. By December 3, seven of the best of the mediocre cannons at Louisbourg were transported to the island on the understanding that France would later send better ones in 1723. This was confirmed on November 17, 1723, and further, that they were to be 24 pounders mounted en batterie, and manned.

On May 27, a King's memoir reported the funding of la Batterie Royalle et a cette de LIslot and the sending of a master carpenter and 5 assistants to build the wooden gun platforms of the Batterie de L'Islot. The amount of wood required and delivered [to the island] was to be awarded based on at least one local devis produced by Verville, authorized by De Mesy and approved by St. Ovide. Another devis was to be issued for the excavation of rock, for the masonry work of a guard house and a powder magazine, and for battery hardware, with the materials delivered to the building site with freight and transport costs included.

On August 5, 1723, Verville issued a Devis de la Batterie de Canon de l'Isle de l'Entrée du Port, apparently without an associated drawing other than Map ND-84 which appears to be a close representation. Clearly the devis was of a preliminary nature, as was the said plan, and thus some of the given devis measurements, such as for the gun platforms, were only provided to meet the requirements of the King's memoir of May 27. At any rate, the length of the battery was not noted. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this proposal, given later developments, was the use of a building rather than the battery itself to guard the island's landing cove [L'ance au débarquement], and the attention paid to the construction of a cistern.

On November 22, it was reported that Verville had prefabricated an expensive charpente (1/2 timber) house of 33 pieds x 21 pieds wide to be raised the following spring on the islot de Lentrée to lodge his son who was to direct the work there.

Building materials were also stockpiled on the island during this period according to a Ganet Etat of December 14, 1736 and Ganet Mémoire of October 1, 1738. They included the transport of 13 toises of flat stone (130 livres), the amassing of rubble-stone (273 livres 16 sols), the provision and repair of workman's tools (400 livres 13 sols), and the purchase of 1117 running pieds of planks (450 livres 11 sols) used in provisional works later demolished.

In 1724, the frigate La Victoire off-loaded twelve 24 pounders on the island. Later, in September, nine French sappers were employed in carting stone.  That work no doubt involved the 52 cubic toise of rubble-stone and 95 square toise of sod as reported on c. November 10 and confirmed on November 17 as required for construction and levelling of the gun platforms of the Batterie de L'Isle de l'Entrée. According to Engineer Verrier, Verville fils was to be commanded for the work to date.

On February 24, Ganet, the new contractor (Entrepreneur des Travaux des Fortifications de l'Isle Royalle), was awarded a marché that determined the prices that he could charge and the materials specifications that he was to meet for projects he would undertake. While the contract covered the period May 23, 1725 till April 30, 1727, a Ganet mémoire of October 1, 1738 would suggest that its provisions were applied against only the island construction of 1727-1730 and 1736. For the years 1723-1725, that preparatory work had been carried out by others. Furthermore, on November 10, he reported that he hadn't undertaken any work on the Island Battery since his return that year to Louisbourg owing to great difficulties in landing on the island. However, during 1726, he planned to amass a considerable stockpile there for the 1727 construction season. Three days later, on the 13th, and on the 3rd of December, both Verrier and De Mesy, respectively, confirmed this strategy. On December 6, Verrier refined future work a bit more, noting that in 1726 the stockpile included rubble-stone as well as lime and sand. On the 17th, St. Ovide noted that the stockpiling of these materials was required since nothing [in 1725 by Ganet] had been prepared.

In 1726 - confirmed by a Ganet Mémoire of October 1, 1738 - the contractor had expended a depense extraordinaire ... pour Les Logements et Letablissement des Trouppes et ouvriers of 42 livres for 7 barrels to hold beer for the soldier-workers (21 livres), and for the transport of workers' food by dingy (9 livres) and wood for the workers' mess to the island by means of a shallop (3 trips - 12 livres). Such expenses, incurred outside of his government marchés and recouped by an etat of December 14, 1736, would be repeated in different amounts for the years 1726-1730 and 1736.

On August 14, this group of men was described as a work-crew stockpiling rubble-stone (and sand according to Verrier on October 10), but otherwise, undertaking no [construction] work, as confirmed by Ganet on October 10. Again, according to the same Verrier memo, enough had been stockpiled to begin work in 1727.

On November 12, 1726, Ganet drafted a supplemental price and materials marché for work, undertaken by him to date or in the future, not covered off by his marché of February 24, 1725.

On November 29, Ganet declared that he intended to complete a major portion of the island's masonry work in 1727 given the amount of stockpiled materials, that now included timber. Supporting his assertion were both St Ovide and Verrier writing on December 1. Notwithstanding, Verrier immediately cautioned that work movement on the island would be restricted by where the considerable quantity of rubble-stone and sand had to be placed because of the given lay of the land.  But he would do his best.

Verrier issued Map 1726-5 to guide the 1727 Island Battery work season. Noteworthy, this plan also illustrated a battery that explained Map ND-84 (c. 1723-1725) in that approximately at mid-point of its wooden platform, there was an elevation change. Highlighted again as well was that the landing cove be protected though now by a battery rather than by a building.

Sometime during 1727, the contractor again expended a depense extraordinaire, this time of 153 livres for the transport of workers' firewood by shallop (6 trips - 24 livres), for 6 cords of fire-wood for the workers' mess (99 livres), and for 10 barrels for the workers' beer (30 livres). Also reported on September 13 was that foundational work had been taking place since August. Later, on October 7, 1727, Ganet received his requested supplemental price and materials specifications marché which would have applied only where island work went beyond the scope of his February 24, 1725 marché.

