<P> The stockaded forts were also instrumental to the British during the French and Indian War (the North American theatre of the Seven Years War). The Fort was used to help faciltate the Expulsion of the Acadians, many Acadians being imprisoned on Georges Island in Halifax Harbour . During the war, the Mi'kmaq and Acadians resisted the British throughout the province . On 2 April 1756, Mi'kmaq received payment from the Governor of Quebec for 12 British scalps taken at Halifax . Acadian Pierre Gautier, son of Joseph - Nicolas Gautier, led Mi'kmaq warriors from Louisbourg on three raids against Halifax in 1757 . In each raid, Gautier took prisoners or scalps or both . The last raid happened in September and Gautier went with four Mi'kmaq and killed and scalped two British men at the foot of Citadel Hill . In July 1759, Mi'kmaq and Acadians killed five British in Dartmouth, opposite McNabb's Island . There were also numerous raids against the British in the province such as the Raid on Lunenburg (1756). </P> <P> The first major permanent fortification appeared on Citadel Hill in the American Revolution . The possibility of attack during the Revolution required a larger fortification to protect the city from an American or French attack . Built in 1776, the new fort on Citadel Hill was composed of multiple lines of overlapping earthen redans backing a large outer palisade wall . At the center was a three - story octagonal blockhouse mounting a fourteen - gun battery and accommodating 100 troops . These works required that the hill be cut down by 40 feet . The entire fortress mounted 72 guns . Citadel Hill and the associated harbour defence fortifications afforded the Royal Navy the most secure and strategic base in eastern North America from its Halifax Dockyard commanding the Great Circle Route to western Europe and gave Halifax the nickname "Warden of The North". The massive British military presence in Halifax focused through Citadel Hill and the Royal Navy's dockyard is thought to be one of the main reasons that Nova Scotia--the fourteenth British colony--remained loyal to the Crown throughout and after the American Revolutionary War . </P> <P> Neither French nor American forces attacked Citadel Hill during the American Revolution . However, the garrison remained on guard because there were numerous American privateer raids on villages around the province (e.g., Raid on Lunenburg (1782)), as well as naval battles just off shore, such as the Naval battle off Halifax . By 1784 the works were reported in ruins except for the blockhouse . </P> <P> Although all four fortifications constructed on Citadel Hill since 1749 are variously referred to as Fort George, this third Citadel is the only one officially named Fort George, by General Orders of October 20, 1798, after King George III . </P>

Halifax citadel national historic site halifax ns canada