FRASERS
at
The
FORTRESS of LOUISBOURG
A Photographic
Essay In Six Parts
The year was
1758. On one side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the tragic aftermath of
the battle of Culloden, the Scots had been denied the right to bear
arms and even the right to wear their traditional highland dress,
under the Act of 1746. For his clan's part in the battle that cost
his nation so dearly, Simon Fraser, the Old Fox, Chief of the Frasers
of Lovat was beheaded and his lands and titles forfeit.
On the opposite
side of the ocean stood the Fortress of Louisbourg, third largest
port in North America at the time. Founded by the Sun King, Louis XIV
in 1713 on Cape Breton Island, she guarded the mouth of the St.
Lawrence River and the French Colonies in Quebec. She had fallen
once, in 1745, to the forces of New England, but now rearmed and
refortified she was a powerful force and a symbol of French might.
However, there was soon to be a Wolfe at her door.
Impressed by the
skill and courage of the Scots at Culloden, Brigadier General James
Wolfe was instrumental in persuading the British to allow Simon
Fraser of Lovat, son of the Old Fox, to raise a regiment from his own
and neighbouring clans. While the majority of the men he raised were
not Frasers, they were
the cream of the Highland gentry and many of their clansmen. These
men would be allowed to wear their traditional dress and the
opportunity to regain the Lovat title became a possibility for Simon.
Originally named the 63rd Highland Regiment of Foot, but changed to
the 78th shortly after their landing in America, they were more
commonly known as the Fraser Highlanders.
More
Home
Sign
My Guest book 
View
My Guest book