Louis XIV Starts War

After the death of the Spanish King, Charles II, Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip, took the throne. Having Spain on his side, Louis XIV began his European expansion by cutting off Spanish trade to England and the Netherlands. Through this action, England and the Netherlands rose up against him and the War of the Spanish Succession begun.

French and Indians vs New England Colonist and Britain

Across the Atlantic Ocean in the American colonies, another war was brewing. This was Queen Anne’s War. Still wanting to expand their ownership in the colonies, the French encouraged the Abenakis to attack the border settlements. New England colonist refused to let the French and Indian forces destroy their homes. They designed their own plan and successfully attacked the French settlements of Minas and Beaubassin in Nova Scotia.

On February 29, 1704, the French, along with their Indian allies, attacked Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 53 men, women, and children. They took approximately 100 prisoners. In retaliation, the colonist attempted twice to take Port Royal, Nova Scotia, but failed. After pleas to the English Crown, British ships arrived in the Massachusetts port.

British Ships Leave for Port Royal

In September 18, 1710, forty ships left Boston and headed to Port Royal. After arriving through the narrow waterway of Port Royal, the French began hurling canon balls at them. Colonel Francis Nicholson wanting to arrange the ships and his men strategically continued to move towards the fort. Once the ships and his men were within artillery range they began to fire back at the French. On September 29, the British bombarded the French fort with canon fire.