按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 capable of accommodating eight hundred men。 It mounted thirty guns。 After it fell into the hands of the English it was great improved。 A stone magazine （a part of which is still standing） was built outside the southern embankment。 The moat was excavated to a much greater depth。 Of late years the place has been shamefully neglected。 On account of its historic associations many yearly visit the 〃Old Fort；〃 and efforts have been made to enclose the grounds and make them more presentable。
The Acadians were still to be dealt with。 Whether they should remain in the country and in the possession of their lands depended entirely on whether they would take the oath of allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain。 This one condition accepted； they would be guaranteed all the privileges and immunities of British subjects。 They refused； and the Expulsion followed。 It was a hard and cruel measure； but they had had forty years of grace； and those who had thus long borne with them now decided their day of grace had ended。
One hundred and fifty years have since passed； but we find the Acadians are still here and are exercising an influence in Canada that is felt in all its Provinces。 They are British subjects now； however； and while they have not lost their love for the country from which they sprang； nor for the flag for which their ancestors sacrificed so much； they are ready to stand by the Empire of Britain in war as well as in peace。
CHAPTER II
THE NEW ENGLAND IMMIGRATION 1755…1770。
The expulsion of 1755 left the population of old Acadia so depleted that the Governor and Council felt that something must be done at once to add to its numbers。 The first move in this direction was to offer exceptional advantages to the New England soldiers； who constituted the largest part of the force at the taking of Beausejour； if they would remain in the country。 Very few； however； accepted the offer； and as the unsettled state of the country between 1755 and 1760 was most unfavorable to immigration； but little progress was made till the next decade。
During these years wandering bands of Acadians and Indians harrassed （sic） the English； shooting and scalping whenever opportunity offered。 At Bay Verte； in the spring of 1755； nine soldiers belonging to a party under Lieutenant Bowan； were shot and scalped while out getting wood for the fort。 Colonel Scott； commandant at Cumberland； immediately sent two hundred of the New England men to Bay Verte with a sergeant and ten men of the regulars。 The sergeant replaced the men who were killed； and caused three weeks' supply of wood to be laid in。 Shortly after this one of the regulars was killed； and one of the New England men was taken prisoner。 These men had strayed in the woods down as far as the Tantramar with these unfortunate results。
In 1759； Governor Lawrence wrote from Halifax to the Board of Trade that 〃five soldiers had been killed and scalped near Fort Cumberland； and that a provision vessel had been boarded by French and Indians in the Bay of Fundy and carried up the River Petitcodiac。〃 The five men were ambushed and killed in Upper Point de Bute； near a bridge that crossed a ravine on the farm now owned by Amos Trueman。
Up to this time the government of Nova Scotia was vested in a governor and council。 This year； 1758； it was decided by the Home Government to allow the Province a Legislative Assembly。 The Assembly was to consist of twenty…two members； twelve to be elected by the Province at large； four for the township of Halifax； four for the township of Lunenburg； one for Dartmouth； one for Lawrencetown； one for Annapolis； and one for Cumberland。 Fifty qualified electors would constitute a township。 The township elections were to continue during two days； and those for the Province four days。
The Assembly met for the first time on October 2nd； 1758。 Nineteen members were present。 This makes the Legislature of Halifax the oldest in the Dominion of Canada。 This year； also； Governor Lawrence issued his first proclamation inviting the New Englanders to come to Nova Scotia a