Blupete's History of Nova Scotia

Significant Historical Happenings: 1746.
In Connection With:
Bk. 1, Pt. 5, Ch. 2 - The d'Anville Armada.

A NOTE ON DATES:
Trevelyan advises us that in 1752, Great Britain changed calendars from the old style (O.S.), Julian, to the new style (N.S.), Gregorian; in the process jumping twelve days, when September 2nd became September 14th. Thus, September 10th, 1746, was, to the British, August the 30th. This situation has proven to be a great source of confusion to historians dealing with the period prior to 1752. Where it was determinable, I have indicated which style date has been used. (For more see my further note on dates.)

APRIL, 1746:
France:
§Now and throughout the past winter, the French ports are bustling as an amphibious invasion force is assembled. Only a few at the top know of its intended destination.
§April, 9th: In the midst of much secrecy, l'Aurore and le Castor, the first of two advance ships of the d'Anville armada, raise their anchors, set sail and depart Brest.
Scotland:
§April 16th, 1746: Battle of Culloden.
Louisbourg:
§April 21st, 1746: 1219 English regulars arrive at Louisbourg (the Gibraltar troops.) In addition near a 1,000 new colonial volunteers also arrive.

MAY, 1746:
Louisbourg:
§May 9th, 1746: Admiral Townsend arrives at Louisbourg with three men-of-war and two ordnance store ships.
France:
§May, 22nd: A large fleet of 70 ships, including 20 men-of-war and 32 transports loaded with men and war supplies, depart Brest; but, because of head winds, within days, puts in at Rochelle.

JUNE, 1746:
Louisbourg:
§June 7th, 1746: Warren and Shirley, having spent the winter there, leave Louisbourg and sail for Boston. Knowles takes over from Warren as the English governor of Louisbourg.
Chebucto:
§June, 1746: De Ramezay and his Canadians sent from Quebec, and which in turn had marched from Chignecto, were now waiting the arrival of the expected French armada.
§June 7th, 1746: The first of two advance ships of the d'Anville expedition arrive at Chebucto, having left Brest on the 9th of April.
France:
§June 22nd (N.S.), 1746: D'Anville's fleet makes its second departure, leaving Rochelle; and, for most of those aboard -- destination unknown.
Boston:
§June 24th, 1746: Warren arrives at Boston.

JULY, 1746:
Louisbourg:
§July 5th, 1746: A despatch comes in, aboard a ship detached from the British squadron cruising off of Brest, advising that there is "a strong squadron of the enemy's men of war, frigates and fire ships with transports (on board which are a great number of troops) actually sailed from Brest 22 May, designed for great Britain, Ireland or Louisbourg."
Mid-Atlantic:
§July 15th, 1746: The d'Anville's fleet is on a direct line to Nova Scotia, latitude 44º 22'.

AUGUST, 1746:
Chebucto:
§August 12th, 1746: The two advance ships of d'Anville's fleet having waited over two months give up waiting at Chebucto and set sail for France.
§During August, a Canadian armed detachment of hundred and fifty men marched from Piziquid to join Le Loutre and his Indians at Chebucto.
§August the 30th (O.S.): Warren reports the French are discovered.

SEPTEMBER, 1746:
Sable Island:
§September 3rd (O.S.): A storm rages off Sable Island and catches many of the ships of d'Anville's fleet, a couple of the ships are wrecked on the shores.
Louisbourg:
§September 11th (O.S.): Townsend writes Warren and advises of Frenchman that brought into Louisbourg, a cast-a-way on Sable Island.
Chebucto:
§September 10th, 1746: D'Anville and "three ships of the line and a few transports" limp into Chebucto Harbour.
§September 16th (27th, O.S.), 1746: D'Anville dies within 6 days of his arrival at Chebucto.
Off The Coast Off Nova Scotia:
§The French admiral, Conflans is now cruising off the coast of Nova Scotia with four French men-of-war, having left the West Indies on September the 7th. He could find neither Chebucto Harbour nor any of d'Anville's fleet. Conflans after cruising back and forth for ten days shaped up a course for France, arriving at Brest on November the 6th.
On The Road From Piziquid To Chebucto:
§Acadians are seen to be driving livestock in order to assist their fellow Frenchmen who now are lying on the shores of present day Bedford Basin: sick and disabled.
Annapolis Royal:
§September 21st, 1746: Mascarene reports, all quiet at Annapolis.
France:
§September 22nd, 1746: The two advance ships of d'Anville's fleet having left Chebucto on August 12th arrive at Breast.
§End of September: Lieutenant chevalier de Saliés who was a captain of one of he two advance ships of d'Anville's fleet sets sail with a fresh crew and a new ship, la Sirenne with dispatches for d'Anville.
Louisbourg:
§September 23rd, 1746: Townsend writes Warren and Shirley that he is not in a position to sent help to Annapolis Royal.
§September 23rd, 1746: There are now several British men-of-war under the command of Admiral Townsend situated at Louisbourg.
Annapolis Royal:
§September, 1746: Warren sends up the 50 gun Chester up from Boston to Annapolis Royal.

