Battle at Port-la-Joye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle at Port-la-Joye
Part of King George's War
Soldier of the 29th Regiment of Foot, 1742
Date 11 July 1746 Location Port la Joye, near Northeast River, Ile Saint Jean (present day Hillsborough River, Prince Edward Island) Result French, Mi'kmaq victory
Belligerents
France  New France Mi'kmaq militia	British America  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Roch de Ramezay (overall French commander) Nicolas Antoine II Coulon de Villiers (French commander) Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot Joseph-Michel Legardeur de Croisille et de Montesson	Captain John Rous, Captain Hugh Scott
Units involved
Acadian militia Wabanaki Confederacy (Mi'kmaq militia) Troupes de la marine	29th Regiment Gorham's Rangers
Strength
300 French regulars and militia; 200 Mi'kmaq	40 British troops
Casualties and losses
2 Mi'kmaq killed, 2 wounded; 40 Acadian prisoners	34 British troops killed, 7 prisoners

The Battle at Port-la-Joye was a fight during King George's War. It happened between British forces and French and Mi'kmaq militia. The battle took place on July 11, 1746. It was near the Hillsborough River on Prince Edward Island.

French officer Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Roch de Ramezay led the French and Mi'kmaq forces. They surprised and defeated about 200 British soldiers. These British troops were from Massachusetts. They were on two ships, gathering supplies for Louisbourg, which the British had recently captured.

What Happened Before

British Attack on Ile Saint Jean

After the British captured Louisbourg in 1745, they sent soldiers to Ile Saint Jean. This island is now called Prince Edward Island. One group went to Three Rivers, which is now Georgetown. The other group went to Port-la-Joye.

At Three Rivers, the local Acadians, like Jean Pierre Roma, did not fight back. They had very few weapons. Roma and his family hid in the woods. They watched as the British burned their village. The family then escaped to Quebec.

Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot

Port-la-Joye is Burned

At the same time, in July 1745, another British group landed at Port-la-Joye. The French had 20 soldiers there, led by Joseph de Pont Duvivier. These French soldiers ran away, and the British burned the capital city.

Duvivier and his men went up the Northeast River (Hillsborough River). The British followed them. But then, the French got help from Acadian and Mi'kmaq fighters. Together, they pushed the British back to their boats. Nine British soldiers were killed, hurt, or captured.

The British took six Acadian people as prisoners. They said these prisoners would be harmed if the Acadians or Mi'kmaq fought against them. The British then left for Louisbourg. Duvivier and his soldiers went to Quebec. After Louisbourg fell, many French people from the area were sent to France. The Acadians on Ile Saint-Jean worried about being sent away too.

French Plan to Recapture Acadia

The next year, in 1746, the French wanted to take back Acadia. An expedition was sent from Quebec, led by de Ramezay. His force arrived in Nova Scotia in July 1746. He had about 700 soldiers and 21 officers.

He set up camp at Chignecto. There, he met about 300 Abenaki fighters and 300 Mi'kmaq fighters. This made his total force almost 1,300 men. De Ramezay's soldiers waited for a large French fleet, the Duc d'Anville expedition, to arrive. While waiting, Ramezay sent some troops to Port-la-Joye.

The Battle

British Supply Mission

Captain John Rous was in charge of two British ships, the Shirley Galley and a schooner. On board were 40 soldiers from the 29th Regiment of Foot, including Captain Hugh Scott. The British governor of Isle Royal, Commodore Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet, sent Rous. His job was to get supplies from the Acadians to feed the British soldiers at Louisbourg.

French Reconnaissance and Attack Plan

Ramezay first sent French officer Boishébert to Ile Saint-Jean. Boishébert was to find out how many British soldiers were there. He learned there were two British ships, the HMS Shirley and HMS Ruby. They had 200 soldiers and were loading supplies for Louisbourg. Some of the Acadian prisoners taken by the British the year before were on these ships.

After Boishébert reported back, Ramezay sent Joseph-Michel Legardeur de Croisille et de Montesson. Montesson had over 500 men, including 200 Mi'kmaq fighters. They headed to Port-la-Joye.

Surprise Attack

The British soldiers from the 29th Regiment were waiting for the Acadians to give them cattle. They were in a field near the Hillsborough River, making hay. Their weapons were in a tent.

On July 11, de Montesson's force surprised the British troops. The Acadian and Mi'kmaq fighters attacked. They killed 34 British troops (27 soldiers and 7 sailors). The British killed two Mi'kmaq and injured two others.

During the attack, Captain Rous and Captain Scott were on the Shirley. The ship fired its guns at the attackers, but it didn't do much good. The attacking force eventually left. Captain Scott took 40 Acadians as prisoners. He later traded them to the commander of the Duc D'Anville Expedition.

On July 23, 1746, de Montesson returned to de Ramezay. He brought back two Acadian prisoners the British had taken earlier. He also brought many English prisoners and an Acadian pilot.

What Happened After

Impact of the Battle

Months later, de Ramezay tried to attack Annapolis Royal. But he was not successful because the Duc d'Anville Expedition never arrived. The next year, Ramezay won a battle at Battle of Grand Pré.

Montesson took the prisoners first to Baie-Verte. Then Ramezay sent them to a prison camp in Quebec. Montesson was praised for his leadership in this battle.

The "Ever Sworded" Regiment

This battle led to a new rule for the 29th Regiment. All officers in the regiment must always carry their swords. This is how they earned their first nickname, the Ever Sworded. This tradition continues today. Officers on duty still wear their swords, even when they are off-duty.

Images for kids

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  Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot