Battle of Restigouche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Restigouche
Part of the French and Indian War
Illustration of Le Machault dismasted
Date June 28 – July 8, 1760 Location Restigouche River, New France Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France Mi'kmaq militia Acadian militia
Commanders and leaders
John Byron	Francois de Giraudais
Strength
3 ships of the line 2 frigates	1 frigate 5 merchant ships
Casualties and losses
20 killed and wounded	30 killed and wounded 1 frigate destroyed 5 merchant ships sunk, destroyed or captured
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	1924

The Battle of Restigouche was an important naval battle fought in 1760. It took place during the Seven Years' War, which was also known as the French and Indian War in North America. The battle happened on the Restigouche River in what was then New France.

In this battle, the British Royal Navy fought against a smaller group of ships from the French Navy. They were also joined by Acadian and Mi'kmaq fighters. The French ships were trying to bring supplies and help to their troops in New France. However, they lost this battle. This defeat meant that France could no longer seriously try to hold onto its colonies in North America. It was also the last major fight for the Mi'kmaq and Acadian militias before they made peace with the British.

Why the Battle Happened

Quebec, a very important city in New France, had been captured by the British in September 1759. This happened at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Even after Quebec fell, many French soldiers were still in New France.

France's colonies and military depended heavily on supplies and goods from their home country. The French forces in North America desperately needed help. They asked the French government for more soldiers and supplies. However, the French navy had been badly beaten in another battle in November 1759. This made it hard for France to send help.

The French Journey

On April 10, 1760, a French warship called Le Machault set sail from Bordeaux, France. It was led by Lieutenant Francois La Giraudais. Five merchant ships sailed with it. These ships carried 2,000 barrels of food and supplies, plus 400 soldiers. Francois-Gabriel D'Angeac was in charge of the soldiers. He knew the area well.

The ships had to spread out to get past the British ships blocking the French coast. Two merchant ships were captured. Two weeks later, another ship got stuck in the Azores. Only three ships were left. They met up in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on May 15. But they found out that a British fleet had already reached Quebec.

Looking for a safe place, the French ships sailed to Chaleur Bay. On May 18, they dropped anchor in the estuary of the Restigouche River. This was near the Mi'kmaq village of Listuguj. Here, they got help from the local Mi'kmaq people and some Acadian refugees. In return, the French gave them food and weapons.

British Response

Meanwhile, a group of British Royal Navy ships set out from Fortress of Louisbourg. They were led by Captain John Byron. Their mission was to stop the French ships. They arrived in Chaleur Bay on June 22. This meant La Giraudais and his ships were trapped.

La Giraudais reacted by sailing his ships further up the river. The British ships were larger and needed deeper water, so they had trouble following. He turned Le Machault sideways to block the river. He also sank some smaller boats to create a barrier. On land, he set up cannons to make his position stronger.

The Battle Begins

About 1,500 Acadian and Mi'kmaq fighters joined the French. The Acadians arrived in about 20 small boats. Together with the French, they moved further up the river. Their plan was to draw the British fleet closer to an Acadian village called Pointe-à-la-Batterie. There, they hoped to surprise the British.

The Acadians sank some of their own boats to create a blockade. From behind this barrier, the Acadian and Mi'kmaq fighters fired at the British ships. On June 27, the British managed to get past the sunken ships. One British ship, HMS Norwich, almost got stuck. Once the British ships were close enough, they fired at the land battery. This fight lasted all night. It continued on and off from June 28 to July 3. Finally, the British took over Pointe-à-la-Batterie. They burned down 150 to 200 buildings in the Acadian village.

A 1791 drawing by Lascallier of a French frigate.

The militias pulled back and joined up with Le Machault. They sank more boats to create another blockade. They also set up two new cannon batteries. One was on the North shore at Pointe de la Mission (today Listuguj, Quebec). The other was on the South shore at Pointe aux Sauvages (today Campbellton, New Brunswick).

On July 7, Captain Byron worked to destroy the battery at Pointe aux Sauvages. By the morning of July 8, two British ships, Scarborough and Repulse, were close to the blockade. They were face to face with Le Machault. The British tried twice to defeat the batteries, but the militias held strong. On their third try, they succeeded.

Even with La Giraudais' clever positioning, Byron was able to move his ships through the shallower waters. On July 3, he faced the French defenses. The battle began at close range. Even though the French had fewer cannons, they caused a lot of damage to the British ships. Byron eventually managed to silence the cannons on shore.

Le Machault and two merchant ships, Bienfaisant and Marquis-de-Malauze, then moved further upriver. The British followed them. For several days, the two sides kept fighting. But La Giraudais knew he couldn't win. On July 8, he decided to sink Le Machault and Bienfaisant. This was to stop the British from capturing their valuable cargo. The Marquis-de-Malauze was saved because it held prisoners. The remaining French forces went ashore to the safety of Listuguj. Byron then returned to Louisbourg.

What Happened Next

The Battle of the Restigouche ended with all the French ships and most of the Acadian boats sunk. However, the British could not land on shore because of the many muskets (guns) held by the defenders. The Acadian and Mi'kmaq militias had made their last stand and survived.

Despite this, many Acadian settlers were forced to leave their homes and settle elsewhere. By the next year, the Mi'kmaq and other local First Nations made peace treaties with Britain. These treaties promised peace and trade, and removed French influence.

The loss of important supplies at Restigouche sped up the fall of New France. Without help from outside and surrounded by three different British forces, Montreal fell on September 8. La Giraudais finally surrendered on October 29. This was six days after he heard that Montreal had given up. Captain Byron later commanded the British fleet that lost the Battle of Grenada in 1779. He also became governor of Newfoundland.

Remembering the Battle

Bow of Le Machault at the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site

Today, the place where the battle happened is a National Historic Site of Canada. It is called the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site.

There is a special center in Listuguj, Quebec. It shows things found from the battle site. There are displays and a film about the battle. You can also see a detailed model of the 18th-century warship Le Machault. In the summer, people dressed in costumes act out the roles of the Acadians, Mi'kmaq, sailors, and French soldiers who fought in the 1760 battle.