On November 17, Engineer Verrier reported that two-thirds of the Island Battery was built to its bavette - which on November 24, De Mesy explained as 2/3rd's of the exterior face of the battery being raised to its barbette - and given even better weather, Verrier asserted that everything would have been completed. At any rate if supplied with some cut stone, he planned to complete the entire battery in 1728 - i.e., as explained by the Governor on November 19 - to finish it to its defensive position, or, at the very least, to build it to a point that little remained.  That meant a battery designed with a concentration of fire-power upon the harbour entrance with but 5 cannons to cover the harbour itself, thus justifying the need for a Dauphin Demi-Bastion.

On November 20, St. Ovide and De Mesy revealed that they had visited the island prior to the laying of the foundations of the battery, and noted that Verrier had clearly chosen only the best features of the Verville plan. This met their approval.

According to Map 1727-7 (a close variation of Map 1726-5), the battery had been raised to where it was ready to receive its embrasures. Clearly here was where the cut-stones were required. The plan also illustrates that the 1/3 of battery work remaining was on the portion towards the landing cove. Although the earthen base in the 2/3rd portion behind the exterior wall had been raised to receive next year's wooden platforms, everything else, including the buildings of the battery, remained as work for the 1728 construction season. Also, the proposed portion of the battery that played upon the harbour had 8 embrasures whereas Verrier had clearly planned on placing only 5 cannons here.

Map 1727-7 was also meant to guide the 1728 Island Battery work season, but given Map 1734-8, and other similar illustrations, major changes were made. One that wasn't, as reported on June 27, was the battery that faced the harbour, where the excavations were now completed, with foundation work planned for July up to the genouillères, i.e. to the foot of the interior slope of the embrasures, which would allow the stone-cutters time to produce the embrasures. Following that, he planned to found the powder magazine, the cistern, and other unspecified buildings.

Sometime during 1728, the contractor again expended a depense extraordinaire, this time of 1,561 livres for 14 barrels for water and beer for the workers (42 livres), 18 cords of fire-wood for the workers' mess (270 livres), and for the construction of 7 temporary barracks for the workers: 170 square toises of board roofing (1190 livres), 86 cubic pieds of [timber] for the structures (107 livres 10 sols), 13 temporary sleeping bunks (104 livres), and 5 small lime and sand [masonry] fireplaces and/or chimneys (160 livres).

On November 13, Verrier declared the masonry work of the Island Battery completed and awaiting its wooden platforms. As for the lodgings, it would take about a month and a half to complete them, though this work had necessarily been delayed by the materials that had been stock-piled on their sites. Finally Verrier emphasized the dangerous surf [as was first mentioned in 1718] including the fact that he, Engineer Boucher, and Ganet were nearly drowned on October 7 when attempting to visit the island.

On November 13, it was reported that Ganet had expended 36,645 livres during that construction season on earth (859 livres), on [possibly just rubble-stone] masonry (25,806 livres), and on cut sand-stone (9,980 livres).

A day later, on the 14th, De Mesy noted that he planned, for 1729, to mount cannons on the completed battery, and, as reported on November 24, they being 32 of them - all 24 pounders - perhaps suggesting a battery with exactly 32 embrasures. Also next year, the buildings were to be founded (delayed because of the stock-piled materials on where the buildings were to go), the platforms constructed, and the cannon placed since their carriages, in large part, were already completed.

During 1729, the contractor again expended a depense extraordinaire, this time of 485 livres: For rafters, nails, and boards for the repair of four [workers'] barracks damaged during the winter of 1728-1729 (170 livres), for 25 barrels of water and beer for the workers (75 livres), and for 16 cords of firewood for the workers' mess (240 livres).

On May 22 (when it was also thought - because all of the materials had arrived on the construction site -  that the lodgings would be completed in 6 weeks), and again on August 14, it was noted that construction at the Island Battery was underway, with on the 31st, Verrier reporting that the building's masonry was now completed and work had turned to the roof. However, on December 18, readying himself for a trip to France, he lamented that the October rains and light frost had caused an [early] stop to the construction season.  Nevertheless, the carpenters had set the roof upon the lodgings, and the [masons] had raised the masonry powder magazine to the beginning of its vault (to be completed when the walls had set). As for the [wooden] platforms, delayed because the materials for the buildings had been stockpiled in their location, that project would be completed next May. In his place he was leaving engineer DeCouagne - together with the mémoire, plans, and profils -  who was to complete the work during his absence in 1730.

During 1730, the contractor again expended a depense extraordinaire, this time of 358 livres for: 14 cords of firewood for the workers' mess (213 livres 10 sols), 10 barrels for the workers' water and beer (25 livres), and the transport of workers' beer, water and food by gabarre (lighter - 120 livres).

On March 26, Verrier estimated the cost for completing the rest of the Island Battery: to build up the earthen base for the [wooden] platforms of the batterie en retour [i.e that angled portion facing the landing cove] (380 livres); [rubble-stone] masonry to complete the powder magazine and cistern (4,620 livres); 300 square toise of planks for the platforms (10,800 livres) and 3,037 cubic pieds (3,796 livres 5 sols) of associated sleepers;  18 square toise of double flooring (324 livres) and 90 cubic pieds of associated sleepers for the powder magazine; 9,000 pounds of iron and other ironwork (2,475 livres); 700 pounds of lead (175 livres) for sealing the crampons [of cut stone]; 5 square toise of [window] frames @ 45 sols (225 livres);  180 square pieds of [window] glass (216 livres);  doors and shutters (210 livres); and [window and/or door] hardware (300 livres).

On April 17, Ganet was awarded another contract, against which he would, at some time, place some Island Battery charges.  On June 30, the King, noting that the old contract had expired in January, approved the use of the new contract for completing the Island Battery.

On July 20, it was reported that DeCouagne, [now that] the powder magazine was completed, was working on the platforms of the battery. By October, the battery's gun carriages, and fittings, were also finished. Consequently when Verrier arrived back on September 11 - according to a December 2 report - he found all work on the island ceased, and the list of project items he had left with DeCouagne completed. In the same report he noted that the cannons were now mounted on the platforms, and that if Rochefort sent 30 barrels of tile for making cement, he could build the cistern [for fresh water].  On December 3, it was further learned that because of the lime kiln location, 15 pieds of platform was yet incomplete.

