The Virginia Gazette Domestic News June 27, 1745

BOSTON, June 3.

On Thursday last arrived here Capt. Smith in a Transport with Expresses in 8 Days from Lieut. General Pepperel and Commodore Warren; by whom also came Letters from most of the Officers in the present Expedition against Cape Breton, from which we learn, That since the last Account, our Forces had made their Approaches so near the Town of Louisburg, as to have completed a Fascine Battery of 42 and 18 Pounders within 200 Yards of the West Gate; with which they had annoyed the Enemy's Works, so that they had beat down the Draw-bridge before the Gate, and almost the whole Gate, as also the Parapet of the Demi-Lune Battery fronting that Way, and had got a considerable Breach there, so that they had a fair View into the Town; where though they could observe the Enemy at work in raising a Fascine Battery within the Gate against them, they kept such an incessant firing, and so successfully, they doubted not of soon having such a Breach, as would render that Place easy of Assault. — We also learn, That they had on the North Side of the Harbour fronting the Magazine and Demi-Lune on that Side, raised another Fascine Battery, and had got some 42 Pounders already there, and began to play them on the Town and Battery the Day that Capt. Smith came away, which being within a Point Blank Shot, must not only damage the said Battery and Town on that Side, but much annoy the Enemy in the Works they are carrying on within to hinder our Approaches at the West Gate; so that the Town was now exposed to five continual Fires, which had beat down many Houses, with the Roofs, &c. of the principal Ones, and in that Way done as much Damage as could be expected. — We farther have sure Intelligence, that our People in reconnoitering the Harbour, Shores, &c. had discovered a Number of Cannon on the Light-house Side of the Harbour, in the Water just below Low-water Mark; which it is supposed were designed for a Battery to be built at the Light-house this Year: But upon Discovery of our Fleet, tumbled down the Precipice into the Sea, to prevent their falling into our Hands; but that notwithstanding they were exposed to the Island-Battery, our People had weighed and got up most of them; for the Security of which and the building a Fascine Battery there, there was a proper Detachment posted; but to prevent the Recovery of these Cannon the Enemy had sallied from the Town, and about 100 of them in Boats landed on the Light-house Point, who were no sooner on Shore, but a Party of ours got betwixt them and their Boats, so that they flew immediately to the Woods for Shelter, their Return to the Town being impossible; one of those was taken Prisoner, who proved to be a Seaman belonging to a Snow from France, that got into the Harbour in a Fog, undiscovered by our Cruizers, from whom they got Intelligence, that an Armament was coming from Brest to reinforce that Place, and proceed to Annapolis, consisting of 3 Men of War, a 70 Gun Ship, two 56 Guns, and two Company Ships of 36 Guns each. — And we have further certain Accounts, that on the 18th ult. the Mermaid, Capt. Douglas, a 40 Gun Ship, and the Shirley Galley, Capt. Rouse, one of our Cruizers, fell in with a French Man of War, and engaged her, the former Broadside and Broadside; and the latter being too small to lay along-side, and going well, annoyed her astern, or ahead, or on the Quarter, as he could best; and as she proved a Ship of Force, they knowing how the Commodore bore of them, fought and sailed till they fell in with him and the Fleet; but Night coming on, it was 9 o'Clock before the Commodore got along-side near enough to engage, when after two or three Broadsides she struck and asked for Quarters, and was the next Day secured; she is called the Vigilant, a new Ship, never having been at Sea before, of 64 Guns, and 560 Men, and was commanded by the Marquis du Maisonfort; but the Command of her is now given by the Commodore to Capt. Douglas, who so gallantly engaged her in the Mermaid, and the Command of the Mermaid to Mr. Montague. It is unknown of what Consequence the Caption of this Ship is, as she proves to be laden with Warlike Stores of all Sorts for the supporting a Siege, reinforcing their Fortifications, and the supplying of the Indians, amongst which are a great Number of heavy Cannon, with their Materials, besides Small-Arms, Bomb-Shells, Cohorns, &c. even down to an Indian Hatchet; and exclusive of the Ship's Provision, 1000 half Barrels of Gun-powder; 'tis also said, she has on board 3 Years Pay, and all the Cloathing for the Garrisons at Cape Breton and Canada; and as there is a good Look-out for the Remainder of those Ships, 'tis not doubted but they will meet the same Fate.

The Vigilant, in her Passage from France, had taken two large Ships from South-Carolina, laden with Rice, for London, which were also expected soon after them, they having parted with them but a few Days before. After this Ship was taken, she was with a great Number of Flags of all Sorts, in Procession towed across the Entrance of the Harbour by the Mermaid, in View of the Town, into Chappeaurouge-Bay; and as the Enemy's Dependance must have been on the Arrival of these Ships, seeing of their Commodore taken must intimidate them much: There is a Person of Distinction on board, but whether it be a new Governor, or M. Duvivier in Disguise, was not discovered when Capt. Smith came away. — We farther have certain Intelligence, that the Princess Mary, Capt. Edwards, had joined the Fleet the Day of Capt. Smith's Departure, and that he also met the Hector, Capt. Cornwall, off Forchette, about 4 Leagues from Chappeaurogue, the next Day, bound down along with a fair Wind; so that the Fleet consists now of the Superbe and Princess Mary, of 60 Guns each, the Mermaid, Launceston, Eltham, and Hector, of 40 Guns each, the Bien Amie, 24 Guns, and three 20 Gun Ships, three Snows of 20 Guns, one Brig. and the Rhode-Island and Connecticut Colony Sloops, all well manned and fitted; which it is not to be supposed any Force will come from France equal to this Year; besides we hear the Commodore expects also three other Ships of War to join him from Newfoundland; which, with the Ships expected to Annapolis, Piscataqua, &c. with Stores, it is not doubted will protect our Northern Colonies from any Invasion this Year. — We learn further, That the Fluxes that had got amongst our People were over. — That the Army was in a general good Health, and high Spirits. — That since the last Account, we had lost but two Men killed at one of our Batteries, and one wounded with the Loss of a Leg. — That the Lieut. General and Commodore had determined upon Measures of prosecuting (as soon as Affairs were in a proper Disposition for that Purpose) some more vigorous Attack, of which we hope shortly to have a good Account. — That two of the Men of War and Capt. Snelling have taken in one of the Eastern Harbours a Ship from France laden with Stores and Provisions, with 27 Men; and the Rhode-Island Sloop has taken a Brig. from France, laden with Provisions, &c. both which Vessels confirm the Account of an Armament coming from Brest.