Carte de la partie orientale de la Nouvelle France ou du Canada (Detail).
The strategic value of Louisbourg to France is evident from this map, prepared in 1744 by the French engineer Nicolas Ballin. With Britain in control of Newfoundland (Isle de Terre Neuve) and mainland Nova Scotia (Acadie), Cape Breton Island (δle Royale) offered France its only possibility of a naval base on the North Atlantic to protect the entrance to the Gulf of St.Lawrence, French settlements in Canada, and the profitable Grand Banks fishery.
In addition to the garrison at Louisbourg (A), the French maintained detachments of troops at Port Toulouse (B) on the southwest side of the island, at Port Dauphin (C), and at Port La Joie (D) on Prince Edward Island (δle St. Jean). These outposts were necessary to prevent the British from encroaching on French territory from their bases in Acadia.
Courtesy: National Map Collection, Public Archives of Canada (H3/900)