It was also on December 3 that a generally recognized problem - that of the effects of the severe Louisbourg climate upon constructions, be they military or domestic - surfaced here at the Island Battery as well. On this day, it was its powder magazine that came under scrutiny. Because of the humid climate it would be three or four years before its thick [vaults] dried sufficiently to allow for the removal of their [wooden] arch support templates (cintres). According to Verrier, all of the newly built powder magazines suffered a similar fate because their vaults were made of either rubble-stone or flat stones, with but few of bricks. Until then, these magazines could not be put into service.

Sometime between 1730 and 1734, according to a Ganet Etat Extraordinaire of December 14, 1736, he paid [carters] for the transport of workers' beer, water, and food by lighter to the island.

On November 29, Verrier acknowledged that the 30 barrels of tile required for cement had  been received, and that in 1732, the construction of the cistern would be completed. As for the trimming up/cleaning up of masonry work that had been remaining, it was now finished.

On November 16, Verrier acknowledged that no [more] work had taken place on the cistern since the cement for it was re-directed for the platforms of the King's Bastion. Moreover, he had been able to build the cistern only to its draught-screen. On the west side [i.e. the ocean side], his plan to construct a [retaining] epaulement wall to prevent sea spray from [contaminating] the cistern had not moved forward. Clearly, the seed for the idea for constructing such a  wall was first raised in 1723 by [Verville] in his plan of ND-84.

On October 14, St. Ovide confirmed that the cistern was salt-contaminated requiring barrels of fresh water to be transported to the island. Later, he stressed the island's security and the need to protect the battery from ocean-side fire, which could be achieved by a masonry epaulement wall built from the battery's terminus to a large rock behind which the powder magazine had been built. On the 22nd, it was noted that the Island Battery would receive some birch carriages for mortars, and that the existing cannon carriages had been tarred that summer to conserve them better from the humid climate and the ocean's salt spray. Shortly even the cannons of the Island Battery were going to be tarred.

On October 23, Verrier noted that he had produced some estimations for a rubble-stone epaulement wall that both the Governor and Commissaire-Ordonnateur had approved, based on the same security issues that St. Ovide had raised on the 14th.  If France were to authorize the project, he hoped for an early answer to allow the contractor time to lay the rubble-stone during the dry season.

Furthermore, he repeated his argument made in 1733 that it was useless to continue work on the cistern given that high tide percolated and ocean spray bathed the cistern with salt water, so much so that 60 to 80 barrels of fresh water would perhaps need to be held in provision during any period of war.

Map 1734-8 set out the requirements for an epaulement wall that was proposed for construction in 1734. But it did far more than that: First, it confirmed the following concerning Map ND-20 (pre Map 1734-8), Map ND-92 (post Map 1734-8), and ND-83 (post Map 1734-8):

Map 1734-8 also confirmed that high tide and ocean spray had salt-contaminated the cistern and rendered it useless.

Accepting that those features on Map 1734-8 and Map ND-83 known to have been built were reasonably factual, the following observations arise:

On January 24 Pierre Pelletier, a Suisse Sergeant was interred on the island because he could not be moved to the Louisbourg cemetery because of the poor [winter] weather.

On September 29, Paul Detraine was awarded a general contract for sweeping the King's chimneys that included those of the Island Battery for the period October 1, 1734 to September 30, 1735.

On November 1, it was reported that the the King had approved the construction of the epaulement wall but that the authorization had came too late [for the current construction season though on November 6, Verrier acknowledged that there had actually been a start]. However, the contractor was ordered to stockpile the necessary materials for 1735. With respect to the cistern, work on it was suspended, requiring that an alternate supply of fresh water be provided. Furthermore, the powder magazine had now been put into operation - on November 4 and 6 it was reported that the vault's arch supports had finally been removed [i.e. because the buildings "thick rubble-stone" vaults had set] - and readied for powder. As for the terminus of the platforms that overlooked the harbour and not yet completed (30-40 pieds as reported on November 6), it was finished off.

On November 4 it was stated that the powder magazine could hold 300 barrels of powder; on the 5th that there was a barracks and a guard house which in April was full of  ice and requiring some work to make them habitable but in May completed; and on the 6th, that the stockpile on the island for building the epaulement wall during June, 1735, was nearly complete, and that the canons of the battery had been mounted and directed for already five years now.

Once again, generally recognized climatic problems surfaced with Island Battery constructions. For example, on November 30, it was reported that the winds here, like everywhere at Louisbourg, were so violent during the winter that snow was getting into the attics of the barracks which from December until April were uninhabited. Likewise snow had blown beneath the slates of the Block One storehouse and salle d'armes, into timber mortises, and onto attic floors and stores, causing considerable damage. So severe were the winds that even buildings with tighter [wood]-shingled roofs were affected. By [caulking] beneath the [Island Battery's barrack's slate] roof with a bousillage mixture of clayey earth perhaps such a repair could  resolve the problem.

On February 10, a request for funds noted that the Island Battery - manned, from April through November - consisted of  a solders' and an officer's guard room that had [fireplaces]. On October 20, an inventory identified the need for two cast iron 12 pouce mortars. On the 28th the Governor and the Commissaire-Ordonnateur reported that construction on the epaulement wall of the Island Battery was deferred to 1736 since the workers had been required elsewhere, including at the Porte Dauphine where its epaulement wall could only be built during the dry construction season. Importantly, most of the construction materials had been stockpiled. Also on the 28th, Verrier added another reason for the delay, that the thick fog and rain, which had persisted  between May and August, had prevented the [stockpiled materials] from being transported to the island. Consequently only 20 of the required 60 toises of rubble-stone had been landed.

