Action of 14 July 1696
Encyclopedia
The Action of 14 July 1696 was a naval battle between France
and England
toward the end of King Williams War in the Bay of Fundy
off present-day Saint John, New Brunswick
. The English ships were sent from Boston to interrupt the supplies being taken by French officer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
from Quebec to the capital of Acadia, Fort Nashwaak (Fredericton, New Brunswick
) on the Saint John River. The French ships of war Envieux and Profond captured the English frigate Newport ( 24 guns), while the England frigate Sorlings (34 guns) and a provincial tender escaped.
, the New England stronghold in present-day Maine
. D'Iberville sailed from Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
to Quebec City
, where he took on board eighty troops and Canadians; then proceeded to Louisbourg, Cape Breton and embarked thirty Mi'kmaq, and departed for the St. John River.
Commander Simon-Pierre Denys de Bonaventure
, captain of the French ship Profond masked her warlike character, keeping her ports closed until within musket shot. Both English vessels open fired on the French ships. Bonaventure opened the ports on the Profond and the English ships kept windward, (ticnnent le vent), and realizing they were out gunned, endeavoured to escape. The Profond tried to gain the wind on them, and the D'Iberville in the Envieux followed, contending with stormy weather.
D'Iberville, in the Envieux, fired upon the English frigate Newport, under the command of Captain Paxen, dismasting her. The prize falling astern, came almost aboard the bows of the Envieux, and lowered her flag. M. d'Iberville left her to be manned by M. de Bonaventure, who gave her to Baptiste to take her to the river St. John, at which place he almost lost her among the rocks where she run aground.
D'Iberville in the Envieux continued to chase the larger ship the Sorlings, under the command of Captain Eames. The shot of the French ship passed beyond the chase, but night and fog closed their combat, which had lasted three hours, and the English ship escaped.
). While at St. John he repaired the Newport and added the ship to his fleet. At Penobscot, where they arrived August 7th, they found Villieu and Montigny with 25 Canadians, Thury [Father], St. Castin
[Sr.] and three hundred Indians waiting for them. On the 14th August, D'Iberville led them all in the Siege of Pemaquid (1696)
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
toward the end of King Williams War in the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
off present-day Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
. The English ships were sent from Boston to interrupt the supplies being taken by French officer 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...
from Quebec to the capital of Acadia, Fort Nashwaak (Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
) on the Saint John River. The French ships of war Envieux and Profond captured the English frigate Newport ( 24 guns), while the England frigate Sorlings (34 guns) and a provincial tender escaped.
Background
In 1696, King William's war was in its seventh year. D'Iberville was about to engaged in the Siege of Pemaquid (1696)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...
, the New England stronghold in present-day Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. D'Iberville sailed from Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...
to Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, where he took on board eighty troops and Canadians; then proceeded to Louisbourg, Cape Breton and embarked thirty Mi'kmaq, and departed for the St. John River.
Battle
On the 14 July, five leagues from St. John River, D'Iberville cast anchor in the fog. At 2:00 the fog began to clear and the French ships could see the three English vessels to windward, bearing directly for the river St. John. When they were one league off, the English observed the French vessels, and bore down on them.Commander Simon-Pierre Denys de Bonaventure
Simon-Pierre Denys de Bonaventure
Simon-Pierre Denys de Bonaventure was an officer in the colonial troupes de la marine of New France and was heavily involved with the events of Acadia from 1685 until his death...
, captain of the French ship Profond masked her warlike character, keeping her ports closed until within musket shot. Both English vessels open fired on the French ships. Bonaventure opened the ports on the Profond and the English ships kept windward, (ticnnent le vent), and realizing they were out gunned, endeavoured to escape. The Profond tried to gain the wind on them, and the D'Iberville in the Envieux followed, contending with stormy weather.
D'Iberville, in the Envieux, fired upon the English frigate Newport, under the command of Captain Paxen, dismasting her. The prize falling astern, came almost aboard the bows of the Envieux, and lowered her flag. M. d'Iberville left her to be manned by M. de Bonaventure, who gave her to Baptiste to take her to the river St. John, at which place he almost lost her among the rocks where she run aground.
D'Iberville in the Envieux continued to chase the larger ship the Sorlings, under the command of Captain Eames. The shot of the French ship passed beyond the chase, but night and fog closed their combat, which had lasted three hours, and the English ship escaped.
Aftermath
On July 15, 1696, the day after the battle, D'Iberville entered Saint John Harbour. After discharging stores for capital of Acadia at Fort Nashwaak, D'Iberville took on board 50 more Mi'kmaq and Pere Simon on August 2, 1696, set sail for Penobscot (present-day Castine, MaineCastine, Maine
Castine is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States and was once the capital of Acadia . The population was 1,343 at the 2000 census. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, a four-year institution that graduates officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and marine...
). While at St. John he repaired the Newport and added the ship to his fleet. At Penobscot, where they arrived August 7th, they found Villieu and Montigny with 25 Canadians, Thury [Father], St. Castin
Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin
Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin was a French military officer serving in Acadia and an Abenaki chief. He is the father of two prominent sons who were also military leaders in Acadia, Bernard-Anselme and Joseph...
[Sr.] and three hundred Indians waiting for them. On the 14th August, D'Iberville led them all in the Siege of Pemaquid (1696)
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...
.