Battle of Fort Bull

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Fort Bull
Part of the French and Indian War
Date March 27, 1756 Location Rome, New York Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Britain
Commanders
Captain Chaussegros de Léry	Lieutenant Bull†
Strength
84 regulars 166 militia 90 Iroquois 20 Huron	111
Casualties and losses
1 dead, 2 wounded	76 dead, 35 taken prisoner

v • d • e Seven Years' War in North America: The French and Indian War Jumonville Glen – Great Meadows – Fort Beauséjour – Monongahela – Lake George - Fort Bull - Fort Oswego - Kittanning – Fort William Henry – Bloody Creek - Louisbourg - German Flatts - Fort Carillon – Fort Frontenac - Fort Duquesne – Fort Ligonier – Ticonderoga – La Belle-Famille - Fort Niagara – Beauport – Quebec – Sainte-Foy – Restigouche - Thousand Islands – Signal Hill

The Battle of Fort Bull was a French attack on the British-held Fort Bull on March 27, 1756.

Lt. Gaspard Joseph Chaussegros de Lery led his command consisting of troops of Les Compagnies de la Marine, Canadian militia and Indian allies on an attack on Fort Bull on March 27, 1756. Shielded by trees they sneaked up to within one hundred yards of the fort. Suddenly, against orders, the Indians let out a war cry and de Lery ordered a charge at the fort with bayonets. They stuck their muskets into the narrow openings in the fort and shot the defenders. de Lery repeatedly asked for their surrender. Finally, the gate was crashed in and the French and Indians swarming in killed everyone they saw. The French soldiers looted what they could and set the powder magazines on fire. The fort was burned to the ground.

A scout warned of a relief party from the nearly Fort William. The French retreated back to Canada with some of the defenders as prisoner. A relief force under Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet arrived far too late. William Johnson reported "all were inhumanly butchered and all scalped."

The star-shaped wood stockade with four interior buildings was rebuilt in May-August 1756 as Fort Wood Creek. Fort Wood Creek was destroyed by the British in August 1756 when reports of another French force was received.

[edit] References

• Gilbert Hagerty, Massacre at Fort Bull, 1971, Mowbray Company

[edit] External links

• CHAPTER 1 The Conquest: The Acadian Tragedy
• 1755-The French and Indian War: History Part IV