On the same date, Verrier noted that he had issued Map 1735-4 with its flap that showed the proposed repairs to the summits of the merlons that required the removal of 2 pieds of rubble-stone [and associated cut-stone], degraded by the combination of frost and sea-spray, and its replacement with sod and earth. Not only would this sod save the embrasures, as well as the battery itself, but also would save those serving there since grazing cannon fire, or bullets putting holes in the sod, would now cause less serious accidents. Furthermore, the rubble-stones of the embrasures had not been chosen long enough and the cut-stone dimensions had been made too small, and to have replaced the cut-stones with well-cramped ones would have been costly - [so here too, sod would be used]. As for the removed rubble-stone, the contractor could use it in building the epaulement wall. Given this, Verrier was looking for an early project approval to allow for this repair during the 1736 dry season.

In 1736, in particular on January 31, there was identified a need for three large flags for the three large batteries.

On January 24, Verrier received authorization to undertake the merlon sod repairs at a cost of 600 livres. On July 8, he reported that he had put men to work, but, though expecting some transport delay of the sod [from where it was being cut], he thought towards the end of August the project would be completed. Furthermore, he would begin constructing the epaulement wall on July 10, and since everything was now stockpiled on the island, he expected the project to take no longer than 15 days to complete. On October 30, the Governor confirmed that the epaulement wall had been built.

Unfortunately, he went on, the roof of the powder magazine, a building just completed last year, was partially ripped off by a gust of wind, but was now repaired. Its exterior wall facing the harbour was boarded and the building was ready to receive its powder.

Furthermore, all the interior and exterior walls of the battery had been rough-cast to ground level, the cut-stone surrounds of the embrasures cramped [with cramp-irons], and the cistern, which the ocean had completely degraded, was re-established, emptied, and well-cleaned. Now protected by the epaulement wall, it was expected shortly to yield [fresh] water.

Finally, on October 30, the Governor described a stockade (estacade) now built to the right (a la droite) of the flank which encompassed a rock that one could use in the event of an incursion upon the island. He envision another to the left of the same flank, to prevent [an attacker] from entering at the face of the battery where at that place the embrasures stood no more than 4 pieds off the  ground.

On November 7, the Governor and the Commissaire-Ordonnateur confirmed that Ganet had incorporated the rubble-stone from the merlon repairs in the epaulement wall. They also noted that Verrier had used the wood from the 1735 storm-surge destroyed stockade (estacade) at the Princess Demi-Bastion [for a stockade] at the face of the island's battery that overlooked the harbour towards Rochefort Point. A similar project was required at the angle of the shoulder of said face and the rest of the battery facing the harbour entrance where there was a void that could allow [an attacker] to reach the embrasures, which being set low, made for easy entry.

In pointing out that the cut-stone of the embrasures of the Island Battery, Royal Battery, and Dauphin Demi-Bastion had been cramped, they stressed the indispensable importance of these "repairs". Another "repair" was the rough-casting of the walls of the Island Battery - which was in great need of it - no doubt having suffered the same severe degradation of its masonry joints as did the other fortification walls, from the effects of rain, fog, and frost.

On November 10, the Engineer was quite expansive. Newly revealed was the kind of place d'armes that arose out of the construction of the epaulement wall because of the earth that had to be placed between it and the platforms. Here one could establish some bomb mortars if necessary.

Also noted was the amount of rubble-stone that the contractor had re-covered from the merlon repairs for the use of the epaulement wall. It totalled 10 toise.

As for the effect of the powdered snow and frost upon exposed masonry joints, he newly added to this list the deterioration of the flat-stone chimneys of the Island Battery. Here the stones used had been too thin, causing them to be rebuilt with well-cramped cut-stone [embrasure stones] recovered from the merlon repairs.

Also answered on November 10 was the type of construction wood Verrier had recovered from the stockade of the Princess Demi-Bastion - it was an Estacade de charpente, that is, of framed timber - that he had used to "re-establish" as the stockade on the Island Battery. Built on the rock to prevent anyone from entering the battery as well as to flank the entry gate, a construction of some type here had its seed as a wooden palisade as early as on Verrier's Map 1726-5. Later, an even more ambitious proposal was a for a masonry [gun-looped] jog that was illustrated on some post 1734-8 plans (such as Map ND-92 and Map ND-83).

Finally Verrier provided a reckoning of assorted costs [that may not have included the recovered materials of the Princess estacade]. For the sod, earth, re-cutting of stones, demolition of the [rubble-stone] merlons, the epaulement wall, the general cramping of the cut-stone embrasures, the sealing of the [iron] cramps in lead, and other works mentioned in the [missing] provisional toisé for completing the battery, this totalled 13,259 livres 3 sols.

On November 16, LeNormant (Commissaire-Ordonnateur) revealed that of the 306 cut-stones removed during the merlon repairs, beside those used to re-establish the island's chimney stacks, some ended up in the epaulement wall, and others were placed in storage.

On December 2, Verrier issued a final toisé that would have summarized all of Ganet's work on the Island Battery within the scope of his marché of 1725, but, unfortunately, it has gone missing. What is known though is that Verrier reckoned Ganet's costs at 111,137 livres 1 sol. However, according to a Ganet Mémoire of 1738, that amount included the 1723-1725 stockpiling of some Island Battery materials to which he was not entitled a charge, while it did not include some minor diverse Island Battery costs actually owing to him and identified in this narrative as a depense extraordinaire. No doubt also not including were some other costs - such as those initially incurred at the Princess Demi-Bastion for its stockade (estacade) but later re-used as the island's stockade (estacade) - but nevertheless, as a bench mark for measuring the size of the ouvrage, it is a useful figure.

