Siege of Louisbourg
The Fortress of Louisbourg on the Atlantic coast of Cape Breton gaurded the entrance to Saint Lawrence and access to French Canada. In the February of 1758 General Amherst's army of around 11,000 soldiers and artillery sailed from Britain to Gabarus Bay, west of Louisburg. On June 8 Brigadier general James Wolfe attacked Freshwater Cove and established a hold on the shore long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Then Amherst opened artillery fire on the fortress. By July 26th the last French gun was destroyed and a breach made in the wall. Augustin de Boschenry de Drucour, commander of the French forces at the fort, surrendered to General Amherst. Around 500 British were killed and wounded and the number of French casualities is unknown. In the end 5,600 French soldiers surrendered with around 200 cannons and munitions. The acquisition of this fort allowed for Cape Breton and the Prince Edward's Island to become British colonies, opening the way for General Wolfe to attack Saint Lawrence and Quebec the next year.
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