the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第3章
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e place but for the timely arrival of a British man…of…war。
On the 11th April； 1713； the Treaty of Utrecht was signed。 This gave all Nova Scotia； or Acadia； comprehended within its ancient boundaries； as also the city of Port Royal； now called Annapolis Royal； to the Queen of Great Britain。 The English claimed this to include all the territory east of a line drawn from north of the Kennebec River to Quebec； taking in all the south shore of the St。 Lawrence； Gaspe； the Island of St。 John； and Cape Breton。 The French contended that Acadia only included the southern half of the present Province of Nova Scotia。 Views so divergent held by the contracting parties to an agreement； could scarcely fail to produce irritation and ultimately result in war。
In 1740； the Abbe Le Loutre； Vicar…General of Acadia under the Bishop of Quebec； and missionary to the Micmacs； came to Acadia to take charge of his mission。 It soon became apparent that the Rev。 Father was more anxious to advance the power and prestige of the King of France than he was to minister to the spiritual elevation of the benighted Indians。 The course pursued by the Abbe defeated the end he had in view。 His aim was to make Acadia a French colony； but in reality he helped to make it the most loyal British territory in North America。
The successful raid of de Villiers； in the winter of 1747； convinced the English that so long as Chignecto was in possession of the French； and was used as a base of operations to defy the English Government； there could be no lasting peace or security for settlers of British blood。 Taking this view of the matter； Governor Cornwallis determined to take measures to drive the French from the Isthmus。 The unsettled state of the French population through the Province contributed to this decision。
In November； 1754； Governor Lawrence wrote to Shirley； at Boston； that he had reason to believe the French were contemplating aggressive measures at Chignecto； and he thought it was quite time an effort was made to drive them from the north side of the Bay of Fundy。 Col。 Monckton carried this letter to Governor Shirley。 The governor entirely agreed with the suggestion it contained； and had already taken some steps to bring about so desirable an end to the troubles the Government was experiencing on the Isthmus。
The matter was kept as secret as possible； but efforts were immediately made to raise a force to capture Fort Beausejour； the new fort built by the French on the high ground overlooking Beaubassin； on the north…west side of the Missiquash。 So successful were they in getting up the expedition that； on the 23rd of May； everything was ready and the force set sail from Boston。
The expedition numbered two thousand men； under the command of Lieut。… Col。 Monckton； with Lieutenants Winslow and Scott under him。 They called at Annapolis； and were joined there by three hundred regulars of Warburton's regiment； and got a small train of artillery。 Fort Lawrence* was reached on 2nd June； and the next day all the troops were landed and camped around the fort。
＇FOOTNOTE： *The fort at Fort Lawrence； was situate on the high land that separates the valleys of the Missiquash and La Planche rivers； a little less than two miles distant from Fort Beausejour。 It was constructed in the month of September； 1750。 Lieutenant…Colonel Lawrence arrived at the Isthmus with a strong force； consisting of the 48th Regiment； and three hundred men of the 45th Regiment。 〃The Indians and some of the French were rash enough to oppose the landing of so formidable a body of troops； but they were driven off after a sharp skirmish； in which the English lost about twenty killed and wounded。〃 A short distance from where they landed Colonel Lawrence erected a picketal fort with block…houses； which was named for himself。 A garrison of six hundred men was maintained here until the fall of Beausejour。 END OF FOOTNOTE＇
Vergor； the French General in command at Beausejour； called on all the Acadians capable of bearing arms to come into the fort and assist in its defence。 The Acadians； however； would not obey this order unless Vergor would make a refusal to comply punishable with death。 This would given them an excuse with which to meet the English if the fort were taken。
On the 4th June； the English broke camp and marched north from Fort Lawrence； a distance of about two miles along the ridge of high land； then； entering the Missiquash valley； they crossed over to Pont a Buot； or Buot's Bridge； which spanned the Missiquash River。 This bridge was near what is now Point de Bute Corner。 Here the French had a blockhouse garrisoned with thirty men。 There was also a breastwork of timber。 This place was defended for an hour by the French； and then； setting fire to the little fort； they left the English to cross over without opposition。 The victorious force camped that night on the Point de Bute side of the Missiquash River。
At this day it is difficult to account for the slight value the Acadian seemed to place upon his home。 He appears to have been always ready to set it on fire at the least danger of its falling into the hands of the English。 The sixty houses that stood between Buot's Bridge and Beausejour all went up in flame that night； fired by the French soldiers as they retired before the English。
From the 4th until the 13th of June the English were engaged in cutting roads； building bridges； transporting cannon； and getting these into position north of the fort； on the high ground； within shelling distance。 During this time the French had been strengthening their defences and making other arrangements for withstanding a seige （sic）。 The Abbe Le Loutre ceased work on his 〃abateau〃 and set his men to assist at the fort。
Scouting parties from either camp met once or twice； and the Indians captured an English officer named Hay； who was passing from Fort Lawrence to the English camp。 On the 13th the English threw a few shells into the fort； and continued to shell the place on the 14th； without much apparent result。 On that day Vergor received tidings that no help could be sent from Louisbourg。 This news was more disastrous to the French than the English shells。 The Acadians lost all heart and began to slip away into the woods and the settlements to the northward。
The next day； the 15th； larger shells were thrown； some falling into the fort。 One shell killed the English officer； Hay； who was a prisoner； and several French officers； while they were at breakfast。 This decided the matter。 Vergor sent an officer to Monckton asking for a suspension of hostilities。 That afternoon the following terms of surrender were agreed upon：
〃1st。 The commandant； officers； staff and others employed for the King and garrison of Beausejour； shall go out with arms and baggage； drums beating。 2nd。 The garrison shall be sent to Louisbourg at the expense of the King of Great Britain。 3rd。 The Governor shall have provisions sufficient to last them until they get to Louisbourg。 4th。 As to the Acadians； as they were forced to bear arms under pain of death； they shall be pardoned。 5th。 The garrison shall not bear arms in America for the space of six months。 6th。 The foregoing are granted on condition that the garrison shall surrender to the troops of Great Britain by 7 p。m。 this afternoon。 Signed； Robert Monckton。 At the camp before Beausejour； 16th June； 1755。〃
As soon as the British were in possession at Beausejour； Monckton sent a detachment of three hundred men； under Col。 Winslow； to demand the surrender of the fort at Bay Verte。 Capt。 Villeray accepted the same terms as Vergor； and on the 18th of June； 1755； the Isthmus passed for ever out of the possession of the King of France。 A large amount of supplies was found in both forts。
Monckton changed the name of Fort Beausejour to Fort Cumberland； in honor of the Royal Duke who won the victory at Culloden； and as it was a much better fort than the one on the south side of the Missiquash； the troops were ordered to remain at Fort Cumberland。
This fort stands in a commanding position on the south…west summit of the high ridge of upland that separates the Missiquash from the Aulac valley。 It was a fort of five bastions； with casemates； and was cap