On the same 2nd of December day, Verrier, LeNormant, Sabatier (controler de la Marine), and Ganet  toured the Island Battery with Logier (menuisier), Durand (charpentier), Claparede (serrurier), and Bernard (couvreur), all contracted on October 25 to maintain the King's buildings.

On October 30, the Governor observed that the sods placed at the embrasures had held.

On September 1, a request for mortars for the island was made.

On October 24, November 1, and November 12, the platforms were declared in good repair and long lasting.

On November 4, LeNormant suggested that the doors of each room of the [barracks] of the Island Battery may have been numbered as were those of the King's Bastion Barracks, to facilitate a general inventory of solders' utensil.

Once again the effects of the severe Louisbourg climate upon the Island Battery were being discussed; yet, in some cases, the speaker would clearly contradict the statements of others made to date.

In an unsigned 1739 memo, the writer argued that the Island Battery had, for some years, suffered from frost heave and salt-spray. As a result, much of its facing had degraded or heaved. Accordingly, the author thought it necessary to clad it totally with planks to prevent the constant repairs.  It was also his opinion that that it would be better to shingle  rather than to sod the summits of the embrasures. Because of its thinness and its lack of firmness, sod could not prevent the rain, thaw action  and snow from penetrating between the merlons and the sod. As a result, the surface, and likewise, facings were being degraded.

He also underlined the damage that the exposure to air was causing to unprotected cannon and mortar carriages, doors, shutters, window sashes, barrieres [gates], sentry boxes, and other items made of wood. Clearly they should be painted, and a clause for that should be included in the upcoming fortification contract with Muiron. Similarly protected ought to be cannons, and associated fittings such as those morsels of ironwork that he had pulled at the Island Battery as the proof of doing nothing.

On February 3, it was reported that there was now a regulation that the Island Battery would raise a red flag in the spring to warn ships not to enter Louisbourg harbour if, as was often the case, ice conditions were bad.

Later on October 10, Verrier submitted an estimation, dated 1741, for applying a plank cladding like that proposed in 1739 to the Island Battery facings to prevent further climate-related deterioration. The amount, which also included repairing the existing deteriorated masonry, totalled 6203 livres:

On October 20, it was asserted that the tar applied to gun carriages wasn't adhering, and that they should be painted a deep red. As well, a marché had already been let for platform planks so as to allow them sufficient time to dry before required at the Island Battery. On October 25, a visit to the Island Battery that included Verrier, noted: the [rough-cast] facings had slumped and with his [October 10] project in mind, Verrier had instructed the fortification contractor to stockpile the required materials and planks during the upcoming winter so that they could be fashioned during the spring of 1741. On October 29, Verrier re-stated the same cost as on October 10, adding that the planks were made of pine, that the cladding was like that in current use in the new fortification works [i.e. the nouvelle enceinte], and that the project should be included in the estimates of 1741.

On December 1, Governor DuQuesnel reported visiting the Island Battery, and though sea conditions prevented a landing at its small, narrow, difficult cove that admitted [nothing larger than] a shallop, he thought it a beautiful and spacious place, surrounded by rocks and an angry sea. Fortunately, this battery had not suffered the same fate as the Royal Battery, which fact no doubt drew his support and recommendation for a cladding project start in 1742, given that the rough-cast was being eaten away by the rain and sea. He also thought that the platforms were ready for reconstruction, concurred with the request that the existing 18 pounders and Bastards, be replaced with 24 pounders, and that the harbour be cleaned of its [lost] anchors, with some being sent to the Island Battery.

On December 16, Bigot, the Commissaire-Ordonnaterur, authorized payment for 1700 planks to re-new the platforms of the Island and Dauphin Batteries.

In 1741, an official request for 6203 livres for cladding the Island Battery was made. Later it was reported on June 1 and October 15, that Muiron had built a storage area or bin (soute) for stocking biscuits or bread in one of the attics of the barracks  (313 livres 7 sols 6 deniers); on October 10, that the walls of Island Battery were being repaired with wood required for the Pièce de la Grave battery; on October 18, that a Guard House had a [fireplace]; on October 19, that there was no bread oven on the island; and on October 20, that its gun carriages were painted, [mortar carriages were prepared], and the planks required for the platforms were in storage, with work on the platforms scheduled for the spring of 1742.

On October 26, Verrier noted that, due to an emergency, he had to divert the wood required for the Island Battery repairs to the Pièce de la Grave and Quay projects.  He also refined the location of the bread bin as being necessarily in the [attic of the] storehouse [portion of  the barracks complex] considering that one did not know how to place an oven in a terreplein that was too tight.

In 1741, an English observer noted that the walls of the battery were of moderate height above the rock with its entrance way into the place by means of a covered way built through the cliffs. Its [embrasures] were built so that its guns pointed towards the broadside of any ship entering the harbour.

On October 30 and November 3, it was reported that the repairs to the Island Battery had been deferred to 1743. Verrier noted that deterioration here had increased considerably, making it absolutely necessary that the interior facings of the battery be wood-clad, and that the barracks and powder magazine be rough-cast, work which he had identified in his estimation [October 10, 1741]. The [new] cost was an additional 4500 livres and was included, and shown, in the proposed expenditures for 1743. On November 10, Bigot reported that the carpenters had re-made the platforms of hardwood. According to him, the work was very extensive, forcing him to draw extras from a stock required elsewhere for platforms.

On October 20, a final Verrier toisé [missing] noted that Muiron had repaired (no later than October 10) the Island Battery at a cost of 11,959 livres 2 sols.

Sometime during 1744 (c. May 24 to post November 12), the surgeon, Eliot, who was a prisoner at Louisbourg, observed that the Island Battery had a wall that stood 20 feet tall, and had a covered way.

