The Fortress of Louisbourg, and Force Projection in the 18th Century

[@BrandonF]

I know that many will complain about my pronunciation of "Louisbourg," but remember, it's named after Louis XIV and is a French name!

[@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432]

oh christ... Nevermind

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

Well, I'm from Québec, your pronunciation was pretty good, just next time pronounce it "Louisboorg" if you want to get it spot on. Also, I hope you cover the siege of Louisbourg some time in the future, along with other events in the seven years war such as the siege of Québec itself. Great job by the way.

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

@AlexTheTsarist You should, I was born here (I'm Greek Canadian), you don't need to speak much french to go to Montreal (My home city), but if you wanna go to Quebec city itself, learn some french, unless you're taking a tour in english, but learn french just to be on the safe side.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@konstantinosnikolakakis8125 are the Quebecoise as obtusely prideful of their French heritage as Parisians?

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

@@SonsOfLorgar The language and culture of Québec itself, yes they're prideful about that, but they don't automatically like you if your french, I heard that some people here in Montreal in the Plateau (an area of montreal) are getting annoyed at all the French immigrants.

[@Apollo890]

And by sheer coincidence a novel on the 1758 siege of Louisburg has been published today. Its called the Cursed Fortress by Chris Durbin who has so far written five books on the Seven years war.

[@Apollo890]

Remember I said novel not History book, if you enjoy historical fiction then you'll like Chris Durbin's work but if its factual work you are looking for then obviously this is not it.

[@raymondoftoulouse3355]

@@Apollo890 Is all of Durbin's work a consistent quality?

[@Apollo890]

He has done five books and so far they are good.

[@danwilcox5782]

I was in louisberg in 1967,68,69,70. My dad lived there all his life as did his father and his father. I remember my Uncle Phil was an electrician working at the fort. When I was there I got to make about a pound of nails using a forge and a hammer. At grandma's house they used to use cannon balls with a kitted cover as door stoppers. When as a kid I went to see the fort there was only the main building. When my daughter was 5 or 6 ( 1992 ) we went to visit my dad and see the fort again. It of course was much more impressive and I was taken back as to what kind of workmanship and care went into the restoration. I will go back at some time to Louisberg. FOND MEMORIES !!!!!!

[@nickwilcox8340]

Hey dan

[@nickwilcox8340]

5:17 sep 4/23

[@matthewlee8667]

I remember learning about this in school. The fort is still there for people to visit. Reenactors and everything.

[@EdinburghFive]

The fort is not actually still there as the British blew it up after the second siege. What is there today is a partial reconstruction of the fort and town.

[@chris.3069]

I'm a simple lad. I like a Brandon video without watching it.

[@BeKindToBirds]

Your comment made me realized I clicked the dislike button on accident

[@rowlandhoskins3153]

Great video choice, Brandon! I would love to see more videos on the 7 years and French and Indian wars. Maybe something about the small backwoods skirmishing and early light infantry tactics... I would also love to see the video about naval warfare tactics. Thanks for the great content!

[@wuffothewonderdog]

May I recommend 'North West Passage' by Kenneth Roberts, who wrote many other well-researched and authoritative novels covering the wars and political events in North America in the 1750-1790 period?

[@LesHaskell]

I've probably mentioned my 4th great-grandfather, Caleb Haskell, in a comment on one of your Revolutionary War videos. He marched out of Newburyport on April 19, 1775, to Cambridge and then back again a couple days later, and then back to Cambridge at the beginning of May in a new company. He was at Bunker Hill and Quebec. His wife was Ednah Hale, and her grandfather, Captain Daniel Hale, was with Waldo at Louisbourg in 1745 and was mortally wounded when an artillery tube exploded. I have another 6th ggf who was there, too. He was from Maine and his name was Jethro Starbird. All I know about him is that he had a cool name.

[@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432]

I’m a simple man. I see video on French and Indian War. I like it.

[@yeetus2754]

Gaslight Studios YOU UNCULTERED SWINE IT IS THE 7 YEAR WAR

[@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432]

@@yeetus2754 very well. But no less a historian than Sir Winston Churchill called it "The First World War".

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

Here in Québec when speaking english we say "The seven years war" but in french we say "La guerre de la conquete (The war of conquest)", although that's just for the north american part of the war, we still say "La guerre de sept ans" for the war as a whole.

