Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-02-09

ing that the action had been sanguinary on the
part of the Abnakis. This was enough to put
me in motion. Furnished with the holy oil, l
threw myself with precipitation into canoe to
60 and meet the combatants | continually
prayed my guides to make haste. There was no
need of it-at least for me. was met by an
Abnakis, who, better instructed, because more
brave, informed me that this action, SO sanguin-
ary, had been terminated by one Nepistinguc
killed and another wounded in boarding.
waited not for the rest of his account, but has
tened to regain our people, and give my place
to M. Mathavet, Missionary of the Ncpistingue
nation. l arrived by water at the same time
that NJ. de Mentcalm who had gone ashore
little above during the firing, came across the
woods. Learning came with intelligence he
desired to be informed of the facts. My Abna-
kis whom had called back, gave him short
account of the combat The darkness of the
night prevented our knowing the numbers of the
enemy killed; their boats had been seized, and
three of them made prisoncrs--the rest were
wandering in the woods. M. dc Montcalm,
pleased with this account retired to give advice,
with his accustomed prudence, as to the opera
tions of the next day.
The day had hardly commenced when part
ofthe Nepstingue nation proceeded to celebrate
the funeral rites of their brother who was killed
the preceding night, and who had died in all the
errors of Paganism. These obsequics were eel
ebrated with savage pomp and ceremony. The
corpse was dressed out in all the ornaments, or
rather burdened with all that primitive vanity
was able to put upon it in these circumstances
so sad in themselves; necklaces of porcelain,
silver bracelets, jewels in the nose and ears, and
magnificent garments had all been lavished upon
it. Paint and vermillion had been used to take
away the paleness of death, and give an air
OF life to the countenance, which it did not
possess Not single savage decoration had
been omitted. A neck piece tied with fiery
ribbon hung neglgenty on the breast, the mus
ket proppcd on his arm, the war-club in the gr-
de- the calumet in the mouth, the lance in his
hand, the great kettle filled at his side. In this
warlike and animated attitude he was seated on
green eminence which served as bed of state
The savagcs, ranged in circle around the
corpse, preserved, for some moments, gloomy
silence which not unaptly represented their af-
fiction. The orator broke it by pronouncing
| fho G,nnro1 nc l.
followed songs and dances, accompanied by the
sound of tamborines. In all this there was
something doleful, knew not what, which
agreed with the mournful ceremony. AT last
the mournful proceedings terminated by inter-
ring the body, near which they placed good
supply of food, fearing no doaht that wanting
nourishment he would die second time.
speak not from occular demonstration the
presence of a missionary did not agree well with
these sort of ceremonies, dictated by superstition
and adopted by stupid credulity had this
account from the spectators.
In the mean time the bay in which we had
anchored resounded in every part with warlike
sounds. Every thing was in action. Our ar
tillery, which consisted of thirty-two pieces of
cannon and five mortars, set out on the plat
forms which were placed on the boats moored
together, filed off first. In running past the
cape which concealed us from the view of the
enemy, salute was given to the fort by gen.
cral discharge-whch at first sight was only a
mere ceremony, but which announced something
more serious. The rest of the little feet fol-
lowed, but slowly. Already great number of
the savages had placed themselves behind fort
George, or on the way to fort Lydis, to cut of
all communication between these two English
forts. The company of NJ. Chevalicr de Levi
occupied the defles of the mountains, which
led to the projected place of our debarkation
By means of these prudent measures, VIC made
the descent without opposition good hall
league below the fort. The enemy had too much
to do at home, to throw any obstacle in our way
They expected nothing less than siege.
know not on what principle to account for their
boldness, The cnyirons of their fort were still
occupied by multitude of tents on our arrival
we saw also a quantity of barracks for the
use of the beseigcd 1t was necessary to clcal
away these outworks, to take down the tents
and burn the barracks. These movements could
not be made without their being exposed to the
attack of the savages, who are always ready tc
profit by the advantages given them. Thcil
fire would have been much more brisk and efec
tual, had not another object diverted part O
their attention. Herds of oxen and horses
which there had not been time to put unde
cover, were moving about the low grounds il
the vicinity of the fort. The savages at frs
occupied themselves in giving chase to thcs
animals One hundred and fifty oxen, and Gft,
horses, were presently the fruits of this littl
war; but this was only preliminary and pre-
paratory to the seige.
TO BE CONTINUED.