WAR AGAIN
    When war broke out in the 1740s (War of Austrian Succession), Louisbourg thought the Acadians would fight on their side, and England thought they might revolt also.  The Acadians were still holding fast to their 1730 oath.  Some may have gone one way or the other, but most stayed neutral. 
     Louisbourg first heard of the news that war had begun (on March 15, 1744) and attacked a fishing port at the Canso straight.  Another force from Louisbourg attacked Annapolis Royal (Port Royal) in August, but failed.  In mid-winter of 1745, New France sent Sieur de La Malgue (with 100 militiamen and 400 Indians) to Nova Scotia.  They tried to recruit help in the Acadian settlements.  They arrived at Annapolis Royal in May. [Daigle, p. 41]

     France wanted Acadia back. Mascarene (the governor's representative who was a French Huegenot) knew that the Acadians wouldn’t give France aid, though French Canada thought they would.  France invaded Acadia 4 times and supplied arms and ammunition ... but they didn’t want to fight.  They were living under a “mild and tranquil government” and didn’t want to stir the up trouble.  They even objected when the French wanted the soldiers to spend the winter at Minas. [Herbin, 63] 
     France lost Louisburg during this period of conflict.  A large fleet was sent to recapture it and Acadia.in 1747. There were only 220 soldiers at Port Royal, but New England wasn’t far away.  Troops under Chevalier de Ramesay were sent from Quebec to Chebucto (Halifax) in early spring 1747.  But the fleet hadn’t arrived so he went to Port Royal.  With still no signs of 
the fleet, he returned home.  Finally, some of the fleet arrived at Chebucto.  Ramesay returned to Port Royal, but the fleet still didn’t show up and he again returned to Quebec. 
     Storms and plagues had destroyed the largest fleet France had ever sent across the Atlantic.  Mascarene sent an appeal from Port Royal to Massachusetts governor Shirley for help, and 500 volunteers (commanded by Col. Arthur Noble) were sent.  They got to Port Royal in fall 1747.  Some were sent by ship to Minas, but returned due to bad weather.  In November, about 100 marched over frozen ground to Minas and stayed with the inhabitants.  The rest tried to make it by sea, but had to land (at French Cross, or Morden) and walk the last 40 miles. 
     It took them 8 days to reach Minas.  The landing place in the mouth of the Gaspareau was one mile from Grand Pre.  The ships arrived safely with the supplies, which were left at the landing place for the winter.  The soldiers stayed in 24 houses along the highway.  To the horror of the Acadians, a British flag was hoisted on the church steeple. 
     Ramesay had built a fort on the isthmus and controlled the area.  Noble wanted to march on it and drive off the French.  Near the center of Grand Pre was a stone building, where Noble put the cannon. Upon hearing that Noble wanted to attack him (and underestimating Noble’s 
troop size), Ramesay planned a night attack on Grand Pre.  Since Ramesay had hurt his knee on the 2nd march to Port Royal, Capt. Coulon de Villiers was in charge. After 4 days of preparation, he left on Jan. 21 and led 240 Canadians and 20 Indians through 3 feet of snow.  They reached Piziquid, 15 miles from Grand Pre, on the 9th. They divided into 10 groups as they approached the Melanson village, on the banks of the Gaspereau.  They took shelter and warmth in the Acadian homes, and even found a wedding feast going on.  The prospective bloodshed brought a somber tone to the evening.  They learned that Noble’s men were in 24 houses on a 1 1/2 mile section of the main road in Grand Pre. 

FRENCH SUCCESS AT MINAS
     There were now 346 French, who divided into 10 groups.  It was 2 in the morning and had been snowing for 30 hours straight.  You couldn’t walk without snowshoes. They arrived at about 3.  Noble was killed.  The English surrendered a day later. 
     Of the 350 member French force, there were 7 killed and 15 wounded.  The English force of 525 had 100 killed, 15 wounded, and 50 captured.  Eleven of the 12 houses attacked were taken.   The Acadians at Minas had warned Noble that the French would attack, but he ignored them.  Coulon left on Feb. 12, after burying the dead.[Herbin, 62-72] 
     Ramesay claimed that Minas owed submission to France.  The Acadians wrote Mascarene (at Port Royal) asking what to do.  Gov. Shirley sent a brig, 2 schooners, and 300 men to Minas who stayed there 4 days.  Minas had its boats taken, so if they wanted basic goods (ie. salt), they had to make the trip 60 mile trip to Port Royal.