As the gate swung to,
the cannon roared again on either side. Amherst's was no
unmerited compliment; for Madame Drucour used to mount
the ramparts every day, no matter what the danger was,
and fire three cannon for the honour of her king. But
the French had no monopoly in woman's work. True, there
were no officers' wives to play the heroine on the British
side. But there were others to play a humbler part, and
play it well. In those days each ship or regiment bore
a certain proportion of women on their books for laundering
and other work which is still done, at their own option,
by women 'married on the strength' of the Army. Most of
the several hundred women in the besieging fleet and army
became so keen to see the batteries armed that they
volunteered to team the guns, which, in some cases, they
actually did, with excellent effect.
By June 26 Louisbourg had no defences left beyond its
own walls, except the reduced French squadron huddled
together in the south-west harbour.
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