Avalon Peninsula Campaign
Encyclopedia
The Avalon Peninsula Campaign occurred during King Williams War when forces of New France
, led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
, destroyed 23 English settlements along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula
, Newfoundland in the span of three months. The campaign began with raiding Ferryland
on November 10, 1696 and continued along the coast until they raided the village of Heart's Content
(See Map of the Campaign's raids and battles.)
. Prior to the arrival of Iberville, Newfoundland's French Governor de Brouillon ordered a French naval squadron under Chevalier Nesmond to lay siege to St. John's in retaliation for earlier English attacks. In 1694, Nesmond set sail from Plaisance to lay siege St. John's. This siege was unsuccessful. Two years later, however, the French made a second attempt. On September 12, 1696, Quebec's Governor Frontenac sent Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d'Iberville to Newfoundland. The previous August, d'Iberville had just been victorious in the Siege of Pemaquid
, on the coast of present-day Maine.
. Meanwhile, the 110 people of Ferryland fled to Bay Bulls and set about fortifying it.
from Petty Harbour, English residents marched out the Waterford Valley to meet and repel the French. A pitched battle occurred in the Waterford Valley (Burnt Wood) and on the Heights of Kilbride (Nov 28). Of the 88 English defenders, 34 died in the battle. The English broke ranks and hastily retreated to St. John's.
As d'Iberville approached St. John's, the English settlers scattered. Many sailed away, others escaped to the forests. A number of settlers and soldiers took refuge in Fort William. For three days the French laid siege to Fort William. On November 30, the English commander, Governor Miners, surrendered on condition that the English be allowed to leave St. John's. 230 men, women and children were sent off in a ship and duly arrived in Dartmouth, England. However a further 80 refugees were drowned when their ship foundered off the coast of Spain.
After destroying St. John's, the French marched on Torbay
(Dec 2), Portugal Cove (Dec 5 and Jan 13). Internal struggles between de Brouillan and d'Iberville over the spoils of war followed. On December 25 when de Brouillan left for Plaisance. The French burnt 80 shallops in the harbour (Jan 2).
(Jan 19) was first followed by Harbour Main (Jan 20) and Port de Grave (Jan 23).
and successfully fended off the French and Indian attack on January 31. D'Iberville had only 70 men, the rest were dispersed in local skirmishes, holding villages and prisoners.
Leaving Carbonear d'Iberville then attacked Old Perlican (Feb 4), Bay de Verde (Feb 6), Hants Harbour (Feb 7), New Perlican and Hearts Content
(Feb 9). In many cases the local fishermen had fled to Carbonear. There was an unsuccessful attempt at a prisoner exchange (Feb 18). Frustrated, d'Iberville then sacked Brigus (Feb 11) and Port de Grave (Feb 11). Carbonear Island continued to hold out but d'Iberville torched their evacuated settlement on Feb 28 before leaving.
D'Iberville then headed to Heart's Content before walking in a small group across the Avalon Peninsula isthmus. He arrived March 4 at Plaisance. D'Iberville then picked up his spoils of war, his scattered troops and approximately 200 prisoners at Bay Boulle (Mar 18-May 18). French attacks by sea on the remnants of the settlements continued into the spring (Mar 27-Apr 19).
, which D'Iberville did not reach and the island holdout at Carbonear. Estimates of eighty percent of the families were killed, deserted the village, were taken prisoner or were deported.
However the English were able to recapture their Newfoundland territory in summer of 1697 with a strong relief force of 1500 troops. They found St. John's and all the English harbours on the Avalon abandoned, pillaged and every building destroyed. The English slowly began to rebuild and resettle. As a result of the campaign, the English government created permanent defences for Newfoundland. Previously the English had not built permanent fortifications or garrisons in Newfoundland as it was regarded as a seasonal fishing base. However d'Iberville's devastating campaign had demonstrated the threat to the poorly undefended colony. The following year construction began on professionally engineered fortifications at Fort William
.
D'Iberville continued his battles with the English, with the Battle of Hudson's Bay
.
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
, led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1702 (probable)was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of...
