A Wabanaki Confederacy force of 50–150 warriors successfully ambushed 70 provincial troops of the British New England Colonies at a place that became known as Bloody Creek after the battles fought there.

The battle, in which the entire New England force was captured or killed, emboldened the French and their Indian allies to blockade Annapolis Royal.

[5] In 1690, the settlement was captured by provincial troops from the Province of Massachusetts Bay, although it was restored to France on 20 September 1697 under the terms of the Peace of Ryswick.

[12][13] The first winter was a particularly difficult one for the British garrison, which was reduced by early 1711 to about 240 "effective men Officers included" due to death, disease, and desertion.

This reluctance was fueled in part by the activities of Saint-Castin and Gaulin — the Acadians in Annapolis Royal refused to do the necessary logging, citing the danger of Indian attacks.

[1] Not long before Pigeon's party set out, an Indian force organized by Gaulin and Saint-Castin arrived in the area north of Annapolis Royal, with instructions to harass and ambush the British when the opportunity presented itself.

[15][16] Lieutenant Paul Mascarene perceived for a time that some local Acadians might have been involved, but thought this unlikely after learning of its recent arrival (literally the day before, according to one account) in the area.

[1][16] Because they were delayed by the tide, word of the force's departure preceded them, giving the Indians time to set up an ambush near the mouth of what now is known as Bloody Creek.

[19] Soon thereafter a force of approximately 600 men, including Acadians, Abenaki, and Mi'kmaq, gathered and blockaded Fort Anne under the leadership of Gaulin and Saint-Castin.

[21] This resistance was motivated by a French desire to recover Acadia and by the concerns of the Abenaki and Mi'kmaq, who had not been parties to Utrecht, to British colonial encroachment on their lands after the war ended.