NAM.2013-01-4-1

Manuscript letter written by Capt Richard Gold, 47th Regiment of Foot, on board HMS Kingston, 9 Sep 1757. It is written to Charles Yarburgh, who was probably a family member. Capt Gold talks of the failed British attempt to capture the French fortress of Louisbourg (Cape Breton, Canada) led by Lord Loudoun. The French received early intelligence and according to Gold “their fleet was superior to ours and that they had nigh as many troops in Garrison there as we had to go against it”. Lord Loudoun was forced to cancel the whole expedition, although the British were later successful in 1758. Associated with the Seven Years War, (1756-1763). Adm Holbourne’s fleet, including HMS KIngston, continued to patrol the waters off Louisbourg, from which Capt. Gold wrote this letter. Eventually they were dispersed by a storm on 25 September. Capt Gold also mentions the loss to the French of Fort William Henry, a British fort in the Province of New York. Capt Richard Gold later served at Quebec 1759 under Maj Gen James Wolfe and was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775. He was the father of Col Charles Gold, Royal Artillery.

Guadeloupe, Recapture of, 1810 (Napoleonic Wars, West Indies 1803-1810)