Hello and welcome to a history of the United States.

Episode 114. Anas Mirabilis, Part 1. In our last episode, we

looked at how the Seven Years' War progressed around the world in 1758, with things going

poorly for Prussia on the continent, but the British launching a successful assault on French-West

Africa. Pitt made his plans for 1759. 1759 would, in North America, be the key year in the

conflict. What we shall now chart over the next three episodes is the

Anus Mirabilis, the year of wonders. Pitt made Geoffrey Amherst, who had led the attack

on Louisbourg, the commander-in-chief to replace Apocrombie. Amherst, who had led the attack on Louisburg, the commander-in-chief to replace

Apocrombie. Amherst was to attack Canada using either the Champlain Corridor, which was defended

by Fort Carillon and Fort St Frederick, or from Lake Ontario and the Upper St. Lawrence, where Fort Frontenac had been

captured the previous year. An advance post should be re-established at Fort Oswego, which would

be used to launch an attack against Fort Niagara and the territories to the west. James Wolfe was assigned an independent command to attack Canada from Louisburg and the Lower St. Lawrence,

which he should help supply.

Pitt wanted operations to get underway as early in the year as possible, hopefully in May,

but there had been delays this was caused,

partly by bad weather and partly by the sheer effort the northern colonies had exerted in 1758.

Massachusetts was already insolvent and was saved from defaulting on the vast loans it was taking out only by the time

the arrival of Bullion in January 1759. A quarter of the male population eligible for service was

enlisted in 1758 and raising further men in 1759 would not be easy, but Governor Pownall

spoke to the Assembly about the need to support the war effort in order to be reimbursed by

Parliament, and called upon their sense of patriotism and duty.

The General Court eventually agreed, but said to Pownall,

...