Siege of Port Royal (1707)

Siege of Port Royal
Part of Queen Anne's War

1702 map of Port Royal
DateFirst siege: 6–17 June 1707
Second siege: 22 August – 1 September 1707
Location
Port Royal, Acadia
Result French-Wabanaki Confederacy victory
Belligerents
 France
 New France
Wabanaki Confederacy[1]		  Great Britain
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Commanders and leaders
Daniel d'Auger de Subercase
Bernard-Anselme d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin
Pierre Morpain[2]		 John March
Francis Wainwright
Charles Stuckley
Winthrop Hilton
Cyprian Southack[3]
Strength
160 regulars
60 militia
100 Indian warriors[4]		 1,150 regulars (first siege)[5]
850 regulars (second siege)[6]
Casualties and losses
5+ killed
20 wounded[7][8]		 16 killed
16 wounded[9][8]

The siege of Port Royal consisted of two separate attempts in 1707 by the British New England Colonies to conquer the French colony of Acadia by capturing its capital of Port-Royal during Queen Anne's War. Both attempts were made by colonial troops and were led by officers inexperienced in siege warfare. Led by governor of Acadia Daniel d'Auger de Subercase, the French garrison at Port-Royal easily withstood both attempts, assisted by Acadian militia and the Wabanaki Confederacy outside the fort.

The first siege began on June 6, 1707, and lasted 11 days. Provincial troops led by Colonel John March were able to establish positions near Port-Royal's fort, but March's engineer claimed the necessary cannons could not be landed, and the British force withdrew amid disagreements in their war council. The second siege began August 22, and was never able to establish secure camps, owing to spirited defensive sorties organized by Subercase.

Both siege attempts were viewed as a debacle in Boston, and the expedition's leaders were jeered upon their return. Subercase, concerned that the British might return the following year, strengthened the fortifications at Port-Royal and incited attacks on New England merchant shipping. Port-Royal was captured in 1710 by a larger force that included British Army troops, which marked the end of French rule in Acadia

  1. ^ Penhallow, p.51
  2. ^ Lee, David (1979) [1969]. "Gaulin, Antoine". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. II (1701–1740) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  3. ^ "Genealogy of Patty Rose".
  4. ^ Griffiths (2005), p. 215.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference D227 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Griffiths (2005), p. 216.
  7. ^ Dunn, p. 74
  8. ^ a b Griffiths (2005), pp. 216–217.
  9. ^ Winthrop Hilton's Journal