A History of the French War: Ending in the Conquest of Canada

What do really know about any given historical event? Who were the major players? What smaller events led up to the bigger event? How did these events effect people living at that time? History books can do more than simply elaborate or expand on the short version of any event we learned about in high school. Books can offer insight into the lives of our ancestors, as well as providing insight into possible sources of information and records. Occasionally, books come to light that tell the story, the history, we otherwise may never hear or learn. A history does not need to be a new treatment on a subject to be of value. Time and again, we have reviewed great books on this site which are reprints of volumes originally published decades, if not centuries, ago. A History of The French War, is just such a book.

Originally published in 1882, the expanded title reads, Minor Wars of the United States, A History of The French War: Ending in the Conquest of Canada with A Preliminary Account of the Early Attempts At Colonization and Struggles for Possession of the Continent. In this history, reprinted by Heritage Books, the reader will find an expanded timeline leading up to and including the French War.

This books starts by looking back at some of the earliest explorers and claims by different European countries over New World territory. These explorations, dating to the early 1500s, laid the ground work, and territorial claims, for later colonization from southern Florida on up the coast to lower Canada. The history go on, detailing event and individuals over roughly a  250 year period, on up to the major events of the war. While some of the author’s statements don’t meet today’s standards of political correctness, the fact the copy for this book is over 100 years old does not diminish its value.

A History of the French War can be obtained through Family Roots Publishing; Price: $30.87.

Contents

Chapter I – Early Voyages

• Claims of European Nations to American Territory
• Contests of the English and French
• The Indians in War
• The Cabots
• Cortereal
• Spanish Explorers
• Decree of Alexander
• Verrazzano
• Cartier
• Stadacone
• Hochelaga
• Donacona

Chapter II – Destruction of French Settlements

• Roberval and Cartier
• Civil Wars in France
• De la Roche
• Pontgrave and Champlain
• Poutrincourt and Lecarbot
• The Micmacs
• The Jesuits
• Madame de Guercheville
• Colony of St. Saviour
• Destruction of St. Saviour and Port Toyal by Argall

Chapter III – Quebec Founded, and Taken by the English

• Founding of Quebec
• Friendship with the Algonquins
• Expeditions Against the Iroquois
• Story of De Vignan
• Introduction of Priests
• Hostile Attempts of the Iroquois
• Grant of Acadia to Sir William Alexander
• Religious Troubles in France
• Capture of Quebec by Kirk
• The La Tours in Acadia
• Treaty of Germain-en-Laye
• Death of Champlain

Chapter IV – The French in the West

• Fate of the Jurons
• Fight at the Long Sault
• Forts on the Richelieu
• Montreal
• The Jesuits
• Discoveries in the Mississippi Valley
• La Salle
• La Chine
• Iberville of the Gulf of Mexico

Chapter V – Acadia

• Destruction of English Trading-Stations
• Feud between Charnisay and La Tour
• Capture of Acadia by the English
• Restoration to France by the Treaty of Breda
• St. Castine at Penobscot
• Attack by Andros
• Hostilities by Indians
• War between England and France

Chapter VI – King William’s War

• Iroquios Attack on Montreal
• Plan of the French
• Capture of English Posts at Hudson Bay
• Massacres at Dover, Saco, and Pemaquid
• Three Expeditions Planned by Frontenac
• The Schenectady Massacre
• Salmon Falls destroyed
• Attack on Casco
• Expedition Planned by the English
• Sir William Phips
• Capture of Port Royal
• Schuyler at La Prairie
• Phips at Quebec

Chapter VII – Close of King William’s War

• Attack on Wells and York
• Fort Build at Pemaquid
• Attempt to take it
• Plan to Attack Quebec
• Proposed Exchange of Prisoners
• Oyster River Assailed
• Schuyler at La Prairie
• Invasion of the Mohawk Country
• Treachery of Chubb at Pemaquid
• Destruction of the Fort
• Church and Hathorn on the St. John
• Haverhill
• French Plan for the Capture of Boston
• Iberville in Newfoundland and at Hudson Bay
• Frontenac among the Iroquois
• The Peace of Ryswick
• Deaths of Frontenac and Villebon
• Chapter VIII – Queen Anne’s War
• The Spanish Succession
• The Pretender
• Attacks on Wells, Saco, Casco, Deerfield, and Lancaster
• Church in Acadia
• Destruction of English Towns in Newfoundland
• Sieges at P0rt Royal
• Attack on Haverhill
• Final Capture of Port Royal by the English
• Insurrection of the Acadians
• Attempted Conquest of Canada by Admiral Walker
• Attack of the Foxes on Detroit
• Treaty of Utrecht
• Louisbourg
• Father Rasles
• Expeditions of Harmon, Westbrooke, Winslow, and Lovewell
• Indian Treaty
• Forts at Niagara, Oswego, and Crown Point

Chapter IX – King George’s War

• Sovereigns of England
• The Austrian Succession
• Maria Theresa
• Frederick the Great
• The War
• Hostilities between France and England
• Attacks on Canso and Annapolis
• La Loutre
• Proposed Expedition to Louisbourg
• Shirley, Pepperell, and Vaughan
• Commodore Warren
• Whitefield
• Siege and Fall of Louisbourg
• Rejoicings in Boston
• Project to Conquer Canada
• Fighting in Acadia
• Fate of the French Fleet
• Success of Ramezay at Grand Pre
• Capture of Jonquiere’s Fleet
• The French and Indians on the Western Frontier
• Inactivity of the English
• Possible Reasons for it
• The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