OCTOBER, 1746:
Annapolis Royal:
§De Ramezay arrives during the first week of October and lays siege to Annapolis Royal.
Chebucto:
§October 10th, 1746: Escorted by Renommée (Captain Guy-François Kersaint), four French transport ships, belonging to the decimated d'Anville fleet then lying at Chebucto, leave for Canada.
§October 22nd, 1746: An New England prize is brought into Chebucto with the discouraging news that Louisbourg is well manned and has a number of British men-of-war.
§October 23rd, 1746: La Jonquière's pares down what is left of the French fleet.
§October 13th (N.S.) October 24th (O.S.), 1746: The French forces sail from Chebucto.
Louisbourg:
§October 13th, 1746: Admiral Townsend reports that "very little remains to be done at Louisbourg. It is now in a much better state of defence than ever it was."
Boston:
§October 13th, 1746 (N.S.): Express comes in to Boston from Annapolis Royal with a message for Warren, "all was well there, that not one of the enemy's ships had appeared, but that the French and Indians ... still about the garrison ... [no] cannon."
Cape Sable:
§October 26th, 1746: Having been hit by yet another storm within a day after leaving Chebucto, la Jonquière makes the decision to give up on Annapolis Royal and turns the fleet for France.
Chebucto:
§October 16th (N.S.), 1746: The 30 gun la Sirenne, fresh from France with despatches makes her entry into Chebucto harbour which has been now emptied of French vessels.
Province Wide:
§October: In a Letter dated October 24th, 1746, to Warren and Shirley: "... Indians have distemper among them. It has already carried off 100 of Le Loutre's mission, and near that number of Maillard's of the Cape Breton and Île Jean Indians."

NOVEMBER, 1746:
Annapolis Royal:
§November 3-4th, 1746: The Sirène, daring not to go into Annapolis Basin alone, departs Bay of Fundy and continues to look for the French fleet; she anchors at Port Maltois (Port Medway).
§November 4th, 1746 (N.S.): Ramezay's forces which had been besieging Annapolis Royal break camp.
Port Medway:
§November 20th, 1746: The Sirène, the last of the French ships, departs for France with Le Loutre aboard.
Boston:
§November 30th (O.S.): Warren departs Boston on the Chester and arrives Spithead December 24th.

DECEMBER, 1746:
Grand Pré:
§December 24th, 1746: With a view to catching the de Ramezay forces from Quebec, which had been besieging Annapolis Royal in October, and which was now pitched in at Chignecto, Colonel Noble and his 470 Massachusetts men are disembarked on the shores of the Basin and march on Grand Pré. The Massachusetts forces determine to quarter themselves for the winter with the local French inhabitants at Grand Pré and settle in for a winter's sleep.


[Backward In Time (1745)]
[Forward In Time (1747)] 

_______________________________

Found this material Helpful?

_______________________________
[Up]
[The Lion & The Lily -- Book 1 (1500-1763)]
[Settlement, Revolution & War -- Book 2 (1760-1815)]
[The Road To Being Canada -- Book 3 (1815-1867)]
[Nova Scotian Biographies]
[Dates]
[Glossary]
[History Jump Page]
[Home]

Peter Landry
2012 (2020)