Battle of Bloody Creek (1757)

Battle of Bloody Creek
Part of the French and Indian War

Cairn erected by Historic Sites and Monuments Board (1932)
DateDecember 8, 1757
Locationpresent-day Carleton Corner, Nova Scotia
Result French and Native American victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain Kingdom of France France
Mi'kmaq militia
Acadian militia
Commanders and leaders
Captain Peter Pigou 
Captain David Maitland
Acadian - Guillaume Jeanson[1]
Strength
130 soldiers Between 50 and 56 Acadians and Mi'kmaq[1]
Casualties and losses
24 killed and wounded 12 killed and wounded
Part of a series on the
Military history of
the Acadians
Joseph Broussard ("Beausoleil")
Events
Raid on Chignecto 1696
Avalon Peninsula Campaign 1696-97
Raid on Grand Pré 1704
Siege of Port Royal 1710
Blockade of Annapolis Royal 1722
Raid on Canso 1744
Siege of Annapolis Royal 1744
Siege of Port Toulouse 1745
Siege of Louisbourg 1745
Naval battle off Tatamagouche 1745
‪Battle at Port-la-Joye 1746
Battle of Grand Pré 1747
Siege of Grand Pre 1749
Battle at Chignecto 1750
Raid on Dartmouth 1751
Attack at Mocodome 1753
Battle of Fort Beauséjour 1755
Battle of Petitcodiac 1755
Battle of Bloody Creek 1757
Lunenburg Campaign 1758
Siege of Louisbourg 1758
Battle of Restigouche 1760
Other

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Designations
Official name Bloody Creek National Historic Site of Canada
Designated 1930

The Battle of Bloody Creek was fought December 8, 1757, during the French and Indian War. An Acadian and Mi'kmaq militia defeated a detachment of British soldiers at Bloody Creek (formerly René Forêt River), which empties into the Annapolis River at present day Carleton Corner, Nova Scotia. The battle occurred at the same site as a battle in 1711 during Queen Anne's War.

Prelude

Following the French defeat at the Battle of Fort Beauséjour and the start of the Great Expulsion in 1755, many Acadians formed guerrilla bands in the forests, often linking up with their historic Mi'kmaq allies. These bands operated throughout Nova Scotia until the fall of New France, the most famous guerrilla being Joseph Broussard, also known as Beausoleil. Despite controlling many strongpoints like Halifax, Annapolis Royal and Fort Beausejour, the British were unable to completely pacify the region.

On December 6, a work party from the 43rd Foot, which garrisoned Annapolis Royal, was cutting firewood near the site of the first battle in 1711 when they were ambushed by an Acadian and Mi'kmaq force. One man was killed and another seven were taken captive. In response, a detachment of 130 men under Captain Peter Pigou was dispatched to recover the prisoners.

Battle

Led by Acadian Guillaume Jeanson, a group of Mi'kmaq and Acadians attacked the British force.[2] Marching on foot along the south shore of the Annapolis River, the British force was exposed to wet and cold before giving up their search for the prisoners. They were crossing a bridge on the René Forêt River on the morning of December 8 when the Mi'kmaq and Acadians attacked. The British made a brief stand and suffered a high number of casualties, including Captain Pigou, before retreating back to Annapolis Royal.

Aftermath

Despite their victory, the Mi'kmaq and Acadian guerrillas did not follow it up by attacking Annapolis Royal. There were however many similar bands that continued to harass and ambush British forces in Nova Scotia and assist French regular forces through the end of the war. The René Forêt River was renamed Bloody Creek in honour of the battle.

The location of the battle is now a National Historic Site of Canada.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America For The Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760", Volume 1, by Captain John Knox, 1769 (Out of Print) Pages 115-129, 198-205
  2. Parks Canada Archived February 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. Bloody Creek. Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada. Retrieved 26 August 2012.

External links

Coordinates: 44°49′21″N 65°18′34″W / 44.8224°N 65.3095°W / 44.8224; -65.3095

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