On October 30, Verrier issued a provisional toisé of work undertaken by Muiron. It fully detailed the construction of a bakery, adjoining solders' guard house and prison, 2 mortar platforms, an epaulement wall platform, three sentry-boxes; the assorted repairs/upgrades of existing features; and the [construction] of four tables and six benches of merisier (birch). The total cost was 4,968 livres 8 sols 8 deniers.

The new work included the following:

Out of this new work, some interesting details arose: The diagonal window and door [braces] of the framed bakery were of  10 x 10 pouce pine pieces whereas the sill and wall plate measured only 8 x 9 pouces; the ground floor of the prison was perhaps only of earth; the single window frame of the guard house and the two of the bakery were of oak, all of them glazed (eighty 7 x 8 pouce panes) and each was closed off by a 1-pouce thick board shutter; the single door of the prison, the two of the bakery, and the one of the guard house were of 2-pouce thick pine planks and hardwood emboitures; and the hardware included three pairs of 2-pieds long strap hinges, two bernard rim locks, one surface mounted lock à bosse with its bolt, six spring bolts, twelve butt hinges, two hold-fasts, and two latches.

In addition to this new work, earth was [excavated] from outside the battery and deposited in the [existing] guard houses, barracks rooms, and on the ocean-side epaulement wall to thicken its platform; the exterior face and gable-end of the barracks on the ocean side was repaired in [rubbles-stone] and covered with Boston boards; while the [other] exterior face and gable end was rough-cast à pierre apparante;  the interior walls of the powder magazine were covered with 2-pouce thick pine planks, 3-pieds high (to combat dampness); a 2-pouce thick pine plank partition was erected in the magasin des vivres; and 2-pouce thick pine floors were installed in the barracks rooms upon wooden sleepers.

The three new structures - their main roofs and single hip roof wood-shingled (a sheathing was not specified) - adjoined the existing barracks.

Some useful measurements:

On November 13 and November 22, came the justification for the bakery that the dampness was so great at the Island Battery that even the soute that had been built could not conserve the bread or biscuit. At the same time, it was revealed that there were six fire-places in continual use on the island, even in the summer, even at night, because of the dampness: 4 in the solders' rooms, one in the officers' kitchen, and one in the officers' rooms; and that 82 cords of wood had been consumed that year in addition to the 18 originally ordered.

On November 18, Verrier further revealed that the two platforms for two mortars were located to play upon the [north-east] fond du port portion of the harbour, that the two lower rooms in the barracks for the officers were insufficient, and that he had [converted] two attic rooms for the use of the officers.

The siege of Louisbourg began on April 30 (old style Julian calendar) and ended on June 17 (o.s.). According to the French Gregorian calendar, the respective dates were May 11 and June 28.

In the English siege accounts it was reported on October 28 (o.s.) that the barracks was damaged by cannon fire from the Royal Battery shortly after May 17 (o.s). On June 10 (o.s), cannon fire from the English lighthouse battery both "swept the west platform" and "beat down part of their garrison house." Between June 11 (o.s) and 15 (o.s.), a bomb hit the powder magazine. Cannon balls had also ranged through the barracks. In this account too, it was revealed that the French regarded the Island Battery as the palladium of Louisbourg.

On June 14, a siege journal revealed that "last night" the light house battery demolished the end of the "garrison," all of its chimneys, and a part of its roof. It also took out the island's north embrasures.

On April 30, 1751, Franquet confirmed that the English had, on the night of June 5/6 [sic: June 6/7], 1745, attacked at the landing cove. In the French siege accounts, Verrier reported on August 22, 1745, that the lighthouse battery had riddled the main part of the bakery and barracks to nearly ruins despite the attempt of his son to throw up protective fortification materials during the attack. According to Governor DuChambon, reporting upon the attack of June 6/7, the enemy was found at 3 locations: La Pointe A Peletier, opposite les Corps des Casernes,  and the debarquement. Furthermore, in his September 23 report, that what was destroyed during the siege were several embrasures, as well as a part of the barracks, the small storehouse, and the bakery, but that, nevertheless, the men had remained on the island until June 27.

On June 24 (o.s.) an advisory directed that the Island Battery be repaired that summer.

A July 25 (o.s.) English sketch of an on-site inspection (Curwen and Ward) described - what the French called a wooden stockade (estacade) - a "Piquet of large timber, fastened by iron clamps, drilled into the solid rock". For the French what was an epaulement wall, for them was a "Wall framed of timber and covered with plank and filled with stone and lime, in which is an embrasure with a 48 pr [pounder] " and defended also by "two small swivels". The authors were also struck by a number of other things: that the height of the commander's lodging (adjoining the harbour end of the barracks) was only 5 feet [5.33 pieds] high [suggesting perhaps that the wall height of the structure had been kept as low as possible]; that the width of the entrance gate that passed through and under the wall was 4 feet [4.26 pieds] wide; and that the size of the island was 450 feet [479.7 pieds] long x [generally] 168 feet [179.088 pieds] wide.

The authors of the sketch also noted that the number of embrasures that fronted the harbour, "not more than three feet from the ground", was 22, which if correct, left 7 in the battery, here called "Sally-ports," facing the ocean with another 10 in the angled battery, here called "formed like a cannon sally-port ... made an angle of 160 degrees" facing towards the harbour and mouth, and thus totalling 39.

On June 28 (o.s), Engineer Bastide, in his summary of repairs, noted that he had expended 529 pounds 10 shillings lining the masonry, repairing the embrasures, making new chimney stacks, mending the roof, doors, windows, and glazing, and paying for the water carriage of materials.

Upon his return home, an anonymous soldier reported (after October 17 (o.s)) that the Island Battery sat on 2 and one-half acres of rock upon which the French had built a stone fort 42 rods long (693 feet) whose walls (10 feet tall x 8 feet thick) were planked on both sides, with a 2-foot [sod] summit. Within, its barracks measured 20 rods (330 feet) by 30 feet wide and there was a well [cistern]. In saying that it was built in 1728 he assuredly had observed that date on an Island feature, which probably was somewhere at or on the entrance gate. Finally, when [captured], the fort mounted 31 24-pounders and a mortar.

