The New Hampshire Gazette

HALIFAX, June 29.

On Tuesday last arrived here his Majesty's Ship Defiance, Capt. Baird, and Frigate Boreas, Capt. Boyle, from the Fleet and Army under the Command of Admiral Boscawen, now on the Expedition against Louisbourg; and by Letters from Gentlemen there to others here, we have the following agreeable Intelligence, viz.

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman on board the Namure, dated June 11, 1758.

Knowing your Eyes are all turn'd on us, and that you are impatient to hear how we go on; I take the first Opportunity to inform you, that our Troops are all landed in spite of the Enemy, who had fortified every Place where they thought it practicable for us to Land, immense Breast Works and flanking Cannon, one a 24 pounder, the rest not under 6 pounders; on the Breast-work every 100 yards, were placed large Swivels of 2 pound Ball: It was a Place not to be forc'd, if those that were to defend it had done their Duty.

As our Boats drew near the shore they made a most infernal Fire, which, join'd to a terrible Surf, threw our Troops into some Confusion, 'till some of the light Infantry, that were in light Boats on our Flanks, clamber'd up the Rocks which the French thought impracticable, and drove them from their Lines, and gave us an Opportunity to land our Grenadiers, tho' with the utmost Difficulty, having overset several of our Boats; one in particular sunk with the Lieutenant and 18 Grenadiers of General Amherst's Regiment, who were all drowned:

As soon as our troops got Footing, they met with no Resistance, the French flying before them, left their Tents, Provisions, and Ammunition entirely to us: we took Nine pieces of Cannon, two Mortars, Numbers of Swivels, Powder and Shot great Quantities, with a Furnace to beat red hot Shot.

It's imagin'd our whole Loss does not amount to 200 Men. Poor Bailey of the Highland Grenadiers, and his Lieutenant, are killed: Of our Corps (the Navy) there was 4 Lieutenants wounded, but only one dangerously, who is first Lieutenant of the Nottingham. There was kill'd amongst the French, three Officers, and an Indian Chief; but what Number in all we can't tell, as they took to the Woods and were there demolish'd by our Rangers and Highlanders. We have about 40 Prisoners, who all agree there is in the Garrison about 4500 Regulars, and 6 Sail of the Line and 3 Frigates in the Harbour: they have blown up the Grand and Lighthouse Batteries, as We are informed by Deserters, which General Wolf with 2000 Men takes possession of to morrow Morning. Sir Charles Hardy is at Anchor with 8 Sail of the Line off the Harbour's Mouth. we are all in high Spirits, and only want a little Fresh Stock, which is very backward in coming to us.--In the above Account I have not descended to minute things; must refer you to the Boreas for that."

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in the present Expedition against Louisbourg, dated at Gabarous, June 16.

I am to inform you, that our People landed the 8th Inst. with much less Loss than could be expected: They had the Strength of the Garrison of Louisbourg to oppose their landing, and such strong Entrenchments, with immense Breast Works and flanking Cannon, one a 24 pounder, the rest not under 6 pounders, and on the Breast-work, every 100 Yards, were placed large Swivels of 2 pound Ball. &c. as astonish'd the most knowing in these Matters; but notwithstanding of which, our Men drove the Enemy from all their Holds in less than a quarter of an Hour after their Landing, kill'd a great many, and took above 100 Prisoners. Our loss is not great, only two Officers of the Highland Regiment killed. of the Navy, there was four Lieutenants wounded, but only one dangerously, who is first Lieutenant of the Nottingham.

We are inform'd, that the Highlanders, according to their usual Bravery, fell upon the French in their Entrenchments, with their Broad Swords, on which they immediately fled: and had it been possible for the main Body of the Army to have join'd them, they would have taken the Town Sword in Hand.--

Col. Fraser and the other Officers of his Regiment behaved with great Spirit and Bravery.--By other Advices we are informed, that our Forces had got possession of the Hill between the City and the Grand Battery (where Titcomb's Battery was erected at in the last Siege) without any Loss, where they had erected a Battery of 60 battering Cannon, and 24 Mortars. That they had also replanted the Cannon at the Grand and Light-House Batteries, and from whence they had dismasted all the Ships in the Harbour, which will effectually prevent their running away, as they have heretofore prov'd nimble heel'd Gentlemen, going sometimes three Feet to our one.

We hope in our next to give an Account of the Surrender of the Place, as we are informed by the last Vessels from thence, that there was nothing to be seen or heard but FIRE and SMOKE.