d'Iberville and his troops arrived in Placentia on September 12, 1696. His orders: destroy all English fishing outposts on the island .
According to instructions, Sieur de Brouilan, the governor of Placentia, and d'Iberville were to launch a joint attack on the English settlements. After a number of disputes over tactics and the distribution of the spoils, the two men agreed that Sieur de Brouillan would command at sea and d'Iberville on land. The governor then left aboard the Profond for Renews, where the two forces planned to rendezvous. He took with him 100 soldiers from his garrison.
d'Iberville, meanwhile, left Placentia on All Saints' Day with his detachment of 124 men,
both Canadiens and Indians from Acadia . It was a grueling, nine-day march across the Avalon
Peninsula. On November 10 , the troops arrived at Ferryland, about 80 kilometres south of St.
John's. Just north of Renews. De Brouillan had already arrived and the two settlements were
diserted as a result of his attack .