On February 20 (o.s) a severe wind and snow storm hit Louisbourg. Throwing up the ice against the walls of the Island Battery it burst its gates despite them being barred with iron. Quite a sight too were the coffins of dead bodies buried on the Island that were thrown up and strewn about into the harbour ice.  By May some repairs were reported on the island.

Map 1746-3 clearly suggests that the new bakery, guard house and prison, as described on October 30, 1744, consisted of two rooms added to the ocean side portion of the barracks. At this time as well, the epaulement had a central opening and a small exterior rectangular feature built near and against its terminus. There were 6 embrasures in the face of the angled battery and 1 embrasure in its terminus overlooking the harbour entrance. There were 20 embrasures in the main face of the Island Battery and another 5 in the rounded portion.  Also, at this time, the stockade was non-existent. 

 On July 8, Engineer Bastide succinctly captured in a report his view of the battery's existing state:

The Island Battery at the Entrance of the Harbour is a long line of 20 guns with a small return of 6 guns which last only faces Sea, and are of any great Service till Ships gets quite into the Harbour: This Battery is very badly built as well as Designed, being naked in the back and Boarded to keep the Stone work together (which is all Rubble except the coins of the merlons) the Cement is so very bad. (Should an Enemy Erect a battery against it at the Light House as the New England people did the Long line of guns is entirely Flanked) the Barracks are very ill contrived and want great repair, as does the whole Battery and to be inclosed on the Back ...

On July 23, the contractor Coeuret began repairing the King's buildings. Among the work that year was the repair of all the window frames of the island's barracks and guard house (at 40 livres la toise quarrée totaling 46 livres 13 sols 4 deniers), and the replacement of 51 panes (8 x 8 pouce) of glass in the same places (31 livres 14 sols 8 deniers).

On July 24 Boucher  reported that he had visited the Island Battery and found that the main walls and the one-half of the attendant face of the horseshoe battery had been hit numerous times by cannon fire. Since the [cannon balls] protruded from the plank cladding, it would be necessary to lift the boards to determine the extent of the damage. Elsewhere, there did not seem to be any collapse, in contrast to the embrasures and the merlons which were in ruins requiring a total repair. Already restored were the lodgings, though its slate roof, in bad condition, was partly rebuilt with [wood] shingles.  The powder magazine, which was in use, had a [wood] shingled roof as it always had.

On August 30, Boucher estimated the cost of repairs and quantities of materials which siege action and subsequent lack of annual maintenance since 1745 had now necessitated. For the Island Battery: [Rubble-stone] to re-establish the main wall and attendant face of the horseshoe battery (900 livres) as well as the embrasure cheeks and parts of the interior face of the merlons (1180 livres); replacement cut-stone (206 livres 5 sols); wood timber nailers for the cladding (142 livres 8 sols); replacement [planking] for cladding the horseshoe battery and attendant face with several embrasures that required  re-establishment (2438 livres 13 sols); and replacement sod (1715 livres).

Boucher noted that its gun platforms were in good repair, and might last another 3 or 4 years. As well, both the embrasure cheeks and the interior facings of the merlons had suffered masonry weather damage because of a lack of English occupational maintenance care. For the same reasons, assorted sod coverings had also deteriorated.

On October 13, Engineer Franquet reported that the Island Battery had been inspected. Declaring it the most important of the four works visited - the other three were the lighthouse, careening place, and Royal Battery - and seemingly inaccessible because of its outlying rocks, the English nevertheless found a way to descend upon it. Consequently, further preventative measures were required. On Map 1745-14 (July 25, 1745 (o.s)) Curwin had identified to the south of the epaulement wall as "The place at which whale-boats might easily land 500 men". On October 14, 1750, Prévost, the Commissaire-Ordonnateur, argued that the Island Battery was too essential to neglect fortifying the southern part of the island where one could attack the rear during calm weather.

On April 30, 1751, Franquet issued a detailed Island Battery mémoire, estimate (24,609 livres 15 sols) and attached plan - to enhance the defensive posture of the island, mainly to the rear  - of which two versions of the mémoire have survived with some differences in the numbering scheme used to relate features to those on the plan.

At any rate, on Map ND-85A, on Map ND-85B, and on Map 1751-33 are illustrated the following assumed built features:

Furthermore, in his memoir, Franquet added that:

The proposed works were many, but the basic thrust was to close off completely the rear of the island with a crenellated masonry enceinte, and to improve the salty water quality of the existing cistern.

Following his April 30 memo, Franquet issued two detailed, quite ambitious Etats Generals for which he wished approval that included Island Battery proposals for spending 24,609 livres 15 sols for the repair and construction of fortification works (November 20) and 8,481 livres 13 sols  for the stockpiling of palisades and the construction of barrier gates and platforms (December 5). In his December memo, Franquet also noted that the Island Battery consisted of 34 embrasures - 7 on the entry face and 1 in the flank [of the angled battery], with another 20 on the large face and 5 in the rounded portion with 1 in the flank at right angles facing the gorge. He also maintained that there was only one platform - proper in his mind - serving all but the embrasure that faced the gorge. There that one was built trapeze style (Map 1751-35).

On December 5 the modest amount of 710 livres 11 sols was spent for work on the Island Battery.

On December 28, it was reported that a November wind storm may have caused more damage on the island than just the loss of the garrison's dingy which was there at the time.

On March 15, Minister Rouillé authorized Franquet's April 30, 1751 proposal to improve the operation of the cistern, and included some ideas of his own. He also commented upon the fact that there were no casemates on the island.

