Battle of Fort Bull

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Fort Bull
partof=the French and Indian War


caption=
date=March 27, 1756
place=Rome, New York
result=French victory
combatant1=France
combatant2=Britain
commander1=Captain Chaussegros de Léry
commander2=Lieutenant Bull†
strength1=84 regulars
166 militia
90 Iroquois
20 Huron
strength2=111
casualties1=1 dead,
2 wounded
casualties2=76 dead,
35 taken prisoner|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.

References

* Gilbert Hagerty, "Massacre at Fort Bull", 1971, Mowbray Company

External links

* [http://www.cmhg.gc.ca/cmh/en/page_232.asp?flash=1 CHAPTER 1 The Conquest: The Acadian Tragedy]
* [http://web.syr.edu/~laroux/history/hist_4.html 1755-The French and Indian War: History Part IV]