[@ronashapouri403]

This comment just reminded me to like the vid thank you

[@EdinburghFive]

Great video. France had an earlier fortification at Plaisance in Newfoundland which served to protect both the entrance to the St Lawrence and the fishery. Under the Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession, France had to evacuate its holdings in Newfoundland to Britain. To replace the loss of Plaisance, Louisbourg was built. The narrator seems to imply Louisbourg existed as a settlement before the site being selected for the new fortifications. This was not the case. France established the new settlement specifically as the location of its new defensive position. Cape Breton had largely been neglected as a colonial settlement area. Seasonal fishermen used the shores but no permanent settlements were established before Louisbourg. It is interesting to note a French fleet had sailed to the shores of Cape Breton in the summer of 1757 because France was worried about an attack on Louisbourg. The British on arriving off Louisbourg in 1757 found the fleet arrayed in the harbour with its guns facing the entrance. This, along with the guns of the fort, amounted to many hundreds of cannons. Needless to say, the British fleet sailed away with ships returning to Britain and others to Halifax. The French fleet departed for France and, unfortunately for Louisbourg, did not arrive back on the coast in 1758 until after the British had blockaded the fortress. The rest is history.

[@joeblow9657]

I like how Brandon wears a blazer and collared shirt despite having no obligation to do so. Especially as he does a notable amount of research for most videos.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Collared shirts are very comfortable pieces of clothing imo.

[@joeblow9657]

@@SonsOfLorgar true especially when you don't have to wear a tie with them. However, a t shirt in the comfort of your own studio/apartment would be more comfortable would it not?

[@mitsvanmitsvanio6106]

​@@joeblow9657 No I dont agree, suits are always comfortable, ties also, especially in winter to keep the throat warm.

[@joeblow9657]

@@mitsvanmitsvanio6106 Aren't you thinking more in the line of a turtle neck?

[@mitsvanmitsvanio6106]

@@joeblow9657 No a suit, a tie and a scarf are just fine.

[@carronadesandsmoke5560]

As a proud upper Canadian, I appreciated this video haha!

[@LesHaskell]

As a proud 12th-generation New Englander I appreciate it, too.

[@67thCloneSquadron]

Very interesting video. My ancestors were French settlers in Canada they left France in 1702 from Ducey. To this day we still speak French and are proud of our origins though we now live in Massachusetts. Again cool video nice to learn more of the history.

[@picardiebelleregion9508]

Vous êtes autorisé à écrire en français, les traducteurs de Google permettent aux anglophones de traduire sans problèmes ...

[@67thCloneSquadron]

@@kinggeorgeiii7515 Very interesting. I also had a couple of ancestors involved in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

[@MattCellaneous]

I think the specific history of the fortress being conquered twice by American forces for the Empire is totally worth a video. The first time in 1745, during King George's War, the northern North American theater of the war of Austrian succession, Col. William Pepperell, a New Englander under Governor Shirley took the fort with a mixed American Force, John Gorham's Rangers amongst them, and a Royal Navy flotilla with a few British Marines. The second time was during the French and Indian/seven years War in 1758 by Wolfe who had four companies of American rangers. The success of the 1745 seizure by New England forces under Governor Shirley, by Col. Pepperell lead to Both men being rewarded with a baronet by the crown and given the right to raise their own regiments of foot in 1745, which in the case of the now Col. Sir William Pepperell was the first time that either of those honors had happened to an American born subject. Col. Pepperell's 66th regiment of foot existed from 1745 until it was disbanded in 1749. Then it was reraised as Col. Pepperell 51st regiment of foot in 1754 for the French and Indian War. However, after a terrible loss at Oswego in 1756 the regiment was disbanded. All those regiments were numbered in the old system and new regiment were renumbered with those numbers in the years since. P.S. The fortress at Louisbourg was returned to the French in exchange for the return of the port city of Madras, India in the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.

[@spikedpuppet3667]

My Wife and I were there the day before yesterday during our trip to Cape Breton. Highly recommend going there if you ever have the chance if you're a history buff

[@narakagati5872]

Great video, as always!

[@MyelinProductions]

ALWAYS Great and Informative. You have invested a lot of time, energy, and effort in being an Expert. Well done. Very useful for various projects. Keep up the great work. Thank You Brandon.

[@Dr_Robodaz]

A good, surface overview. For those who wish greater detail, I heartily recommend both René Chartrand and Donato Spedaliere's 2005 work 'French Fortresses in North America 1535-1763: Québec, Montréal, Louisbourg' and the University of Michigan's 'Geometry of War'.

[@EdinburghFive]

In addition look for A.J. B Johnston's book Endgame 1758: The Promise, the Glory and the Despair of Louisbourg’s Last Decade

[@wuffothewonderdog]

My grandfather and my two older brothers served in the 60th Rifles, King's Royal Rifles Corps, a regiment of the British Army that began life as the Royal American Regiment in 1756. The first battle honour on the regimental badge was won in the taking of Louisburg in 1758. I wore the regimental badge for four years as a cadet in my school cadet corps.

