Battle of Placentia (1692)



The Battle of Placentia (1692) was fought between the English and the French at Fort St. Louis (Castle Hill) in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador during King William's War. The battle happened from September 16 until September 21, 1692.

Historical context
In order to protect the bay, there was one fort erected, Fort Plaisance (1662) (also known as Vieux Fort) between 1662-1690.

During King William's War, on 25 February 1690, 45 British freebooters from Ferryland led by Herman Williamson attacked Plaisance by land. After killing two soldiers and wounding governor Louis de Pastour de Costebelle, they took possession of the town and destroyed the fort. The population was imprisoned in the church for six weeks, until the English left on 5 April with the colony's supplies.

The French replaced former Fort Plaisance with Fort Saint-Louis (1691), with 50 French soldiers.

Battle
On September 16, five English vessels anchored just outside of the range of the French canons at Placentia. An estimated 500 disembarked from the ships to go ashore. On September 18, Commodore Thomas Gillam (Williams) of the HMS St. Albans called upon Governor Jacques-François de Monbeton de Brouillan to surrender. The Governor refused. On September 19, the English fired cannons at the little fort and its garrison of only 50. Philippe Pastour de Costebelle (brother of former Governor Louis) and Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce de Lahontan, Baron de Lahontan led the defence of the garrison. The French killed six English in the defence of the fort and one French soldier was wounded. The seamen of the visiting French ships held off a landing and the English squadron withdrew on September 21 after burning the houses at Baie Verte.

Afterward
In August 1693, Admiral Francis Wheler with 19 ships did not attack the fort for fear that it was too strong.