September 7, 1758 The Pennsylvania Gazette
NEW YORK, September 4.
RETURN of the British Troops at the Siege of Louisbourg, July 24, 1758.
Since the foregoing came to Hand, we have collected, from the Boston Papers, the following Particulars that were brought thither Yesterday se'nnight by several VEssels in short Passages directly from Louisbourg, viz. --- That all the Garrison of that Place were shipped on board Transports, and sailed for England the 13th of last Month, under Convoy of five Sail of the Line, viz. The Dublin of 74 Guns, Captain Rodney, who has the Command, the Northumberland of 70, Lord Colvill, the Terrible of 74, Capt. Collins, the Burford of 70, Capt. Sambia, and the Kingston of 60, Capt. Parry; on board the Dublin goes the Governor with his Lady and Family; all the Officers were allowed to carry with them their Chests, Boxes, Trunks, &c. and the Soldiers their Packs full. --- That the Inhabitants were to embark as soon as the Garrison had sailed, and were to be allowed the same Privilege. --- That our Army is exceeding Healthy, and still are encamped without the Walls, except those who do Duty in the City. --- That since the Surrender of the Place they has been daily employed in repairing the Walls, which were greatly damaged during the Siege, in cleaning the STreets, in removing some Hundred Hogsheads of Tobacco, which the Enemy had built as a Barricade against the Shot and Shells from our Batteries, and in bringing in their Cannon, Stores, &c. --- That in the City was found vast Quantities of all Sorts of Warlike Stores, and Provision for 10,000 Men for six Months, and 'tis thought they will find more, as many Store houses were not opened when the above Vessels sailed. --- That their Powder grew scant, having but 600 BArrels when the Place surrendered. That many additional Works have been made to strengthen the Place since it was restored to them by the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, having upwards of 200 Brass and Iron Cannon mounted, besides Mortars, &c. --- That three of the Men of War who got into the Harbour before the Place was invested, had their Tier shout, and were loaded with Provisions. That after the Place was besieged the French Commodore was determined to endeavour to make his Escape, but in the Evening he was going to sail, he received a Letter from France, which was brought by a VEssel into St. Ann's said to be wrote by the French King, with positive Orders, That, if the English attacked Louisbourg, not to depart out of the Harbour, but to stand or fall with the Place. --- That the Commodore's Ship which was lately taken and burnt, was but 5 Years old, and was the same that took the Warwick in the West Indies some Time ago. --- That a great Number of Hands from the Men of War, are employed in getting out the Guns and Iron Work of the French Ships burnt in the Harbour. --- That four large Ships and several smaller Vessels were endeavouring to weigh the Ships sunk near the Island BAttery, which 'tis thought they will effect. --- That Numbers of the Inhabitants of the remote Settlements are daily coming in. --- That the Enemy had several Vessels filled with Combustibles, to set our Men of War on Fire, in case they entered the Harbour. --- That no Person is allowed to purchase any Thing of the French Inhabitants, upon a very severe Penalty. --- That three Frigates and 1500 Troops had sailed for the Island of St. John's, to take Possession of that Place, and bring off the Inhabitants; who are to be allowed the same as the Garrison, and are to be transported to France. --- That Mons. Beaubiere, with 1500 French and Indians, not being included in the ARticles of Capitulation, has escaped off the Island, and gone, 'tis thought, to Canada. --- That Parties of our Men are properly posted for 20 Miles round the Island. --- That at Lorembeck, several other Places on the Island, our People have found large Quantities of ready made Cod Fish, which the French designed to ship off this SEason. --- That the French Governor, some Days before the Surrender of the Place, received by Express a Letter from M. Montcalm, at Ticonderoga, giving an Account that the English with a numerous Army had crossed the Lake, and attacked the Fort at that Place, but were repulsed with great Loss on their Side, and obliged to retire over the Lake, again; and that he was under no Apprehensions of another Visit from them this SEason; this the Governor told after the Place had surrendered. ----- That the late Province Snow Prince of Wales had some Time ago taken two large new Ships from Virginia, laden with Tobacco, one of which had 700 Hhds. bound Home, which they sunk in the Channel, near the Mouth of the Harbour. --- "That as to undertaking any Enterprize up the River St. Lawrence, People seem to be in Suspense;p but that some Men of War are to cruize off the Mouth of the River. --- That the polite Treatment which the French had met with since the Reduction of that Place, had made them extremely impudent, in particular, an Officer of the first RAnk, taking upon him the Liberty of striking the Coxswain of a Barge, who was carrying him Prisoner on board the Admiral, he was immediately (upon going on board) put in Irons upon Deck: And another French Officer having the Impudence to run his Hand under one of the Highlander's Plads, in an improper Place, the Highlander immediately eased him of his Arm and Hand, by cutting them off with his Broad Sword; the Frenchman, not contented with this, drew his Sword, in order to take Revenge, but the Highlander being upon his Guard, split the Frenchman's Head down to his Shoulders, and then cut both Halves off."