siege port royal siege port royal separate attempts english colonists new_england conquer roughly present day canadian provinces nova scotia new_brunswick capturing capital port royal attempts colonial militia led men inexperienced siege warfare led governor daniel french troops port royal easily attempts assisted irregular confederacy outside fort siege began june lasted days english colonel able establish positions near port royal fort engineer claimed necessary cannons landed force withdrew amid disagreements war council second siege began august able establish secure camps owing spirited defensive sorties organized governor daniel siege attempts viewed boston expedition leaders return port royal captured larger force included british_army troops capture marked end french rule background port royal capital french colony french began settling area consequently focal point conflict english french colonists century destroyed english raiders led eventually rebuilt captured forces restored france treaty french preparations outbreak war spanish succession colonists sides prepared conflict governor anticipation war begun construction stone earth fort largely completed following french raid massachusetts frontier february english boston organized raid following led raided communities english french accounts differ church expedition mounted attack port royal church account indicates anchored harbour considered making attack ultimately decided idea french accounts claim minor attack daniel governor went offensive encouraging indian raids english targets new_england encouraged port royal english colonial shipping highly effective english fishing fleet reduced percent english coastal communities raided new_england preparations english merchants boston long traded port royal activity continued war began merchants notably closely associated governor outrage began growing colonial assembly matter chose deal allegations going london press case military expedition previously requested support response chose demonstrate anti french sentiment organizing expedition port royal colonial resources march revived idea developed called provincial militia man expedition supported resources royal_navy locally available proposal approved assembly march colonial popular opinion divided need expedition ministers argued favour pulpit pray god carry people massachusetts raised regiments totalling nearly men new_hampshire provided men rhode_island provided company indians recruited recruiting difficult massachusetts lack enthusiasm authorities forced draft men fill ranks connecticut asked contribute expedition declined citing bad feelings return port royal treaty capture force placed command massachusetts colonel totalled soldiers sailors carried fleet ships including gun man war command captain gun colonial march took prisoner translator siege english fleet arrived outside channel port royal harbour june troops landed day governor defence force time consisted marine reinforced recent arrival command recently built frigate hours english arrival welcomed led young soon english ships spotted called local militia men colonel march landed men north fort south command colonel goal establishing siege line fort forces landed far fort spent rest day marching sent small force south morning 8th driven fort led larger contingent north established ambush river march force cross sharp battle horse shot defenders pushed fort established camps miles fort sent parties fort harass english foraging parties giving rise rumors additional militia forces route northern english managed advance lines closer fort engineer colonel believe expedition heavy cannons landed safely pass command fort led disagreements march spelled end expedition final assault june french accounts describe failed attempt fort english accounts merely attempt destroy buildings outside fort expedition embarked ships sailed 17th march directed fleet sail near present day portland maine interlude colonel march sent letter boston laid blame expedition failure news failure preceded met arrival crowd women children colonel able convince governor acted orders blame generally attached march failure issued orders march fleet stay men remaining aboard penalty death council considered step eventually sent reinforcements man commission including militia lawyer military experience oversee affairs ordered expedition second attack despite orders fleet high forces reduced sailed port royal late august colonel march resigned expedition command replaced colonel governor second attempt erected additional defenses attackers approaches reinforced arrival french frigate command crew added defences captured prize ships brought provided needed provisions fort second siege english fleet arrived near port royal august landed troops miles south fort day marched position mile north fort area march previously camped areas near thrown additional defensive earthworks august sent detachment clear path heavy cannon attempt repulsed forces sent harass guerrilla style tactics fire fort cannons forced english retreat camp defeat apparently significant effect english morale wrote camp surrounded enemies judging unsafe proceed service company men probably clash english party cutting brush ambushed french indian force party killed situation got bad english camp 27th withdrew camp protected ships guns camp properly fortified constantly subjected attacks french indians second landing point august led soldiers fort men engaged hand hand combat fought axes musket men wounded killed day september english ships sailed boston french reports claimed killed men english sources claim killed wounded siege aftermath expedition return boston met commissioners called port royal champions reports affair pointing plantations port royal destroyed refused inquiries expedition failure fearing blame placed concerned british return following year worked strengthen fortifications port royal built small warship assist colony defenses convinced raid new_england shipping successful end port royal prisoners captured prizes ultimately helped save port royal attack france failed send significant support british mobilized larger better organized forces support boston merchants new_england fishing community successfully lobbied military support expedition conquer new france prompted colonists expectation troops arrive england efforts aborted promised military support failed returned england aftermath secured promises military support attempt port royal summer fleet arrived boston carrying marines augmented colonial regiments force successfully captured port royal siege
Siege of Port Royal (1707)