On the 30th of April 2000 men were landed at noon, who beat back a detachment of troops which was sent to prevent their disembarkation. On that and the following day three hundred seamen and five hundred Marines were disembarked under cover of the vessels ranged along the coast. The troops were under the command of Brigadier-General William Pepperell, a native of Piccataway, and Colonel of American Militia.
The French, conscious of the strength of their positions, maintained possession of the city until their means of defence were overpowered by the forces brought against them.
By indefatigable labour, the British Marines, and the American provincials, succeeded in effecting an entrance into the harbour on the 1st of June, 1745; Louisburg capitulated, and with it the whole dependency of Cape Breton; the object was attained with a loss little exceeding 100 men.[46]
Two regiments were formed for service at Cape Breton, by Colonel William Shirley and Sir William Pepperell, each consisting of ten companies of 100 men per company: these were numbered the 50th and 51st regiments of infantry of the line.
1746
In the year 1746 very serious complaints were made of the neglect and delay which had occurred in the settlement of the accounts of the Marine Corps, and a committee was appointed to investigate the grievances which had been represented. The cause of the delay was alleged to arise, in the first instance, from the absence of regular and periodical muster-rolls, according to the practice in regiments of the regular army. This system, it was stated, could not easily be acted upon in the corps of Marines, who were employed by detachments in the several ships of war. The investigation produced, however, the effect of a large balance in the hands of the Paymaster-General being repaid into the Bank of England, for the benefit of those who were justly entitled to it.
The privations and inconveniences, which this meritorious body of troops had continued to endure for several years, did not affect their loyalty and steady allegiance, and they still remained the useful corps, in periods of emergency, they had always proved in former years.
For the service of this year (1746) nearly 12,000 Marines were included in the parliamentary vote of the military establishment. An expedition against Quebec was contemplated at this period, and a considerable force was assembled at Spithead with that intent, but delays took place until the season for such an attempt became too late. Of this force Colonel Powlett’s (the ninth) regiment of Marines formed a part.
The troops were afterwards destined against Port L’Orient, under the directions of Admiral Lestock and Lieut.-General Sinclair. Sixteen sail of the line and eight frigates, with 5000 troops, exclusive of Marines, were the number employed on this occasion. The long detention of so respectable a force until the period of the equinox, endangered its progress along a hostile coast at so critical a season, and gave time for the enemy to ascertain the object of the expedition.
The fleet sailed from Plymouth on the 14th of September for the coast of Brittany, and a debarkation of the troops was effected on the 20th of that month, in Quimperlay Bay: on the 21st the troops advanced in two columns against Plymeur, which surrendered, and on the following day the whole moved on to a rising ground within a mile of Port L’Orient, the ultimate object of their views. Some affairs took place between the 21st and 26th of September, when after a cannonade, which did considerable damage to the town, a retreat was commenced under cover of the night. The French were pouring in from all quarters, and the situation of the British troops became critical.