Memoirs on the Late War in North America Between France and England

640 pp. This is the only account of the Seven Years/Colonial/French & Indian War (in which France lost Canada) published in France in the 18C. The author, a thirty-seven year old fusilier captain (born in the Dauphiné) of the Régiment de Béarn (and a Chevalier de St-Louis) arrived in Canada 1755. He is remembered mainly as the last French commandant of Fort Niagara (surrendered after a three-week siege 25 Jul 1759), but he also returned after exchange the following year and distinguished himself in the siege of Fort Lévis (surrendering 25 Aug 1760). He fought in Montcalm's successful campaign against Chouaguen (Oswego) in 1756, directed late efforts to fortify Fort Frontenac and Fort Niagara, and fought in the Battle of Carillon (8 Jul 1758). Pouchot documents the whole history of the war, including the Ohio theater, Lake Champlain, Fort Niagara, the Plains of Abraham (1759), Ste-Foy (1760), and Fort Lévis. Events beyond his personal involvement suffer accuracy to some extent, but (all things considered) he includes many valuable events. The second part of Pouchot's work is devoted to a detailed contemporary geographical description of the colony (including towns, portages, navigation): it reads like an intelligence report most useful in the attempt of re-conquest. Pouchot provides a unique account of a (the') formative test in American history, and a valuable glimpse of customs and practices of that age. Without doubt a talented man, he returned to France, wrote this work, and died at the age of 57 on campaign in Corsica 8 May 1769. - Amazon