The Conquest of Canada, Vol. 2

In the mid‑century halls of Paris, French and British commissioners gathered to redraw the map of North America. Their negotiations quickly unraveled, each side upping demands until the English envoys walked away, signalling that diplomacy had failed. Back in the colonies, the administration of New France was rotted by greed: officials skimmed the Indian trade, monopolized brandy supplies, and enriched themselves while the distant court looked on. The death of Governor de la Jonquière sparked a power shift, and the austere Marquis du Quesne de Menneville arrived with orders that only force could settle the disputed borders.

Determined to cement French claims, Menneville reorganized the militia of Quebec and Montreal, bolstering artillery and inspecting every parish. Meanwhile, French engineers pushed forts onto the Ohio River, hoping to win Indigenous allies with lavish gifts. Across the river, Virginia’s governor raised his own militia, intent on blocking the encroaching French presence. As forts rose and armies mobilized, the stage is set for a clash that will decide the fate of the continent.