The Newfoundland Campaign was conducted by the British against the seven French ports and fishing fleet off northern

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

at the opening of

King George's War King George's War (1744–1748) is the name given to the military operations in North America that formed part of the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). It was the third of the four French and Indian Wars. It took place primarily in t ...

. The British were led by Captain Robert Young of and Captain

John Rous John Rous (21 May 1702 – 3 April 1760) was a privateer and then an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during King George's War and the French and Indian War. Rous was also the senior naval officer on the Nova Scotia station during Father L ...

of ''Young Eagle'' (16 carriage, 24 swivel guns, 100 men).

Historical Context

French colonolists and their recruited militias had attacked British villages in Newfoundland in the fall of 1727.

Campaign

In June 1744, Rous captured five prizes off Newfoundland and returned them to St. John's on June 29. In the first 12 days of July, Rous caught 9 more prizes on the Grand Banks. By the end of July, Rous arrived in port at Ferryland with seven more ships. Rous then arrived in St. John's again with another 12 prizes. On August 18, Rous with three other vessels (one under the command of Capt. Robert Cleves) attacked 5 ships of the French fleet at Fishott (Fishroad). The conflict lasted 5.5 hours. The French killed 11 of the British crew and wounded over 30. Rous estimated the French casualties were double this number and 70 were taken prisoner. Rous then moved on to St. Julien's where there was strong resistance but Rous was able to capture 3 ships. He then attacked Carrous (also known as Carpoon and

Quirpon Island Quirpon Island is a small Canadian island off the northeastern tip of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located at the southeastern edge of the Strait of Belle Isle, south of Belle Isle. ...

Afterward

The following year the Mi’kmaq militia from Ile Royal raided various British outposts in Newfoundland in August 1745. They attacked several houses, taking 23 prisoners. The following spring the Mi’kmaq began to take 12 of the prisoners to a rendez-vous point close to St. John's, en route to Quebec. The prisoners managed to overpower and kill their captors at the rendez-vous site near St. John and escaped. Two days later, another group of Mi’kmaq took the remaining 11 prisoners to the same rendez-vous point. Discovering the fate of their fellow captors, the other Mi’kmaq killed the remaining 11 prisoners.

References

{{reflist History of Newfoundland and Labrador Battles of King George's War 1744 in military history 18th century in Newfoundland