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Appendix No. 4.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
Roads.
See Map 1.*
Country. See Map 1.*
See Map 1.*
Harbour.
Road to St. John's.
See Map 1.*
Harbour.
Road to St. John's. See Map 1.*
See Maps 1 and 2.*
Road to St. John's.
Amherst landed in 1762 for the recapture of St. John's, which was then in the possession of the French.
There are three points within this bay where it would be practicable for ships disembark troops. These are:-
1. At the head of the bay in a narrow gut which offers considerable advantages for disembarking from boats, provided the landing is not opposed.
2. At Middle Cove, about 11⁄2 miles to the south-east; and
3. At Outer Cove, still further to the eastward, and about a mile within the southern headland of the bay.
The anchorages at these two last-mentioned places are bad, and the first is by far the most favour- able point in every way for landing an attacking force.
The country in the neighbourhood of the landing-places at Outer and Middle Coves is rugged and broken by deep gullies. The same remark applies in a lesser degree to the ground at the head of the bay.
There are two main roads by which troops could advance, connecting these points with St. John's, besides several cross-roads between the three places. The best and most direct road to the capital is that from the head of the bay, which is in good order and fit for all arms. The second, from Outer and Middle Coves, is fairly good. It passes along the foot of a range of hills, and is commanded from them nearly the whole distance.
The country between these roads is rough, swampy, and intersected with small ponds and lakes. It is in places covered with stunted wood and young fir trees, and generally does not offer any prac- ticable advantages for defence. There are, however, several points on the main road which would be good positions for disputing the advance of an enemy, who, in all probability, would not venture in such a broken country to leave the road.
25. Bay of Bulls.
The next landing-place, to which reference has already been made (paragraph 24), is the harbour of Bay of Bulls, about 20 miles to the southward of St. John's, where, in the year 1761, a French expedition suddenly appeared and landed a force which, after a toilsome march, during which they were compelled to leave some of their guns by the wayside, succeeded in capturing the capital and compelled the surrender of its very feeble garrison. In 1796 the French again appeared in this bay, apparently with the intention of again landing a force to attack St. John's, but finding it in a complete state of preparation, the plan was abandoned, and the expedition departed after capturing a few prisoners and burning the village and shipping.
The harbour runs in about 2 miles to the north-west, and is a mile wide at the entrance. It is somewhat exposed, and there is a considerable ground-swell after heavy gales from the eastward, but the anchorage is good and roomy, and ships may remain in safety. One of the greatest advantages of this anchorage is that when St. John's Harbour is frozen up or beset with ice the bay is often clear, and vessels may anchor and communicate with the capital by land.
The main road to St. John's, a distance of 18 miles, is in excellent order, and suitable for all arms. After ascending to the high ground at the head of the bay it is tolerably level to the capital. The ground on each side of it is hilly, broken, swampy, and in places covered with young fir trees and stunted timber.
26. Petty Harbour.
An anchorage which has been used by an enemy to land troops is Petty Harbour; this is about 4 miles south-west of Cape Spear, and 9 miles by road from St. John's.
In 1705 a French expedition landed here and made an attack on the forts of the capital, but failed to capture it.
The harbour is situated at the head of an open bay, in a narrow gully between rocks. It is about It is an excellent 100 yards wide and 400 in length, with an anchorage of 18 feet at low water. fishing station, and there is a settlement of nearly 1,000 persons.
There are two roads leading from Petty Harbour to St. John's, one running west and joining the main Bay of Bulls road, about 3 miles from the head of the harbour, at a distance of about 8 miles from the capital, and the other, taking a north-westerly direction, joins the main road about 2 miles from the town. This latter is the best, for not only is it the shortest and most direct road, but it is also better suited for the movements of troops, as the country on each side is very open and less intersected by ponds and lakes. Both roads are in tolerably good order, and after ascending to the high ground overlooking the harbour are comparatively level.
27. Freshwater, Deadman's, and Black Head Bays.
Between the south head of St. John's Harbour and Cape Spear there are three small bays exposed to the sea, but affording shelter to small vessels during the prevalence of south-westerly winds. These are called Freshwater, Deadman's, and Black Head Bays, and are respectively 2, 3, and 31⁄2 miles to the southward of Fort Amherst.
The main road from St. John's to Cape Spear, crossing the Southside Hills, is fairly good, and quite practicable for troops. It passes within a short distance of the heads of these bays, and may be easily reached by the existing tracks connecting them with it. Between St. John's and Freshwater the road is exceedingly steep, and the country on each side broken and very mountainous, but between Freshwater and Cape Spear it becomes more level and little better than a cart track.
Freshwater Bay is a very favourable point for an enemy's boats during foggy but calm weather, to land troops to operate by land against St. John's, and it must, therefore, always be considered as a very weak and vulnerable point in the defences.
* Not printed.
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