Raid on Canso facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Canso
Part of King George's War
Fort William Augustus, Canso
Date 23 May 1744 Location Canso, Nova Scotia Result French victory
Belligerents
France Wabanaki Confederacy (Mi'kmaq militia)	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
François Dupont Duvivier	Patrick Heron (POW) George Ryall (POW)
Units involved
Acadian militia Wabanaki Confederacy (Mi'kmaq militia) Troupes de la marine	40th Regiment
Strength
17 vessels 2 privateers 1 sloop 14 fishing boats 351 soldiers 139 men and officers of the troupes de la marine 212 militia	over 100 men several ships
Casualties and losses
5 prisoners, 2 wounded, 1 killed	1 killed, 4 wounded, about 100 captured

The Raid on Canso was a surprise attack by French forces. It happened in 1744 at Canso, Nova Scotia. This British outpost was called Fort William Augustus. The attack took place soon after King George's War began.

French soldiers from Louisbourg led the raid. They wanted to make their own people feel better. They also wanted to protect their food supplies. These supplies came from nearby Acadian settlements. Another goal was to stop Britain from using Canso as a base. The British might have used it to attack Louisbourg.

About 50 English families lived in Canso. The town was completely destroyed. However, the French goal failed. The British did attack Louisbourg in 1745. They even used Canso as a starting point for their attack.

Why the Raid Happened

War Declared

People in Louisbourg learned about the war on May 3, 1744. France had declared war on Great Britain. Louisbourg was running low on food. The news of war made this problem worse. British actions could cut off their supply lines.

French Plans

To get enough food, military action was needed. The French navy minister, Maurepas, gave orders. He told the governor of Île Royale to act fast. They needed to surprise the English.

Within a week, they planned an attack on Canso. On May 23, a group of ships left Louisbourg harbor. Around the same time, Captain David Donahue captured a Mi'kmaq chief. The chief, Jacques Pandanuques, and his family were taken to Boston. Donahue also captured eight Mi'kmaq people from Canso on April 14.

The Battle at Canso

John Bradstreet was captured by the French during the raid.

French Attack

The French expedition arrived on the night of May 24. It included Mi'kmaq militia and French soldiers. Captain François Dupont Duvivier led them. They found Canso poorly defended. The British were not ready for a fight.

At dawn, the French started firing. They attacked the town's only fort. It was a simple timber blockhouse. The British commander was Captain Patrick Heron. He had four companies of the 40th Regiment of Foot.

British Surrender

Captain Heron quickly realized he was outnumbered. He also had fewer guns. So, he gave up quickly. Lieutenant George Rydall kept fighting with an armed ship. But he surrendered soon after. His group had several injured soldiers.

The surrender terms were quickly agreed upon. By mid-morning, Canso was under French control. The French loaded many valuable items onto their ships. Then, they set the town on fire. After that, they sailed away.

The captured British soldiers were taken to Louisbourg. They became prisoners of war. The women and children were sent to Boston.

What Happened Next

A soldier from the 40th Regiment of Foot in Nova Scotia, 1742. This regiment defended Canso.

Impact on Louisbourg

The successful raid on Canso made people in Louisbourg very happy. It gave a big boost to their spirits. It also helped their Native allies. Britain lost an important base in eastern Nova Scotia.

However, keeping over one hundred prisoners was hard. It put a strain on Louisbourg's already low food supply.

British Response

In September 1744, the captured British soldiers were set free. They went to Boston. There, they shared important information. John Bradstreet, especially, gave details about Louisbourg's defenses. This information was very helpful for the British attack the next year.

Governor Shirley was trying to get more troops. He ordered the former Canso soldiers to Annapolis Royal.

After the Canso raid, the French also attacked Annapolis Royal. These attacks worried British colonists in Massachusetts. Many thought more attacks on Massachusetts would follow. On October 20, 1744, Massachusetts officially declared war on the Mi'kmaq. In 1745, Massachusetts successfully attacked Louisbourg.

Images for kids

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  Fort William Augustus, Canso