|
English Colonies |
France vs England |
Fur Trade |
HBC | The Mississippi
| Le Petite Guerre
| Containment |
New France
| Preparations |
War |
Treaty of Paris
When the Seven Years
War broke out in 1756, France had decided that it would
it's major military efforts would take place in the
European theatre while New France would adopt a
defensive strategy and hope to make major gains at the
peace treaty table in North America.
General Louis Joseph Marquis de Montcalm
was dispatched to New France to replace the successful
Dieskau. He was to shape the French regular troops and
the Canadian colonists into an effective force that
could resist the expected English attacks. The challenge
facing Montcalm was to defend the traditional areas of
New France which were all accessible by sea, along the
St Lawrence or through the chain of lakes and rivers
from New York to Quebec City. Quebec City quickly became
a wartime city overflowing with French regulars,
Canadian Militia and native warriors.
Montcalm quickly realized that the best
defence would be a threatening offense through Lake
Champlain towards New York. This would force the English
into an interior battle where British Naval supremacy
could not be brought to bear. This would also emphasis
the guerrilla nature of the warfare which could drag out
the war and avoid an all conclusive battle over
the New France homeland. Louisbourg, and Quebec City
could both be attacked by the Royal Navy and New France
had to avoid this confrontation for as long as possible.
Quebec City and Louisbourg were also mighty fortresses
and it was hoped that their imposing appearance might in
itself deter the dangerous attack by the British at the
heart of New France. |