[@jasonvitale5911]

Excellent presentation as always Brandon Keep up the great work

[@mattarmstrong9205]

I’ve been to the fort, it’s a really impressive site

[@MrFallingfromgrace]

Historians believe the taking of the fortress in 1745 by New Englanders was the start of their military confidence and its return to the French the beginning of the rifts between the colonists and England ... which lead to the formation of the American state and the fall of Frances royalty ... Cape Breton is a key position to project power over the St Lawrence fed interior of the continent of North America and controls the passage from Europe to then the English Colonies .... it’s strategic importance cannot be over estimated... good vid

[@MyersHunter]

Hearing force projection in regards to Louisbourg, had me draw parallels to Fort William Henry, Fort Ticonderoga, and Fort St. Federic. Used as a staging point, or base of operations for raiding parties into enemy territory; Like the failed 1758 campaign against Carrilon from Fort William Henry, or the St. Francis Raid of 1759 from Crown Point. Alternately, British forces operating of out Isle Aux Noix, or St. Jean, in Borgoyne's '77 campaign, or the later raids into the Mohawk and Champlain valleys in 78/79. Force projection is the name of the game.

[@wisserke]

When I was in Louisbourg I asked myself the exact same question: how is it supposed to defend the entrance to the Saint-Lawrence river? Thank you for clarifying this.

[@anulfadventures]

In times of "peace" the New England merchants made some profit by "trading" or running contraband with France and Quebec through Louisbourg. The resupplying of the Fort by the Acadians including those who had signed their allegiance to King George especially in times of war was the main reason for the Acadian "expulsion". In fact many never left or came back in short order. That fact doesn't make good literature though.

[@EdinburghFive]

You are quite right. Money whether French or British was money and New England merchants loved their money. The Acadians were also very adept at trading with both sides. Although the Acadians did supply Louisbourg the amount relative to supplies arriving from France, the Caribbean and Quebec as quite small. Acadian supplies were not enough to sustain the town and fort. French meddling, incursions and support of their Mi'kmaq allies that destabilized the region were the bigger issues. Some Acadians had participated in various ways (manpower and supplies) with the French and this ultimately created a lack of trust.

[@beachmaster3486]

Do you know anything about flares used during the American Civil War or earlier? If so could you make a video on them?

[@guanobucks]

Before the fortress, Louisbourg harbour was used by French and others because of its harbour and access to fishing banks

[@danielhall6354]

First time i have hear the term 're-vital' outside of a Patrick O'Brian or C.S Forester novel.

[@ethanfoster5914]

Yes 16 minutes after upload

[@KestrelOwens]

Saw in the comments going by that you were saying you should get more popular before approaching Lindybeige. Another channel I am subscribed to (with 11K subs) recently (though no videos have been released) meet him and from what they have let on seem to have recorded something with him.

[@ObrienXp]

You keep saying New England milita took the fort. The British order of battle had only 4 companies of American Rangers. They were pivotal in securing the beachhead, yes, but it was the artillery and regulars that carried the siege. I will of course recognize my pedantry serving only to douse the fire of your excitement.

[@BrandonF]

Ah, I will add a note of correction later this evening! Seems the initial account I had read was off.

[@ObrienXp]

@@BrandonF We're talking about two different sieges it seems. XD

[@ObrienXp]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Louisbourg_(1745) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Louisbourg_(1758)

[@ObrienXp]

I forgot you said during the War of Austrian Succession and had 7 years in my head.

[@danielknowles3051]

Brandon who makes the British figures on your desk and what scale are they?

[@BrandonF]

They are warlord miniatures. I actually put them on that amazon store! 28mm

[@danielknowles3051]

Thanks! I’m putting together skirmishing units in 28mm and I have my Militia already.

[@tomjones2121]

A massive french fortress , and if you go there and visit , it's occupied by red coats , you know , because let's screw with history , the Brits levelled that place

[@lkrnpk]

Thus the Brits said ''Louisbourg delenda est''

[@shulzyyy9024]

Brandon over here looking like a snacc😂

[@ryanyoder3705]

Brandon you should play War of Rights, or at least do a historical accuracy review of it.

[@jadenk1409]

I wonder how did the siegeing fort worked during 18th century..

[@u.h.forum.]

Dude I visited Louisburg a few days ago

[@hallamhal]

You dont get this insight or level of complexity from Empire Total War

[@reeyees1]

I wonder if those New England militiamen used grappling hooks to scale the walls

[@jigilo4853]

Cover the battle of Fort Carillon LOL

[@picardiebelleregion9508]

French subtitles please / Sous-titres français s'il vous plaît

[@Glen_lastname]

I made it this time

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Real "force projection" is girly yelling Huzza and making it intimidating

[@salty4496]

:)