Chapter I: Front Matter

Francis Parkman’s Works.

NEW LIBRARY EDITION.

VOL. VII.

_Sir William Pepperrell._
From the painting by John Smibert.
A HALF CENTURY OF CONFLICT, II., _Frontispiece_

A HALF-CENTURY OF
CONFLICT.

FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN
NORTH AMERICA.

PART SIXTH.

BY
FRANCIS PARKMAN.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.
1898.

_Copyright, 1892_,
BY FRANCIS PARKMAN.

_Copyright, 1897_,
BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.

University Press:
JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.

1716-1761.

SEARCH FOR THE PACIFIC.

PAGE

The Western Sea.--Schemes for reaching it.--Journey of
Charlevoix.--The Sioux Mission.--Varennes de la Vérendrye:
his Enterprise; his Disasters; visits the Mandans; his Sons;
their Search for the Western Sea; their Adventures.--The
Snake Indians.--A Great War-party.--The Rocky Mountains.--A
Panic.--Return of the Brothers; their Wrongs and their Fate 3

CHAPTER XVII.

1700-1750.

THE CHAIN OF POSTS.

Opposing Claims.--Attitude of the Rival Nations.--America a
French Continent.--England a Usurper.--French Demands.--
Magnanimous Proposals.--Warlike Preparation.--Niagara.--
Oswego.--Crown Point.--The Passes of the West secured 44

CHAPTER XVIII.

1744, 1745.

A MAD SCHEME.

War of the Austrian Succession.--The French seize Canseau and
attack Annapolis.--Plan of Reprisal.--William Vaughan.--
Governor Shirley: he advises an Attack on Louisbourg.--The
Assembly refuses, but at last consents.--Preparation.--
William Pepperrell.--George Whitefield.--Parson Moody.--The
Soldiers.--The Provincial Navy.--Commodore Warren.--Shirley
as an Amateur Soldier.--The Fleet sails 59

CHAPTER XIX.

1745.

LOUISBOURG BESIEGED.

Seth Pomeroy.--The Voyage.--Canseau.--Unexpected Succors.--
Delays.--Louisbourg.--The Landing.--The Grand Battery
taken.--French Cannon turned on the Town.--Weakness of
Duchambon.--Sufferings of the Besiegers: their Hardihood;
their Irregular Proceedings.--Joseph Sherburn.--Amateur
Gunnery.--Camp Frolics.--Sectarian Zeal.--Perplexities of
Pepperrell 90

CHAPTER XX.

1745.

LOUISBOURG TAKEN.

A Rash Resolution.--The Island Battery.--The Volunteers.--The
Attack.--The Repulse.--Capture of the “Vigilant.”--A
Sortie.--Skirmishes.--Despondency of the French.--English
Camp threatened.--Pepperrell and Warren.--Warren’s
Plan.--Preparation for a General Attack.--Flag of
Truce.--Capitulation.--State of the Fortress.--Parson
Moody.--Soldiers dissatisfied.--Disorders.--Army and
Navy.--Rejoicings.--England repays Provincial Outlays 117

CHAPTER XXI.

1745-1747.

DUC D’ANVILLE.

Louisbourg after the Conquest.--Mutiny.--Pestilence.--Stephen
Williams: his Diary.--Scheme of Conquering Canada.--Newcastle’s
Promises.--Alarm in Canada.--Promises broken.--Plan against
Crown Point.--Startling News.--D’Anville’s Fleet.--Louisbourg
to be avenged.--Disasters of D’Anville.--Storm.--Pestilence.--
Famine.--Death of D’Anville.--Suicide of the Vice-Admiral.--
Ruinous Failure.--Return Voyage.--Defeat of La Jonquière 145

CHAPTER XXII.

1745-1747.

ACADIAN CONFLICTS.

Efforts of France.--Apathy of Newcastle.--Dilemma of Acadians:
their Character.--Danger of the Province.--Plans of
Shirley.--Acadian Priests.--Political Agitators.--Noble’s
Expedition.--Ramesay at Beaubassin.--Noble at Grand-Pré.--A
Winter March.--Defeat and Death of Noble.--Grand-Pré
reoccupied by the English.--Threats of Ramesay against the
Acadians.--The British Ministry will not protect them 169

CHAPTER XXIII.

1740-1747.

WAR AND POLITICS.

Governor and Assembly.--Saratoga destroyed.--William Johnson.--
Border Ravages.--Upper Ashuelot.--French “Military Movements.”--
Number Four.--Niverville’s Attack.--Phineas Stevens.--The
French repulsed 205

CHAPTER XXIV.

1745-1748.

FORT MASSACHUSETTS.

Frontier Defence.--Northfield and its Minister.--Military
Criticisms of Rev. Benjamin Doolittle.--Rigaud de Vaudreuil:
his Great War-party; he attacks Fort Massachusetts.--Sergeant
Hawks and his Garrison.--A Gallant Defence.--Capitulation.--
Humanity of the French.--Ravages.--Return to Crown Point.--
Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle 230

APPENDIX.

A. France claims all North America except the Spanish Colonies 257

B. French Views of the Siege of Louisbourg 274

C. Shirley’s Relations with the Acadians 312

INDEX 361

A HALF-CENTURY OF CONFLICT.