Second Battle of Bloody Creek
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Second Battle of Bloody Creek | |||||||
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Part of French and Indian War (1754-1763) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
British regulars | Mi'kmaq Acadians |
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Commanders | |||||||
unknown | unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
130 soldiers | unknown, perhaps in the hundreds | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
24 killed and wounded | 12 killed and wounded |
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The Second Battle of Bloody Creek was an episode in the French and Indian War, where a detachment of British soldiers from nearby Annapolis Royal was defeated by a force of Acadians and Mi'kmaq near the site of the First Battle of Bloody Creek in 1711.
Following the Great Expulsion in 1755 many Acadians formed guerrilla bands in the forests, often linking up with their ancient Mi'kmaq allies. These bands operated throughout Nova Scotia until the fall of New France, the most famous guerrilla being Joseph Broussard, aka Beausoleil. Despite controlling many strongpoints like Halifax, Annapolis Royal and Fort Beausejour, the British were unable to completely pacify the region.
On December 6th, a work party from Annapolis Royal was cutting firewood near the site of the first battle in 1711 when they were ambushed by an Acadian and Mi'kmaq force. One man was killed and another seven taken captive. In response, a detachment of 130 British troops was dispatched to recover the prisoners. Marching on foot along the south shore of the Annapolis River, the British force was exposed to wet and cold before giving up their search for the prisoners. They were crossing a bridge on the René Forêt River on the morning of December 8th when they were attacked by the Mi'kmaq and Acadians. The British made a brief stand and suffered a high amount of casualties before retreating back to Annapolis Royal.
Despite their victory, the Mi'kmaq and Acadian guerrillas did not follow it up by attacking Annapolis Royal. There were however many similar bands that continued to harass and ambush British forces in Nova Scotia and assist French regular forces right up until the end of the war. The René Forêt River was renamed Bloody Creek in honour of the battle.