History of the English Speaking Peoples

[Taillebois]

Churchill's book of the above name has some chapters on the British blunders that led to US independence.

It is well worth a read and shows how good this game is with the aggro of winter. Remember, half an inch of snow and England grinds to a halt.

[Durk]

I thoroughly agree. I forget if he mentions how the New England colonials were very angry that after taking the Fortress on Louisburg the British leadership returned it to France in the peace treaty. This was such a key event in beginning what eventually becomes the American Revolution as Louisburg was not only the gateway to Canada, but to the rich fishing nearby.

[Taillebois]

A dismal episode:

"The year 1756 was disastrous for England in America, and indeed upon all fronts. Oswego, the only English fort on the Great Lakes, was lost. The campaign of 1757 was hardly more successful. The fortress of Louisburg, which commanded the Gulf of St Lawrence, had been taken by an Anglo-Colonial force in the 1740's and returned to France at the peace treaty of 1748 at Aix-La-Chapelle. English troops were now sent to recapture it. They were commanded by an ineffectual and unenterprising officer, Lord Loudon. Loudon prepared to attack by concentrating at Halifax such colonial troops from New England as the colonies would release. This left the Hudson valley open to the French. At the head of the valley were three small forts: Crown Point, Edward, and William Henry. The French, under the Governor of Canada, Montcalm, and his Red Indian allies, swept over the frontier through the wooded mountains and beseiged fort William Henry. The small colonial garrison held out for five days, but was forced to surrender. Montcalm was unable to restrain his Indians and the prisoners were massacred. The tragedy bit into the minds of the New Englanders. It was Loudon who was to blame. The British were not defending them; while New England was left exposed to the French, the troops which might have protected them were wasting time at Halifax. Indeed, by the end of July Loudon decided that Louisburg was impregnable and had give up the attempt."

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Churchill chapter 5 of Volume 3
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PS - if you like Churchill's writing try: "The Malakand Field Force"

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/9404/9404-h/9404-h.htm

Some of the place names are familiar a century later.

[Durk]

Ah ha, yes, thank you for sharing this piece. The American colonials were good at harboring resentments, but Churchill clearly recognizes how the past informs the present; without necessarily recognize his own short sightedness.
I do believe I have read all his works, but "The Malakand Field Force" is a splendid piece for those who only know his most well known works.

[shotgunfacelift]

This was such a key event in beginning what eventually becomes the American Revolution as Louisburg was not only the gateway to Canada, but to the rich fishing nearby.

Louisbourg waters are rough to say the least. France's best sailors when not at war were fishing there. Hadn't France kept St Pierre & Miquelon the french navy would've had a VERY VERY hard time keeping up with it's enemies. It would have been disastrous and the french navy knew it well. I don't know if the american Colonials realized that back then but ironicaly the presence the french kept there helped them later in their war for independence.