Chapter X – Acadia After the War

• Failure of Negotiation for the Adjustment of Boundaries
• Encroachments of the French
• Settlement of Halifax
• Refusal of the Acadians to Take the Oath
• Attacks by Indians
• Burning of Beaubassin
• Fort Lawrence
• Fort Beau Sejour
• Colonel How’s Fate
• Expedition to Acadia
• Fall of the French Forts
• Escape of La Loutre
• Exile of the Acadians

Chapter XI – The Ohio Valley

• French Posts in the West
• Ogdensburg
• Sir William Johnson
• Conference with the Iroquois
• Expedition of Bienville
• The Walking Purchase
• The Ohio Company
• Christopher Gist
• Indian conference at Logstown
• French Attack on Picqua
• Expedition from Canada
• Mission of Jumonville
• Fort Necessity
• Fight at Great Meadows
• Fort Cumberland
• Council at Albnay

Chapter XII – Braddock’s Defeat

• Plan of the English Ministry for Operations in America
• Capture of Ships by Boscawen
• Braddock’s March
• His Defeat
• His Death
• Effect of the Defeat
• Washington
• Alliances with the Indians

Chapter XIII – Battle of Lake George

• Expeditions under Shirley and Johnson
• Shirley at Oswego
• Movements of Dieskau
• Building of Fort Edward
• Advance of Dieskau
• First Engagement
• Fight at the Camp
• Fight with Macginnis
• Reward of Johnson
• Erection of Fort William Henry
• Fortification of Ticonderoga
• Hostilities on the Ocean
• Plans for the Ensuing Year

Chapter XIV – French Successes

• Declaration of War
• Lord Loudoun Commander-in-chief
• Inaction of Abercrombie
• Adventure of Bradstreet
• Capture of Fort Bull
• Montcalm
• Capture of Oswego
• Movements of Webb
• Loudoun’s Troops Quartered on the Citites
• Devastation of the Shenandoah Valley
• Dinwiddie’s Plan of Defence
• Washington’s Suggestions
• Destruction of Kittanning
• The Iroquois

Chapter XV – Louisbourg and Fort William Henry

• An Indian Raid
• Encounter between Stark’s Men and the French
• Vaudreuil’s Attempt at Fort William Henry
• Loudoun’s Council
• Affairs in the South
• Plan to Take Louisbourg
• Admiral Holbourne
• Withdrawal from Louisbourg
• Opinion in England
• In America
• Siege of Fort William Henry
• Webb’s Cowardice
• Monroe’s Surrender
• Massacre by Montcalm’s Indians
• Descent on the German Flats
• Situation at the Close of the Year
• The Duke of Newcastle
• William Pitt

Chapter XVI – Louisbourg and Ticonderoga

• Plan of the Campaign
• Siege of Louisbourg
• The Surrender
• Effect of the Victory
• Destruction of French Settlements
• Expedition against Ticonderoga
• Skirmish in theWoods
• Death of Lord Howe
• The Attack
• The Flight
• Terror of the General
• Conduct of Bradstreet

Chapter XVII – Frontenac and Du Quensne

• Skirmishes near Lake Champlain
• Rogers and Putnam
• Bradstreet’s Expedition
• Capture of Fort Frontenac
• General Forbes in Pennsylvania
• Grant’s Defeat
• Capture of Fort Du Quesne

Chapter XVIII – Niagara and Lake Champlain

• Plan of Operation for the Year
• Weakness of the French
• Siege and Capture of Fort Niagara
• Death of Prideaux
• Western Forts Occupied by the English
• Attack at Oswego
• Inaction of General Gage
• Amherst at Ticonderoga and Crown Point
• Operations on the Lake
• Punishment of the St. Francis Indians
• Adventures of Rogers

Chapter XIX – The Siege of Quebec

• Situation of the City
• Sailing of the English Fleet
• Officers and Forces of the English
• Advance of Durell
• Mistake of the French
• First Blow
• Passage up the River
• Skirmish with Peasants
• Attempts to Fire the Fleet
• Incidents of the Siege by the English
• The Scholars’ Battle
• Firing of the City
• Passage of Ships by the Town
• Battle of Montmorenci

Chapter XX – The Capture of Quebec

• Attacks of the French on Scouting Parties
• Reprisals by the English
• Attempt by Murray
• Illness of Wolfe
• Townshend’s Plan
• Wolfe’s Opinion of it
• Montcalm’s Prediction
• Transfer of the Army
• The Anse du Foulon, or Wolfe’s Cove
• Landing and Ascent of the Troops
• Diversion at Beauport
• Position on the Plains of Abraham
• Arrival of Montcalm
• Arrangement and Numbers of the Troops
• The Battle of the Plains of Abraham
• Rout of the French
• Death of Wolfe
• Death of Montcalm

Chapter XXI – The Surrender of Canada

• Siege of Quebec by De Levis
• Battle at Sillery Wood
• Amherst on the St. Lawrence
• Surrender of Isle Royale
• Surrender of Montreal and the Whole of Canada
• The Treaty of Paris
• Predictions of the Revolt of the Colonies