"French Colonial Artillery. In 1758 the French Garrison at Louisbourg was manned by only 3000 men. Those forces were supplemented in the early spring by the arrival of five ships, which were assigned the task of protecting the harbour from an expected British assault. French concerns were well founded. A 12000 man British army was en route under Jeffrey Amherst. The soldiers were carried on 120 transport ships and were supported by a naval squadron under the command of Admiral Edward Boscawen. A landing was undertaken on June 8 in a small cove to the west of the fortress. Conditions were extremely hazardous the seas were rough and the French held a position on the cliffs above. Despite early setbacks the British were able to get their soldiers ashore due in a large part to the planning and drive exhibited by James Wolfe. In the following weeks the British extended their control in an arc across the land area to the west of Louisbourg and initiated a siege. On June 12, to further enhance the British position, Wolfe led a 1200 man force through a thick fog to Lighthouse Point, an undefended promontory across the harbour from the fort. From this point the British guns could command Battery Island the French outpost that guarded the entrance to the harbour. "