, destroyed 23 English settlements along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
, Newfoundland in the span of three months. The campaign began with raiding Ferryland
Ferryland
Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2006 Statistics Canada census, its population is 529. Addresses in Ferryland use the alphanumerically lowest postal codes in Canada, starting with A0A....
on November 10, 1696 and continued along the coast until they raided the village of Heart's Content
Heart's Content, Newfoundland and Labrador
Heart's Content is an incorporated town in Trinity Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The natural harbour that makes up the town is located on the east side of Trinity Bay and it is built along the northeast side and the southeast base of this...
(See Map of the Campaign's raids and battles.)
Historical context
During this time period, the only French settlement on Newfoundland was PlaisancePlacentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Placentia is a town on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador, consisting of the amalgamated communities of Jerseyside, Townside, Freshwater, Dunville and Argentia...
. Prior to the arrival of Iberville, Newfoundland's French Governor de Brouillon ordered a French naval squadron under Chevalier Nesmond to lay siege to St. John's in retaliation for earlier English attacks. In 1694, Nesmond set sail from Plaisance to lay siege St. John's. This siege was unsuccessful. Two years later, however, the French made a second attempt. On September 12, 1696, Quebec's Governor Frontenac sent Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d'Iberville to Newfoundland. The previous August, d'Iberville had just been victorious in the Siege of Pemaquid
Siege of Pemaquid (1696)
The Siege of Pemaquid occurred during King William's War when French and Native forces from New France attacked the English settlement at Pemaquid , a community on the border with Acadia. The siege was led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin between August...
, on the coast of present-day Maine.
The campaign
The Newfoundland campaign involved a novel strategy: both a land and sea assault of the villages. D'Iberville attacked by land while Sieur de Brouillan supplied attacked by sea. D'Iberville's strategy of attacking the settlement by land was the first recorded in Newfoundland and, as a result, the port villages were only prepared for an assault by sea. D'Iberville left Placentia on All Saints' Day (November 1) with his detachment of 124 men; soldiers, Acadians, and Indians. It was an 80 kilometres (49.7 mi), nine-day march across the Avalon Peninsula.Siege of Ferryland
On September 9, Sieur de Brouillan began the Siege of Ferryland. D'Iberville arrived on November 10, the troops sacked FerrylandFerryland
Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2006 Statistics Canada census, its population is 529. Addresses in Ferryland use the alphanumerically lowest postal codes in Canada, starting with A0A....
. Meanwhile, the 110 people of Ferryland fled to Bay Bulls and set about fortifying it.
Raid on Cape Broyle
D'Iberville set out against Bay Bulls using the small boats he had taken in Ferryland. On his way Cape Broyle was captured on November 12.Raid on Bay Bulls
He then captured Bay Bulls on the 24th, including a 100-ton merchant ship.Raid on Petty Harbour
On November 24, after a three-hour march from Bay Bulls, d'Iberville he met up with his group of 20 scouts who had been sent to study the approaches to St. John's. Two days later, he encountered a detachment of 30 English soldiers posted on a hilltop near Petty Harbour. On November 26, d'Iberville charged and the enemy surrendered immediately. D'Iberville and his men were in command of the small port just eight kilometres south of St. John's. However, some colonists from Petty Harbour escaped to St. John's, where they alerted its residents.Siege of St. John's
As d'Iberville marched into St. John'sSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
from Petty Harbour, English residents marched out the Waterford Valley to meet and repel the French. A pitched battle occurred in the Waterford Valley (Burnt Wood) and on the Heights of Kilbride (Nov 28). Of the 88 English defenders, 34 died in the battle. The English broke ranks and hastily retreated to St. John's.
As d'Iberville approached St. John's, the English settlers scattered. Many sailed away, others escaped to the forests. A number of settlers and soldiers took refuge in Fort William. For three days the French laid siege to Fort William. On November 30, the English commander, Governor Miners, surrendered on condition that the English be allowed to leave St. John's. 230 men, women and children were sent off in a ship and duly arrived in Dartmouth, England. However a further 80 refugees were drowned when their ship foundered off the coast of Spain.
