Saint John River Campaign | |||||
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Part of French and Indian War | |||||
![]() Robert Monckton British commanders in the Saint John River Campaign. |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||
Robert Monckton George Scott Joseph Gorham Moses Hazen Benoni Danks Silvanus Cobb William Stark Jonathan Brewer John McCurdy † |
Joseph Bernard (Beausoliel) Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot Joseph Godin dit Bellefontaine Charles Germain |
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Units involved | |||||
40th Regiment of Foot Gorham's Rangers Danks' Rangers Roger's Rangers |
Acadia militia Wabanaki Confederacy (Maliseet militia and Mi'kmaq militia) |
The St. John River Campaign occurred during the French and Indian War when Colonel Robert Monckton led a force of 1150 British soldiers to destroy the Acadian settlements along the banks of the Saint John River until they reached the largest village of Sainte-Anne des Pays-Bas (present day Fredericton, New Brunswick) in February 1759. Monckton was accompanied by Captain George Scott as well as New England Rangers led by Joseph Goreham, Captain Benoni Danks, as well as William Stark and Moses Hazen, both of Rogers' Rangers.
Under the naval command of Silvanus Cobb, the British started at the bottom of the river with raiding Kennebecasis and Managoueche (City of Saint John), where the British built Fort Frederick. Then they moved up the river and raided Grimross (Gagetown, New Brunswick), Jemseg, and finally they reached Sainte-Anne des Pays-Bas.
The Acadian militia was led by French officer Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot and Acadian Joseph Godin dit Bellefontaine. There were about 100 Acadian families on the Saint John River, with a large concentration at Ste Anne. Most of them had taken refuge there from earlier deportation operations, such as the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign. There were also about 1000 Maliseet.