Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The Conquest Military Situations at the Start of the War Reinforcements from Europe It's War! The Anglo-American Attack General Braddock's Disaster General Dieskau's Defeat The Acadian Tragedy General Montcalm Takes Oswego Tensions Among the French Staff The British Invasion Strategy The French Take Fort William Henry The British Lay Siege to Louisbourg French Victory at Ticonderoga The Invasion of the Ohio Valley A Change in Tactics General Mobilization in Canada The Siege of Quebec The Battle of the Plains of Abraham Quebec Surrenders Other Fronts The War Continues in Canada The Battle of Sainte-Foy The Arrival of Reinforcements The Final Invasion The Surrender The Fate of the Canadian Officers The Military Regime England Wins the War The Treaty of Paris CHAPTER 2 The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 CHAPTER 5 Demobilization CHAPTER 6 The Royal Navy, Ruler of the Seas CHAPTER 7 A Decade of Turbulence APPENDIX A The British Armed Forces APPENDIX B Daily Life of Soldiers and Officers APPENDIX C Uniforms and Arms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 1 The Conquest           The British Invasion Strategy ( 2 pages )           1 2      A New Prime Minister, a New Strategy                Map of the conquest of Canada 1758-1760. (Click image to enlarge) In reality, it was in England, and not in France or Quebec, that the fate of New France would be decided.  In December 1756 the new government of William Pitt considerably changed the manner in which the war was being waged.  The British Prime Minister was a talented, energetic and visionary man who was convinced that the wealth and glory of his country lay not in Europe but overseas.  He therefore convinced King George II to launch a major war effort in North America, where, contrary to any logic, a few tens of thousands of French colonists and soldiers kept more than a million English inhabitants huddled along the Atlantic coast.  Only one solution seemed possible to deal with New France: large-scale invasion. This was of course not the first attempt at an invasion of Canada, but this time a strategy was formulated, considerable resources were made available and resolve was greatly strengthened.  The commanding officer of the Anglo-American forces, John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, was an excellent officer who had been the King's aide-de-camp.  A clever diplomat, he began by instilling harmony in the often turbulent relations between British and American officers, because in New England, as in New France, the British officers tended to show contempt for their colonial counterparts.  Unlike Montcalm, Loudoun understood that such an attitude could only compromise success.  He also recognized the value of the tactics used by the Canadians, and, to ensure that the British army would be able to appropriate them, was in favour of raising a light infantry corps and rangers.           Additional Images           Click image to enlarge      1 2   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices