The French took possession of Fort William — near where a building of the same name still stands — June 29.
Given the ease he obtained the fort, de Ternay changed the plan. He was going to stay in St. John’s.
The French began adding to the fortification of St. John’s.
They also started deporting livyers, because they didn’t have the resources to feed or manage them.
Towards the end of July, the British Navy’s North American commander-in-chief realized what was happening. So, in August, Rear Admiral Alexander Colville sailed a squadron from Halifax and set up outside The Narrows.
They were followed a few days later by 1,159 experienced soliders under the command of Lt.-Col. William Amherst.
“They weren’t messing around,” Martin says of the British deployment.
Cont'd...
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