After destroying St. John's, the French marched on Torbay
Torbay
Torbay is an east-facing bay and natural harbour, at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south-west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Part of the ceremonial county of Devon, Torbay was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1998...
(Dec 2), Portugal Cove (Dec 5 and Jan 13). Internal struggles between de Brouillan and d'Iberville over the spoils of war followed. On December 25 when de Brouillan left for Plaisance. The French burnt 80 shallops in the harbour (Jan 2).
Raid on Conception Bay
The villages on Conception Bay were the next targets. HolyroodHolyrood, Newfoundland and Labrador
Holyrood is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 1, on Conception Bay. During King William's War, the village was destroyed in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign....
(Jan 19) was first followed by Harbour Main (Jan 20) and Port de Grave (Jan 23).
Battle of Carbonear
On January 24, 1697, two hundred permanent residents of Carbonear withdrew to Carbonear IslandCarbonear Island
thumb|Map of Fortification in 1750Carbonear Island is a small uninhabited island on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada. It is located at the mouth of Carbonear harbour...
and successfully fended off the French and Indian attack on January 31. D'Iberville had only 70 men, the rest were dispersed in local skirmishes, holding villages and prisoners.
Leaving Carbonear d'Iberville then attacked Old Perlican (Feb 4), Bay de Verde (Feb 6), Hants Harbour (Feb 7), New Perlican and Hearts Content
Heart's Content, Newfoundland and Labrador
Heart's Content is an incorporated town in Trinity Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The natural harbour that makes up the town is located on the east side of Trinity Bay and it is built along the northeast side and the southeast base of this...
(Feb 9). In many cases the local fishermen had fled to Carbonear. There was an unsuccessful attempt at a prisoner exchange (Feb 18). Frustrated, d'Iberville then sacked Brigus (Feb 11) and Port de Grave (Feb 11). Carbonear Island continued to hold out but d'Iberville torched their evacuated settlement on Feb 28 before leaving.
D'Iberville then headed to Heart's Content before walking in a small group across the Avalon Peninsula isthmus. He arrived March 4 at Plaisance. D'Iberville then picked up his spoils of war, his scattered troops and approximately 200 prisoners at Bay Boulle (Mar 18-May 18). French attacks by sea on the remnants of the settlements continued into the spring (Mar 27-Apr 19).
Aftermath
D'Iberville never returned to Newfoundland. These raids devastated the English settlements of Newfoundland. Every English settlement in Newfoundland had been destroyed and the English colony had been depopulated, except for BonavistaBonavista
-Geography:*Cape Bonavista, a headland in Newfoundland, Canada*Bonavista Peninsula, a peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, Canada*Bonavista Bay, a bay of the island of Newfoundland, Canada-Places:...
, which D'Iberville did not reach and the island holdout at Carbonear. Estimates of eighty percent of the families were killed, deserted the village, were taken prisoner or were deported.
However the English were able to recapture their Newfoundland territory in summer of 1697 with a strong relief force of 1500 troops. They found St. John's and all the English harbours on the Avalon abandoned, pillaged and every building destroyed. The English slowly began to rebuild and resettle. As a result of the campaign, the English government created permanent defences for Newfoundland. Previously the English had not built permanent fortifications or garrisons in Newfoundland as it was regarded as a seasonal fishing base. However d'Iberville's devastating campaign had demonstrated the threat to the poorly undefended colony. The following year construction began on professionally engineered fortifications at Fort William
Fort William, Newfoundland
Fort William was a fort in St. John's built in 1698 to protect English interests in Newfoundland, primarily against French opposition. It was the original headquarters of the British garrison in Newfoundland. A second fort, known as Fort George was situated at the east end of the harbour connected...
.
D'Iberville continued his battles with the English, with the Battle of Hudson's Bay
Battle of Hudson's Bay
The Battle of Hudson's Bay, also known as the Battle of York Factory, was a naval battle fought during the War of the Grand Alliance . The battle took place on 5 September 1697, when a French warship commanded by Captain Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville defeated an English squadron commanded by Captain...
.