Background To The Battle

"In Europe, war was officially declared by Britain on 7 May 1756, and by France a month later. To the British, the idea of a war that would give them an absolute monopoly on trade in North America was very popular. For France, on the other hand, fighting on too many fronts with inadequate funds, men, and ships, the colony of New France was a huge expense and unlike the West Indies, one that did not return many revenues."¹

At the same time, hostilities between the British and French colonies in North America were growing. By the fall of 1759 New France was in great danger of losing its hold on the new colony. The British had already made two major advances against the French, capturing the Fortress of Louisbourg and Quebec City.

Morale was low in the French colony. Montreal was short of food and supplies, and without help from France, the British forces were sure to be successful in their attacks for possession of the rest of the French colonies.

Vaudreuil, the Governor of New France, hoped that by sending for reinforcements the French would be able to recapture Quebec City and maintain its hold on Montreal. However he feared his demands for help would be overshadowed by the events of the Seven Years War in Europe, so on November 25^th, 1759, he dispatched a messenger along with letters requesting help from the mother country. The messenger reached France, and delivered the letters to Versailles on December 23^rd, 1759.

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• The Fortress of Louisbourg
• The Seven Years War



¹

Walter Zacharchuk and Peter J.A. Waddell , The Excavation of the Machault (Ottawa, Environment Canada/ Parks Canada), p. 15.