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The Conquest of New France； A Chronicle of the Colonial Wars
by George M。 Wrong
CONTENTS
I。 THE CONFLICT OPENS： FRONTENAC AND PHIPS
II。 QUEBEC AND BOSTON
III。 FRANCE LOSES ACADIA
IV。 LOUISBOURG AND BOSTON
V。 THE GREAT WEST
VI。 THE VALLEY OF THE OHIO
VII。 THE EXPULSION OF THE ACADIANS
VIII。 THE VICTORIES OF MONTCALM
IX。 MONTCALM AT QUEBEC
X。 THE STRATEGY OF PITT
XI。 THE FALL OF CANADA
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
THE CONQUEST OF NEW FRANCE
CHAPTER I。 The Conflict Opens： Frontenac And Phips
Many centuries of European history had been marked by war almost
ceaseless between France and England when these two states first
confronted each other in America。 The conflict for the New World
was but the continuation of an age…long antagonism in the Old；
intensified now by the savagery of the wilderness and by new
dreams of empire。 There was another potent cause of strife which
had not existed in the earlier days。 When； during the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries； the antagonists had fought through the
interminable Hundred Years' War； they had been of the same
religious faith。 Since then； however； England had become
Protestant； while France had remained Catholic。 When the rivals
first met on the shores of the New World； colonial America was
still very young。 It was in 1607 that the English occupied
Virginia。 At the same time the French were securing a foothold
in Acadia； now Nova Scotia。 Six years had barely passed when
the English Captain Argall sailed to the north from Virginia
and destroyed the rising French settlements。 Sixteen years
after this another English force attacked and captured Quebec。
Presently these conquests were restored。 France remained in
possession of the St。 Lawrence and in virtual possession of
Acadia。 The English colonies； holding a great stretch of the
Atlantic seaboard； increased in number and power。 New France
also grew stronger。 The steady hostility of the rivals never
wavered。 There was； indeed； little open warfare as long as the
two Crowns remained at peace。 From 1660 to 1688； the Stuart
rulers of England remained subservient to their cousin the
Bourbon King of France and at one with him in religious faith。
But after the fall of the Stuarts France bitterly denounced the
new King； William of Orange； as both a heretic and a usurper； and
attacked the English in America with a savage fury unknown in
Europe。 From 1690 to 1760 the combatants fought with little more
than pauses for renewed preparation； and the conflict ended only
when France yielded to England the mastery of her empire in
America。 It is the story of this struggle； covering a period of
seventy years； which is told in the following pages。
The career of Louis de Buade； Comte de Frontenac； who was
Governor of Canada from 1672 to 1682 and again from 1689 to his
death in 1698； reveals both the merits and the defects of the
colonizing genius of France。 Frontenac was a man of noble birth
whose life had been spent in court and camp。 The story of his
family； so far as it is known； is a story of attendance upon the
royal house of France。 His father and uncles had been playmates
of the young Dauphin； afterwards Louis XIII。 The thoughts
familiar to Frontenac in his youth remained with him through
life； and； when he went to rule at Quebec； the very spirit that
dominated the court at Versailles crossed the sea with him。
A man is known by the things he loves。 The things which Frontenac
most highly cherished were marks of royal favor； the ceremony due
to his own rank； the right to command。 He was an egoist；
supremely interested in himself。 He was poor； but at his country
seat in France； near Blois； he kept open house in the style of a
great noble。 Always he bore himself as one to whom much was due。
His guests were expected to admire his indifferent horses as the
finest to be seen； his gardens as the most beautiful； his clothes
as of the most effective cut and finish； the plate on his table
as of the best workmanship； and the food as having superior
flavor。 He scolded his equals as if they were naughty children。
Yet there was genius in this showy court figure。 In 1669； when
the Venetian Republic had asked France to lend her an efficient
soldier to lead against the rampant Turk； the great Marshal
Turenne had chosen Frontenac for the task。 Crete； which Frontenac
was to rescue； the Turk indeed had taken； but； it is said； at the
fearful cost of a hundred and eighty thousand men。 Three years
later； Frontenac had been sent to Canada to war with the savage
Iroquois and to hold in check the aggressive designs of the
English。 He had been recalled in 1682； after ten years of
service； chiefly on account of his arbitrary temper。 He had
quarreled with the Bishop。 He had bullied the Intendant until at
one time that harried official had barricaded his house and armed
his servants。 He had told the Jesuit missionaries that they
thought more of selling beaver…skins than of saving souls。 He had
insulted those about him； sulked； threatened； foamed at the mouth
in rage； revealed a childish vanity in regard to his dignity； and
a hunger insatiable for marks of honor from the King〃more
grateful；〃 he once said； 〃than anything else to a heart shaped
after the right pattern。〃
France； however； now required at Quebec a man who could do the
needed man's tasks。 The real worth of Frontenac had been tested；
and so； in 1689； when England had driven from her shores her
Catholic king and； when France's colony across the sea seemed to
be in grave danger from the Iroquois allies of the English；
Frontenac was sent again to Quebec to subdue these savages and；
if he could； to destroy in America the power of the age long
enemy of his country。
Perched high above the St。 Lawrence； on a noble site where now is
a public terrace and a great hotel； stood the Chateau St。 Louis；
the scene of Frontenac's rule as head of the colony。 No other
spot in the world commanded such a highway linking the inland
waters with the sea。 The French had always an eye for points of
strategic value； and in holding Quebec they hoped to possess the
pivot on which the destinies of North America should turn。 For a
long time it seemed； indeed； as if this glowing vision might
become a reality。 The imperial ideas which were working at Quebec
were based upon the substantial realities of trade。 The instinct
for business was hardly less strong in these keen adventurers
than the instinct for empire。 In promise of trade the interior of
North America was rich。 Today its vast agriculture and its wealth
in minerals have brought rewards beyond the dreams of two hundred
years ago。 The wealth； however； sought by the leaders of that
time came from furs。 In those wastes of river； lake； and forest
were the richest preserves in the world for fur…bearing animals。
This vast wilderness was not an unoccupied land。 In those wild
regions dwelt many savage tribes。 Some of the natives were by no
means without political capacity。 On the contrary； they were long
clever enough to pit English against French to their own
advantage as the real sovereigns in North America。 One of them；
whose fluent oratory had won for him the name of Big Mouth； told
the Governor of Canada； in 1688； that his people held their lands
from the Great Spirit； that they yielded no lordship to either
the English or the French； that they well understood the weakness
of the French and were quite able to destroy them； but that they
wished to be friends with both French and English who brought to
them the advantages of trade。 In sagacity of council and dignity
of carriage some of these Indians so bore themselves that to
trained observers they seemed not unequal to the diplomats of
Europe。 They were； however； weak before the superior knowledge of
the white men。 In all their long centuries in America they had
learned nothing of the use of iron。 Their sharpest tool had been
made of chipped obsidian or of hammered copper。 Their most potent
weapons had been the stone hatchet or age and the bow and arrow。
It thus happened that； when steel and gunpowder reached America；
the natives soon came to despise their primitive implements。 More
and more they craved the supplies from Europe which multiplied in
a hundred ways their strength in the conflict with nature and
with man。 To the Indian tribes trade with the French or English
soon became a vital necessity。 From the far northwest for a
thousand miles to the bleak shores of Hudson Bay； from the banks
of the Mississippi to the banks of the St。 Lawrence and the
Hudson； they came each year on laborious journeys； paddling their
canoes and carrying them over portages； to barter furs for the
things which they must have and which the white man alone could
supply。
The Iroquois； the ablest and most resolute of the native tribes；
held the lands bordering on L