Vergor, having received news of the impending…
June 1755 CE
He had first issued a call to arms to the surrounding Acadian population, who had answered it begrudgingly.
The Acadians had asked their governor to threaten them, in order to be protected from execution for treason from the English.
Fort Beauséjour has a maximum of a thousand men to defend it.
At the same time, Vergor sends letters to Québec, Louisbourg, as well as settlements on the St. John river and on the Islands of St. John for help.
He also sends a letter to Fort Gaspereau, which is located the closest to Fort Beauséjour.
While Vergor is technically in charge of the fort, it is Jacau de Fiedmont who coordinates all of the defense plans and preparations for the attack.
He is well aware that the only way Beauséjour will survive the siege is by strengthening its defenses.
He is therefore insistent that the extra work be done before the English arrive.
Other preparations included destroying roads and bridges.
The first confrontation between the French settlers and soldiers of Fort Beauséjour and the English takes place on June 4 at the Missaguash River.
Four hundred French, Acadian, and native men face off against British soldiers in battle formation.
It was clear from the start that the Acadians are poor fighters and lack fighting spirit and motivation, which would have given the English a strong sense of Fort Beauséjour's weaknesses, lack of ability, and deficiency of courage.
The English start rebuilding the bridge over the Missaguash River, which Vergor had destroyed, under fire, suffering no casualties.
The night of 4 June, Vergor continues to put into place defense mechanisms, this time setting all of the surrounding buildings, shops, and homes on fire.
This does nothing to improve the worsening morale of the Acadians, as these are their homes.
Vergor, Abbé le Loutre, and Fiedmont do all that they can to improve the morale of the Acadians and of the soldiers.
Vergor emphasizes the coming help from Louisbourg.
Fiedmont worries also about the level of motivation of the Acadians, as he desperately needs
them to work in order to continue to fortify the defenses. The few men he has found who are willing to work are not nearly enough.
Locations
People
Groups
Abenaki people (Amerind tribe)
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Maliseet, or Wolastoqiyik, people (Amerind tribe)
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Mi'kmaq people (Amerind tribe)
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Christians, Roman Catholic
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Wabanaki Confederacy
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Passamaquoddy (Amerind tribe)
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New France (French Colony)
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Anglicans (Episcopal Church of England)
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Puritans
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France, (Bourbon) Kingdom of
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Massachusetts, Province of (English Crown Colony)
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Britain, Kingdom of Great
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Nova Scotia (British Colony)
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