Governor Drucour claimed that when he arrived at Louisbourg on August 15, the physical condition of the fortifications on the Island Battery was as bad as that of the rest of the fortress whose merlons and platforms would not survive the concussions of their own cannon fire. Franquet confirmed this on December 9 when he pointed out that the ocean had caused severe damage, stripping away the revetment, particularly across the southern portion of the battery. According to him, because of the lack of past action, extensive repairs were required in 1755.

On April 28, a publication in colonial English papers contradicted Louisbourg's Governor and fortification engineer stating, upon the authority of a Gentleman who had been at [Louisbourg] the entire previous winter, that the Island Battery was the only fortification in "tolerable Order." Later, on May 19, from first hand observation, another colonial report had it that the French had set to work upon their fortifications, all in a "ruinous Condition" except for the Island Battery. Notwithstanding these glowing reports, on July 26, Franquet maintained that he was working to put the battery into a state where it could defend itself.

In 1757, the Island Battery was included in a sweeping condemnation that all the batteries of Louisbourg were rotten.

On September 20, its walls were declared in bad shape, crumbling from the concussion of its own cannon fire, with some of its [embrasures] badly directed.

Lieutenant-General Du Bois de la Motte (who arrived in Louisbourg on June 20) constructed two new batteries on the island en barbette: one that beat upon the roadstead and ocean side, and another to play upon Green Island. At this time it was declared that the old battery had a wooden platform serving some masonry melons clad with boards.

According to a Franquet memoir of 1757, 6 of the canons - to play upon Green Island as well as upon the ocean - were located on the rounded portion of the battery on the return that faced the powder magazine, while 3 others were sited behind the barracks.

The siege of Louisbourg began on June 8 and ended on July 26.

On June 21, three bombs hit the platforms of the Island Battery. On the 25th, the magasins, and the platforms were hit, and the merlons of three embrasures in line of cannon fire were destroyed. That night sod, planks and other kinds of woods were employed in repairing damaged merlons and embrasures; other embrasures were masked. According to a June 25th English observation, part of the works had collapsed under [the concussion] of its own fire, and the battery was now silenced. On the evening of the 25th/26th repairs to 4 embrazures and merlons were attempted, but on the 27th, the 3 embrasures of the rounded portion of the battery were declared entirely destroyed. Somewhat later, using major quantities of sacs of earth, 4 chevaux-de-frise, as well as fascines and [timber], the parapet was thickened, and some embrasures and platforms were repaired, others masked. Unfortunately, the small barracks and the other buildings had to be left in a state of  ruins, leaving the 300 men there totally without shelter, no doubt a situation made worse when the barracks was hit by "deux boulets" on July 1. The poor condition of the barracks was confirmed again on July 7 when the building was rejected as a possible hospital for the garrison's sick and wounded.

In summing up the damage to the Island Battery, Franquet, in 1758, noted that it was the embrasures of the grande batterie that had been destroyed in the first days, and that after that it was a continual question of repairing them with sacs of earth and timber without its earth.

On July 6, a French observer described the "fort" as built on a rock and consisting of only a half-circle battery with some embrasures trained upon the ocean side but with the majority upon the channel. Its masonry embrasures were old, neglected, eaten-away, and falling apart from exposure to air and ocean salt spray. So poorly maintained were they that 4 embrasures now equaled one, with the bombs producing even further damage. Each night during the siege, fascines, planks and sacs of earth were brought in to build up the embrasures.

Furthermore, the fort was very small and was built without either vaults or casemates. Defending it, and where they endured lively attack fire for 8 to 10 days, were 150 soldiers and 100 more to service the cannons.

Another report - after August - observed again that the island was small, only 300 to 360 pieds long, with a horseshoe battery, [en] barbette, of old, deteriorated masonry.

On August 13, Bastide's report on the condition of the works of Louisbourg included the Island Battery. Here he referred to 7 guns facing the ocean in barbette, the 12 merlons of the east end that were almost in ruins, the escarp battered down to several feet from its foundation, and the west end, which was as before the siege, with its masonry much decayed, and the mortar [roughcast] totally sloughed off together with stones in some places.

The east end of the [barracks] building was in ruins, its walls beat in and its roof collapsed, while the west end was damaged, but the roof had survived. The powder magazine was untouched except that its east end was a bit battered. Because timber [placed during the siege] covered its exterior, this needed to be removed to see if there were other defects.

Because of the lateness of the season, repairs were not contemplated

The Gibson Glough journal produced Map ND-237, a most interesting though fanciful drawing of the Island Battery "as it Was Rebuilt by the English In the year 1759 at Louisbourg," For example, even while tending to confirm the existence of a variety of features suggested by other evidence, Glough apparently had exaggerated the defensive configuration of the battery. Furthermore, while he not surprisingly illustrated a central barracks, a guard house now stood to the rear of it where a French powder magazine had once existed. Nevertheless, there was still a powder magazine, but it was now sited to the harbour side of the guard house, together with a flag post just beyond it, even closer to the harbour. The French entry gate was more less in the same location, but there was now opposite the barracks an elaborate central gate in the multi-embrasured Island Battery face. To the extreme left and right of this new gate, were individual, stand-alone mortar platforms.

On December 3, the Demolition Journal recorded that a detachment was sent to the Island Battery to destroy its strongly cemented sally port. On November 5, Clough reported that the sally port had been sprung with the Demolition Journal of that day claiming that the Island Battery was destroyed, making it one of the last features to be blown up at Louisbourg.

The Island Battery was still manned in 1765, but its barracks was wanting in several areas: of repairs to its near entire shingle [roof], of pointing of its walls, and of topping of its chimneys.

On April 3, it was again confirmed that the Island Battery had been destroyed.

On September 26, it was claimed that the barracks of the Island Battery were reparable.

On June 20, Edward Rowe was given permission to cultivate tracts of land that included the Island Battery containing about one acre.

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