Port-la-Joye—Fort Amherst is a National Historic Site of Canada[1] in Prince Edward Island, Canada, commemorating the location's double distinction in hosting both the oldest permanent European settlement on Ile Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) and the first military fortification on the island to be built by the British. The first European settlers in the area were French; personnel from Fortress Louisbourg founded a settlement in 1720 named Port La Joye on the southwestern part of the harbour opposite the present-day city. This settlement was led by Michel Haché-Gallant, who used his sloop to ferry Acadian settlers from Louisbourg.
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After the Siege of Louisbourg (1745) during King George's War, the New Englanders also captured Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island). An English detachment landed at Port-la-Joye. Under the command of Joseph de Pont Duvivier, the French had a garrison of 20 French troops at Port-la-Joye.[2] The troops fled and New Englanders burned the capital to the ground. Duvivier and the twenty men retreated up the Northeast River (Hillsborough River), pursued by the New Englanders until the French troops received reinforcements from the Acadian militia and the Mi'kmaq.[3] The French troops and their allies were able to drive the New Englanders to their boats, nine New Englanders killed, wounded or made prisoner. The New Englanders took six Acadian hostages, who would be executed if the Acadians or Mi'kmaq rebelled against New England control.[4] The New England troops left for Louisbourg. Duvivier and his 20 troops left for Quebec. After the fall of Louisbourg, the resident French population of Ile Royal were deported to France. The Acadians of Ile Saint-Jean lived under the threat of deportation for the remainder of the war.[5]
The New Englanders had a force of two war ships and 200 soldiers stationed at Port-La-Joye.[6] To regain Acadia, Ramezay was sent from Quebec to the region to join forces with the Duc d'Anville Expedition.[7] Upon arriving at Chignecto, he sent (French officer Boishébert to Ile Saint-Jean on a reconnaissance to assess the size of the New England force.[8] After Boishebert returned, Ramezay sent Joseph-Michel Legardeur de Croisille et de Montesson along with over 500 men, 200 of whom were Mi'kmaq, to Port-La-Joye.[9] In July 1746, the battle happened near Northeast River (Hillsborough River).[10] Montesson and his troops killed or imprisoned forty New Englanders. Montesson was commended for having distinguished himself in his first independent command.[11]
During the French and Indian War, the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign involved the British seizing control of the port and replacing its initial fort with a new one, Fort Amherst (1758).
Port-la-Joye was host to the 7th Canadian Scout Jamboree in 1989, with 10,000 campers.
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