expedition expedition series military raids lucrative fur trading posts fortifications shores squadron setting sail expedition global naval war france great_britain american revolutionary war operating secret orders france marine minister sailed arrived prince early august fort surrendered fight stored york spirited away company ship evaded french fleet british prisoners sloop sailed england men fleet sailed minimal winter maintain secrecy suffered diseases hardships finances suffered raid contributed reductions native population business company background captain french_navy proposed idea expedition fur trading posts french minister ports visit france late france marine minister king approved plan issued secret orders fleet commander served event opportunity presented expedition idea organize small fleet secret rapid possible journey north newport rhode_island boston massachusetts northerly ports north_america open french ships duties campaign season provide chances exercise secret orders aftermath disastrous french loss april battle presented opportunity france spain planning assault jamaica losses incurred battle including capture admiral paul flagship paris led expedition arrival battle raised idea successor approved plan provided ships ship line guns frigates command paul led lieutenant preparations expedition carried secretly french aware short season far north ships crews officers informed fleet destination seeking avoid suspicion avoided carrying cold weather clothing admiral recorded fleet destination records france possible stops newport boston given sealed orders opened reaching latitude nova scotia fleet took regular infantry gunners field guns mortars troops told sent supplement french army newport weeks preparation fleet sailed expedition fleet reached entrance incident july proceeded sailing bay fleet encountered company ship making sail wales sent frigates chase captain behavior french ship lacked good charts bay escaped ruse gave orders sails preparing anchor prompted french captain believing shallow waters lie ahead actually drop anchor raised sails sped raise anchor prince wales fort august arrived prince impressive stone fortress defended civilians governor surrendered fort firing shot size french force evident day despite requests men allow french troops heavy guns loaded ships fort guns french proceeded premises according french took beaver skins spent days trying destroy fort able destroy gun mounts damage upper prisoners aboard company sloop anchored fort taken aboard french ships incorporated french crews york factory collected company small boats sailed company outpost peninsula august according report arrived area leagues miles york august fort defenses faced company ship anchored fast flowing approach impractical face opposition sailed mouth nelson moved troops smaller company ships august prepare amphibious landing plan approaching fort rear distance miles proceeded engineer discovered smaller boats difficulty approaching proper land small boat mud tide freed morning captain proposed major commander troops cross muddy foot troops set unknown conditions improved marginally land reached spent days reach fort returned fleet bad weather threatening safety fleet frigates lost anchors sharp rocks underwater cut cables turbulent conditions occupied white men indians french ships spotted governor loaded trade goods king george fall french hands french arrived august surrendered fort sent frigate king george sailed night fleet arrival captain successfully pursuit superior knowledge shallow waters bay major took british garrison prisoner destroyed goods burned wooden fort ground careful preserve supplies use indians came fort trade acts kindness treatment captives brought recognition british government learn capitulation august continuing bad weather difficulties frigates meant effect junction august terms capitulation included surrender small outpost chose actually account season poor condition ships men suffering process loading goods supplies fleet small boats overturned men drowned aftermath began journey atlantic far cape resolution cut loose way england sailed sail brest deliver news expedition success paris expedition took tremendous toll ships crews time ships returned europe men original complement including land troops fit work men died suffered deaths sick ships suffered damage cold weather ice received promotion arrival brest late october according company goods taken prince wales worth raid damaged company finances paid peace finally came treaty paris french agreed compensate company losses raid permanent damage company trading relationships traded company suffered severely company inability provision ongoing smallpox epidemic indian populations north_america lost half population estimates company inability trade season drove survivors develop trading relationships montreal sanctioned company surrendering returned posts following year french took prince found journal claimed prize journal contained accounts northern reaches north_america pleaded return request granted condition published intended publish unclear year death prepared manuscript submitted publication published journey fort hudson bay rewarded rise pay exploit drew popular acclaim europe north_america major assignment lead voyage exploration pacific_ocean fleet served second command seen vicinity australia spring remnants expedition found fate unknown
Hudson Bay expedition