Henry Trussell died in 1745 near Ft. Louisbourg, on Cape Breton, located in the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. For decades the famous Fort at Louisbourg stood on Cape Breton Island as the sentry for the St. Lawrence River. Louisbourg was the gateway to New France, and it was heavily fortified ... it was an important symbol to the British Colonies.

      The French, who settled to the North and to the West of the British, were not successful in establishing farm-type settlements in "New France" rather their settlers tended to be trappers, traders and Missionaries supported by forts along the St. Lawrence River. They did not take Indian land. In fact they often lived and intermarried with the Natives. Consequently the Indians supported France in battles with the British in a series of struggles from 1689 to 1758. Following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, there was a period of peace. In 1739 war broke out again in Europe but it had little impact on America. Suddenly, in 1745, the Colonies launched an assualt on Louisbourg. On its face the mission was ridiculous, but to almost everyone's suprize the colonies won. From this time forward, Colonial Leadership would think of themselves with greater confidence.

      Henry T. was a Captain in the Militia supporting that raid. He survived to see the Colonies victorious, but he and the men in his charge died the next day, victims of well water poisoned by the Indians. The panel above describes the final British victory in 1758.